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Regardless of the merits or demerits of this particular scheme, I admire the spirit. With a fraction of such confidence we could revive the Neanderthals, build

Regardless of the merits or demerits of this particular scheme, I admire the spirit. With a fraction of such confidence we could revive the Neanderthals, build an asteroid defence system, clean up the oceans, on and on. Instead we're not trying much. We feel ashamed... because... why?

RobertRoberts 9y ago
At what cost? Some cultures do not value the health and life of the every day person. I don't think that is something to be honored or respected.
- blacksmith_tb 9y ago
  While clearly true, I think we'd have to rephrase that as "all cultures" - here in the US people are sleeping on the sidewalk outside my office. In the PRC, they're willing to gamble on geoengineering which could poison people (just not people in power). I can't think of any current society that really values every member - but we can keep working towards that goal...
  - RobertRoberts 9y ago
    >I think we'd have to rephrase that as "all cultures" Absolutely agree, but here we have the freedom to protest the government itself, and do so openly for as long as we need to to make a change. They literally have a dictator for life that just came into power weeks ago.
  - deephoney 9y ago
    Scandinavian societies are pretty good at looking after everyone "in" the society, though for outsiders things can be hit and miss.
Raphmedia 9y ago
Well, it's that spirit in the first place that gave us such polluted oceans.
- merpnderp 9y ago
  The oceans are polluted mostly from landfills in about 12 Asian and African cities blowing plastic debris into them.
  - Raphmedia 9y ago
    Wasn't the spirit in question the one where you do reckless things without any thoughts for the future?
XR0CSWV3h3kZWg 9y ago
Unintended consequences. Communist party of china has a pretty bad history of large unintended consequences from their actions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Pests_Campaign https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Pests_Campaign https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-child_policy#Effects https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-child_policy#Effects https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_Revolution#Policy_and_effect https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_Revolution#Policy_and...

RobertRoberts 9y ago

At what cost? Some cultures do not value the health and life of the every day person. I don't think that is something to be honored or respected.

blacksmith_tb 9y ago
While clearly true, I think we'd have to rephrase that as "all cultures" - here in the US people are sleeping on the sidewalk outside my office. In the PRC, they're willing to gamble on geoengineering which could poison people (just not people in power). I can't think of any current society that really values every member - but we can keep working towards that goal...
- RobertRoberts 9y ago
  >I think we'd have to rephrase that as "all cultures" Absolutely agree, but here we have the freedom to protest the government itself, and do so openly for as long as we need to to make a change. They literally have a dictator for life that just came into power weeks ago.
- deephoney 9y ago
  Scandinavian societies are pretty good at looking after everyone "in" the society, though for outsiders things can be hit and miss.

Raphmedia 9y ago

Well, it's that spirit in the first place that gave us such polluted oceans.

merpnderp 9y ago
The oceans are polluted mostly from landfills in about 12 Asian and African cities blowing plastic debris into them.
- Raphmedia 9y ago
  Wasn't the spirit in question the one where you do reckless things without any thoughts for the future?

XR0CSWV3h3kZWg 9y ago

Unintended consequences. Communist party of china has a pretty bad history of large unintended consequences from their actions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Pests_Campaign https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Pests_Campaign https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-child_policy#Effects https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-child_policy#Effects https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_Revolution#Policy_and_effect https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_Revolution#Policy_and...