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I know this sounds a bit Ayn Rand, but almost all scientists, engineers, and computer scientists know that global warming is real and is happening. Can we not j

I know this sounds a bit Ayn Rand, but almost all scientists, engineers, and computer scientists know that global warming is real and is happening. Can we not just all go on strike until the dumb or greedy people get shoved aside? Like, granted, there was some pretty effective misinformation back in 2008, but the science is completely settled now. The public benefits from our medicines and software and infrastructure and from our higher than normal taxes, but they don't trust us when it comes to changing their behaviour. Like I'm at my wits end when I talk to climate change deniers these days.

pmyjavec 10y ago
I've thought about the strike thing for sometime also, why do we keep propping these people up? The kind of action you're describing is inevitable IMO. Humans may have to go on mass strike until we get the correct Government action on climate change. Sadly, strikes might not even be required/optional soon due to impacted health from rising temperatures, air pollution and difficulty commuting. I'm currently living in Amsterdam now, it's Autumn and it's as hot as Sydney in summer, 30+ C. Bridges are getting stuck and stopping trams which then need to be hosed down with cool water constantly to keep them from ceasing up etc, little things like this along will have a major impact on everyone's pockets and forget getting a good nights sleep in an apartment which is designed for temperatures no higher than 24C. Goodbye productivity. In the middle of heatwaves in Sydney (reaching 40+ celsius), I've watched people struggling on trains that are delayed due to issues with infrastructure, robbed of proper sleep from the extreme temperatures, heading off to participate in jobs, supporting industries which are clearly the cause of our sleepless nights (major banks, energy resource companies etc). I often would think to myself, why bother? If the end goal is such devastating destruction and suffering? Why not stop and get out priorities straight before getting back to work? Economies are great, jobs are awesome, fossil fuels and deforestation isn't and they're no longer required to run a model civilization and healthy economy.
- witty_username 10y ago
  Why do you mention the heatwaves? Do you have evidence they are related to climate change? I think it only changes temperatures by a few Celsius.
  - kaybe 10y ago
    It would be nice if it only did that. For evidence, look here: http://www.nature.com/nclimate/journal/v4/n3/full/nclimate2145.html http://www.nature.com/nclimate/journal/v4/n3/full/nclimate21... Here is a non-blocked article on the topic: http://www.climatecentral.org/news/climate-change-is-increasing-extreme-heat-globally-17120 http://www.climatecentral.org/news/climate-change-is-increas... IMHO, the biggest problems will be the changes in sea level and precipitation pattern though, and atmospheric and ocean circulation/currents. It's definitely not just a few degrees C.
abysmallyideal 10y ago
There's already some evidence of friction between military and the (in)corporate Congress. Military folks are made up of people who live in and grew up in economically difficult situations, and as the US civilian gov and their intelligence orgs continue their strengthening of alignment with corporate interests (profit above all else) the friction is going to build like the rising waters. Edit: cliche, but history has such examples. The military is becoming more aligned with the needs of economically lower classes, while the political, corporate elites and their intelligence orgs align with their own interests of profit, money and the ruling class. One such example was ex military personnel targetting the "elites system of oppression" by force, where the prison systems make them billions/year with labour costing pennies on the dollar. The fall of the Roman Republic is one such historical occurrence where the military became more aligned with the common citizen than their own republic government.
- Gravityloss 10y ago
  How about this theory: The military is not democratic in its internal organization, so the lower ranks don't have much say. And the "revolving door" phenomenon with defense industry will make sure the top brass can be influenced. It resembles more a corrupt banana state than a hope for equality...
  - abysmallyideal 10y ago
    Yea, the US' military is run by the same clique of people. McArthur, is one such example who has the privilege of being one of the only commanders to lead a military attack against US Veterans over the fear the ruling class of the time had of ret. General Butler. If an uprising happened in the US military, then the pampered generals and their sycophants would do everything they can to squash it.
- kwhitefoot 10y ago
  > The fall of the Roman Republic is one such historical occurrence where the military became more aligned with the common citizen than their own republic government. Really? Some references would be good.

pmyjavec 10y ago

I've thought about the strike thing for sometime also, why do we keep propping these people up? The kind of action you're describing is inevitable IMO. Humans may have to go on mass strike until we get the correct Government action on climate change. Sadly, strikes might not even be required/optional soon due to impacted health from rising temperatures, air pollution and difficulty commuting. I'm currently living in Amsterdam now, it's Autumn and it's as hot as Sydney in summer, 30+ C. Bridges are getting stuck and stopping trams which then need to be hosed down with cool water constantly to keep them from ceasing up etc, little things like this along will have a major impact on everyone's pockets and forget getting a good nights sleep in an apartment which is designed for temperatures no higher than 24C. Goodbye productivity. In the middle of heatwaves in Sydney (reaching 40+ celsius), I've watched people struggling on trains that are delayed due to issues with infrastructure, robbed of proper sleep from the extreme temperatures, heading off to participate in jobs, supporting industries which are clearly the cause of our sleepless nights (major banks, energy resource companies etc). I often would think to myself, why bother? If the end goal is such devastating destruction and suffering? Why not stop and get out priorities straight before getting back to work? Economies are great, jobs are awesome, fossil fuels and deforestation isn't and they're no longer required to run a model civilization and healthy economy.

witty_username 10y ago
Why do you mention the heatwaves? Do you have evidence they are related to climate change? I think it only changes temperatures by a few Celsius.
- kaybe 10y ago
  It would be nice if it only did that. For evidence, look here: http://www.nature.com/nclimate/journal/v4/n3/full/nclimate2145.html http://www.nature.com/nclimate/journal/v4/n3/full/nclimate21... Here is a non-blocked article on the topic: http://www.climatecentral.org/news/climate-change-is-increasing-extreme-heat-globally-17120 http://www.climatecentral.org/news/climate-change-is-increas... IMHO, the biggest problems will be the changes in sea level and precipitation pattern though, and atmospheric and ocean circulation/currents. It's definitely not just a few degrees C.

abysmallyideal 10y ago

There's already some evidence of friction between military and the (in)corporate Congress. Military folks are made up of people who live in and grew up in economically difficult situations, and as the US civilian gov and their intelligence orgs continue their strengthening of alignment with corporate interests (profit above all else) the friction is going to build like the rising waters. Edit: cliche, but history has such examples. The military is becoming more aligned with the needs of economically lower classes, while the political, corporate elites and their intelligence orgs align with their own interests of profit, money and the ruling class. One such example was ex military personnel targetting the "elites system of oppression" by force, where the prison systems make them billions/year with labour costing pennies on the dollar. The fall of the Roman Republic is one such historical occurrence where the military became more aligned with the common citizen than their own republic government.

Gravityloss 10y ago
How about this theory: The military is not democratic in its internal organization, so the lower ranks don't have much say. And the "revolving door" phenomenon with defense industry will make sure the top brass can be influenced. It resembles more a corrupt banana state than a hope for equality...
- abysmallyideal 10y ago
  Yea, the US' military is run by the same clique of people. McArthur, is one such example who has the privilege of being one of the only commanders to lead a military attack against US Veterans over the fear the ruling class of the time had of ret. General Butler. If an uprising happened in the US military, then the pampered generals and their sycophants would do everything they can to squash it.
kwhitefoot 10y ago
> The fall of the Roman Republic is one such historical occurrence where the military became more aligned with the common citizen than their own republic government. Really? Some references would be good.