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> By your standards the only action that's good enough is taking one's own life. I'm sorry, I must have missed where I wrote that in my response. I've met man

by Syonyk 6y ago

> By your standards the only action that's good enough is taking one's own life. I'm sorry, I must have missed where I wrote that in my response. I've met many left leaning progressives who view climate change as a very real problem, and the indications of it in their own lives are... well, entirely missing. If you've got a net worth of comfortably north of a million dollars, live in a large home (say, 5000 sq ft for three or four people), commute an hour or two to work every day (in your new Tesla, of course - have to buy to be green!), and take a vacation via jet once or twice a year? I'm sorry, I don't believe that you really find climate change that much of a problem. And, practically, it's not going to be for someone in that position. You can buy your way out of most problems, climate change included. At most, it seems to be an excuse for socially valid consumption (back six or so years ago, "Yeah, I've got a preorder for a Powerwall and a Tesla Roof..." seemed a well regarded phrase among the excessive consumption class). If someone states "Yeah, my house is on fire, it's a really big emergency..." as they're sitting on their couch watching TV with the kids asleep in their bedrooms, it's reasonable to conclude that they don't actually believe their house is on fire. And I apply the same logic to other things people are prone to claim are "huge emergencies." If they're getting the family out of the house, calling the fire department, and discharging a fire extinguisher at the base of the flames, yeah, they believe their house is on fire. You're welcome to assume I care nothing about climate change if you want, though a reasonably quick survey of the other writings I've done on the internet would prove the absurdity of that statement, given the number of battery packs I've rebuilt, transportation choices, solar array builds, and my general (deliberate) lack of regular travel in my life. shrug

triceratops 6y ago
Ok, I'll set out my own climate credentials. As a "left leaning progressive" of the economic standing you describe, I've lived most of my adult life in apartments less than 800 sq ft. All of the furniture in my apartment, save my bed, is off Craigslist or from consignment stores. I've commuted by bike or public transport for most of my career and when I've had a car commute, it's been under 20 minutes - by design. Pre-Covid and parenthood, I took one or two flights a year mostly to visit family. I think I've taken one pure pleasure trip overseas in my entire life. The only animal flesh I consume is chicken, maybe 3 meals/week. I buy carbon offsets for everything else. Given all that, I'll still take the other "left leaning progressives with 5000 sq ft homes" over the people who deny that there's a problem at all. At least the progressives vote for politicians who'll do something. The other guys will consume the same amount as the limousine liberals, but their politicians won't do shit. If we keep hoping for everyone in the world to start living like you or me, the world is doomed. Carbon taxes and other big actions are the only way. With carbon taxes, people will automatically pay extra for their massive homes and jet setting lifestyles, or be priced out.

by Syonyk 6y ago

triceratops 6y ago

Ok, I'll set out my own climate credentials. As a "left leaning progressive" of the economic standing you describe, I've lived most of my adult life in apartments less than 800 sq ft. All of the furniture in my apartment, save my bed, is off Craigslist or from consignment stores. I've commuted by bike or public transport for most of my career and when I've had a car commute, it's been under 20 minutes - by design. Pre-Covid and parenthood, I took one or two flights a year mostly to visit family. I think I've taken one pure pleasure trip overseas in my entire life. The only animal flesh I consume is chicken, maybe 3 meals/week. I buy carbon offsets for everything else. Given all that, I'll still take the other "left leaning progressives with 5000 sq ft homes" over the people who deny that there's a problem at all. At least the progressives vote for politicians who'll do something. The other guys will consume the same amount as the limousine liberals, but their politicians won't do shit. If we keep hoping for everyone in the world to start living like you or me, the world is doomed. Carbon taxes and other big actions are the only way. With carbon taxes, people will automatically pay extra for their massive homes and jet setting lifestyles, or be priced out.