I find the idea that it is dangerous to interfere with the economic
system, an artifact, every bit as bizarre as the idea that it is *not*
dangerous to interfere with the biosphere, at the very least an
astonishing and rare accident of nature.
I am, for now, rendered speechless by the conjunction of both ideas. I
will have to scratch my head a bit.
While I gather my wits I refer you to the Easter Islanders who appear
to have made a similar error. See the relevant chapters in Jared
Diamond's _Collapse_.
mt
On 5/15/07, James Annan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Michael Tobis wrote:
> > Are you suggesting that the economy should not be constrained to avoid
> > a change larger than 85 C in the global mean if it should seem
> > inclined to head that way?
>
> Since it's not going to happen, I think it is reasonable to ask what is
> the purpose of such a "target" (or even "limit")? Is it just a
> rhetorical device to steer the debate in a particular direction? Would
> you support Govt action to set this "limit"?
>
> Having just read Stoat's new post, I should also raise again the
> question of whether any serious attempt to restrict carbon emissions
> could potentially result in "dangerous interference" with the global
> economy.
>
> Returning to the "bridge" analogy, if there was a trivial way of
> building a better bridge at negligible cost, then of course it would be
> sensible to do it. But in the real world, where resources are limited,
> people _do_ build dodgy bridges in poor countries. Even in Japan, let
> along Turkey, people fake earthquake resistance certification for their
> buildings.
>
> James
>
> >
>
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