> From: Jed Rothwell > > From: OrionWorks > > >It seems to me that Kunstler is simply being a realist. > > Someone who thinks that people will not respond to a severe > energy crisis by by inventing new technology is not realistic. > What does he think we are made of? People have transformed > the whole face the planet, and we have it within our power > to populate the whole solar system. We are going to roll > over and play dead just because we run out of chemical energy! > > > > "A useful maxim in engineering states that when > > something sounds too good to be true, it generally > > is not true." > > > >There is honor in being a realist. > > I see nothing realistic about this.
Let me rephrase my previous comment. IMHO, I believe Kunstler is trying to maintain a "realistic" attitude - as he perceives the reality of the situation to be. It feels safer for Kunstler to believe in the "if it sounds too good to be true, it generally turns out not to be true" mantra than to risk wandering down uncharted territory where failure is just as likely an outcome as unverified success. It is a VERY POWERFUL mantra. Many converts repeat it over and over in their heads. It's obvious that Kunstler's perception of the reality of the situation, while possible, is fortunately not shared by you nor by me. Fortunately, there are enough unrealistic dreamers in the world willing to abandon sensible perceptions of the reality of the situation. They are willing to risk making fools of themselves. The world often ends up a better place because of their unrealistic foolishness. Regards, Steven Vincent Johnson www.OrionWorks.com
