> If we had 10 years to prevent humanity from being exterminated in 100
> years time, I am sure we'd do what's necessary, even if that involved a
> lot of pain, never mind electoral cycles.
John Kenneth Galbraith, the celebrated American economist and
author of "The Affluent Society" wrote:
People of privilege will always risk their complete destruction
rather than surrender any part of their advantage. Intellectual
myopia, often called stupidity, is no doubt a reason. But the
privileged feel also that their privileges, however egregious they
may seem to others, are a solemn, basic, God-given right. The
sensitivity of the poor to injustice is a trivial thing, compared with
that of the rich.
"The Age of Uncertainty", 1977.
So Americans, Europeans, citizens the other rich countries, and
rich citizens of the poor countries will all oppose having their wealth
reduced. Besides there is no certainty that we have only 10 years
to prevent humanity being wiped out in the year 2100, so it could
be argued that another ten years won't make much difference, and
we should wait "in case anything turned up" as Mr. Micawber was
used to saying.
No, you have just convinced me we are all doomed :-(
There is a scientific problem and there is a political problem, but there
is also a psychological problem. People are optimistic and they
refuse to believe that the end of the world is just around the corner,
especially since it makes them feel guilty about their new SUV, the
envy of the neighbourhood.
Cheers, Alastair.
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