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The oil industry and the auto industry and the layout of 20th century American cities are all pretty thoroughly tied together, so I think you're significantly u
by majormajor 5y ago
The oil industry and the auto industry and the layout of 20th century American cities are all pretty thoroughly tied together, so I think you're significantly underestimating the effects of deliberate action on the world.
There's a certain mindset of technological determinism that says we can't control what happens with a new technological development, and how it impacts our society, but I completely disagree with it. And so do the people running a lot of the companies developing those technologies - they have and will continue to aggressively push for the policies which favor them regardless of the externalities, so we absolutely have to push for regulation of how technology is used and shapes our lives.
- coryrc 5y agoIf you want to say part of the reason we have suburban sprawl is auto companies, I'll agree with you, but people had real increases in standard of living when moving out of towns. The air was cleaner, the area safer for kids, and it was quieter (especially given our shoddy apartment buildings). The way the GI Bill was structured contributed as well. But Big Oil? Way down the list. If you aren't conceiving of the real reasons, you can't address people's true concerns. In a democracy their vote is just as valuable as yours.