The "American Dream" is a difficult ideal to attack or amend. No doubt
the driving force behind the "American paradigm." Without doubt, uncontroll=
ed
population growth and all of its factors may very well be the driving force=
or limiting
factor behind all of the major issues we discuss; GW, oil, etc...Tough to i=
gnore. Paradigm
shifts, however, are slippery slopes in and of themselves. I have often co=
me to the
conclusion, with respect to america at least, the lack of K-12 environmenta=
l education and overall
education reform is actually what we should all be turning toward for real =
time change and effect with respect
to these issues we are all very concerned about. Government being driven b=
y demand of=20
its citizens, just like our economy. In order to change the paradigm of ou=
r past age to the present
we must amend the American dream. How does one tell another they can not h=
ave the three child family
they have always "dreamed of?" How do we make the quality of life for the =
future relevant to each of the
children people wish to have? Such a large hurdle. A hurdle, in my mind,=
beyond CO2 emissions,=20
alternative energy, and conservation. Solely because all of the above may h=
ave a financial benefit (however unfortunate)=20
and population control is a complete and total individual sacrifice. =20
=20
Peace, happiness, and strength,
=20
zac d> Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2007 12:32:18 -0600> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subje=
ct: Re: Denial * 2: Climate Change and Economic> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
EDU> > I would add the topics of overpopulation and 'end of oil' as being o=
f > vital importance. I am perplexed as to why we do not engage the topic >=
of overpopulation as that is the fundamental cause of the problems > under=
discussion. People on this list have argued that we can > continue populat=
ion increase. As Joe indicated, is overpopulation > also not trendy, is it =
too taboo, or are we all too steeped in > denial? Why do we continue to dis=
cuss the bandaids rather than the > root cause?> > randy> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D> RK Bangert, PhD> P.O. Box 335> Mancos, CO 8132=
8> > > On Oct 24, 2007, at 10:36 AM, joseph gathman wrote:> > > Speaking of=
denial, why does Global Warming always> > generate so much response on thi=
s list, while Peak Oil> > doesn't? To my mind, they are both profoundly> > =
important, both are "ecological" in some way (PO may> > be more so), and bo=
th are happening now.> >> > Maybe ecologists just don't know about PO, or h=
aven't> > considered what it really means (it's likely to be a> > paradigm =
shift in human history with not-yet-explored> > ramifications for the plane=
t in general). Certainly> > there has been MUCH more buzz (and funding) abo=
ut GW,> > while PO is under the radar. Is ecology really so> > trend-driven=
that we can't see a huge issue in front> > of our noses?> >> > Joe> >> >> =
>> (While this is no place to elaborate, I have to at> >> least note that, =
with=3D> >> a >90% fossil-fueled economy, and ceteris paribus,> >> economic=
growth simp=3D> >> ly =3D3D global warming. And also that, with economic> =
>> growth - increasing=3D> >> production and consumption of goods and servi=
ces in> >> the aggregate - pri=3D> >> oritized in the domestic policy arena=
, dealing with> >> climate change means=3D> >> not conservation and frugali=
ty but rather wholesale> >> onlining of nuclear=3D> >> , tar sands, mountai=
ntop removing, etc., because, as> >> Woolsey pointed out=3D> >> , renewable=
s such as solar and wind won=3D92t come> >> anywhere near the level=3D> >> =
s our currently fossil-fueled economy needs.)> >> =3D> >>> >> So perhaps we=
could view "denial science" as lying> >> on a spectrum, where =3D> >> endp=
oints might be defined either in terms of> >> hardness/softness of scien=3D=
> >> ce (e.g., physics hard, climate change science> >> medium, ecological =
econom=3D> >> ics softish), or else in terms of political economy> >> (e.g.=
, from little t=3D> >> o big money at stake). Denial would tend to be> >> m=
otivated pursuant to pr=3D> >> incipals of political economy, and gotten aw=
ay with> >> in proportion to the=3D> >> softness (or alternatively, complex=
ity) of the> >> science.> >> =3D> >>> >> =3D> >>> >> Brian Czech, Visiting =
Assistant Professor =3D> >>> >> Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Un=
iversity> >> Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences> >> National Cap=
ital Region, Northern Virginia Center> >> 7054 Haycock Road, Room 411> >> F=
alls Church, VA 22043 =3D> >>> >> =3D> >> >> > ____________________________=
______________________> > Do You Yahoo!?> > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has =
the best spam protection around> > http://mail.yahoo.com
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