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The public only cares about what is affecting them today and is right in front of their face. And often even then they don't care that much about those things.

The public only cares about what is affecting them today and is right in front of their face. And often even then they don't care that much about those things. Generally speaking, people as individuals are simply not willing to change and will always point to someone else as being the problem. The only thing that has a chance at "solving" climate change and environmental collapse is individual action and individual change.

sksndoffnd 4y ago
This is nonsense pushed by industrial lobbyists. The driving factors of climate change: * industrial * end of list Individuals changing their behavior will not do a single thing to solve, reduce, or delay the climate crisis. It’s a feel-good thing for individuals to do, yes, but it doesn’t help in the slightest.
- paulcole 4y ago
  It's almost like industries are run by people who make decisions. Those people need to change their behavior as well.
Loquebantur 4y ago
You are directly contradicting yourself in the last sentence? This nonsense-belief of "individual change" as a necessary precursor to societal adaptation of necessary policies is an absurdity most likely cooked up by industry spin-doctors. Of course, it is exactly the other way around. Abstract insight into a problem and its solution needs to be implemented into policy by the government. That is it's primary function.
- WeylandYutani 4y ago
  I don't eat seafood. Seems like a choice people could make (in fairness it is not an ideological decision for me I just can't stand the stuff).
- randomdata 4y ago
  > Abstract insight into a problem and its solution needs to be implemented into policy by the government. That's all well and good if you live in a dictatorship, but those of us under democracy are lead by the same individuals that who won't act. Only once they have decided to act and feel the need to clean up the outliers who continue to go against the grain will they use their governmental powers.
  - steveylang 4y ago
    Complacency and greed can just as easily exist in a dictator as it does collectively in a democracy. That being said, I think there are particular factors in the United States that favor corporations and their profits over the general good of the country.
  - Loquebantur 4y ago
    Environmental degradation is a socialization of (opportunity) costs. Unaccountability for those is a systemic failure that needs to be adressed as such. This has nothing to do with democracy per se. The constituency in the US isn't directly involved with legislature. They vote for "representatives" who supposedly defend their interests in a role of mediation. In reality, long-term interests of the public are of little import. Public perception is easily swayed, what counts more than votes is, who has money and knows how to use it. Those responsible steal themselves out of accountability.
politician 4y ago
Look no further than plastic recycling for the impact that individuals can have on improving the environment. Which is to say, none. For all of the pro-recycling propaganda, 95% of it ends up in landfill.
- myshpa 4y ago
  Pro-recycling propaganda started within packaging industry. Pro-animals and vegan movements have different roots. Dairy & meat industry is trying its best to discourage individual actions ... their concern with plant based alternatives and naming of stuff is a clear indicator. Even terms like almond milk (1000 years old term) is somehow a problem. Plastics are very visible within our environment, that was the reason behind population accepting recycling. Animals do not have the voice and the horrors of their lives are generally hidden from the consumers. If most of the population remains ignorant incl. politicians, we cannot expect that anything will change.
randomname93857 4y ago
Industries produce goods that are _intentionally_ made NOT to last, but are made to go garbage and pollute our environment. Even if we as consumers will put that into recycle or re-use it in some other way, still vast majority of that goes into waste. It is not done to make it cheap and affordable, it is produced that way to maximize profits of manufacturers by allowing frequent sales repetitive sales. Companies that used to produce reliable stuff don't do that no more. Not in their offer list. How do I fix this individually?

sksndoffnd 4y ago

This is nonsense pushed by industrial lobbyists. The driving factors of climate change: * industrial * end of list Individuals changing their behavior will not do a single thing to solve, reduce, or delay the climate crisis. It’s a feel-good thing for individuals to do, yes, but it doesn’t help in the slightest.

paulcole 4y ago
It's almost like industries are run by people who make decisions. Those people need to change their behavior as well.

Loquebantur 4y ago

You are directly contradicting yourself in the last sentence? This nonsense-belief of "individual change" as a necessary precursor to societal adaptation of necessary policies is an absurdity most likely cooked up by industry spin-doctors. Of course, it is exactly the other way around. Abstract insight into a problem and its solution needs to be implemented into policy by the government. That is it's primary function.

WeylandYutani 4y ago
I don't eat seafood. Seems like a choice people could make (in fairness it is not an ideological decision for me I just can't stand the stuff).
randomdata 4y ago
> Abstract insight into a problem and its solution needs to be implemented into policy by the government. That's all well and good if you live in a dictatorship, but those of us under democracy are lead by the same individuals that who won't act. Only once they have decided to act and feel the need to clean up the outliers who continue to go against the grain will they use their governmental powers.
- steveylang 4y ago
  Complacency and greed can just as easily exist in a dictator as it does collectively in a democracy. That being said, I think there are particular factors in the United States that favor corporations and their profits over the general good of the country.
- Loquebantur 4y ago
  Environmental degradation is a socialization of (opportunity) costs. Unaccountability for those is a systemic failure that needs to be adressed as such. This has nothing to do with democracy per se. The constituency in the US isn't directly involved with legislature. They vote for "representatives" who supposedly defend their interests in a role of mediation. In reality, long-term interests of the public are of little import. Public perception is easily swayed, what counts more than votes is, who has money and knows how to use it. Those responsible steal themselves out of accountability.

politician 4y ago

Look no further than plastic recycling for the impact that individuals can have on improving the environment. Which is to say, none. For all of the pro-recycling propaganda, 95% of it ends up in landfill.

myshpa 4y ago
Pro-recycling propaganda started within packaging industry. Pro-animals and vegan movements have different roots. Dairy & meat industry is trying its best to discourage individual actions ... their concern with plant based alternatives and naming of stuff is a clear indicator. Even terms like almond milk (1000 years old term) is somehow a problem. Plastics are very visible within our environment, that was the reason behind population accepting recycling. Animals do not have the voice and the horrors of their lives are generally hidden from the consumers. If most of the population remains ignorant incl. politicians, we cannot expect that anything will change.

randomname93857 4y ago

Industries produce goods that are _intentionally_ made NOT to last, but are made to go garbage and pollute our environment. Even if we as consumers will put that into recycle or re-use it in some other way, still vast majority of that goes into waste. It is not done to make it cheap and affordable, it is produced that way to maximize profits of manufacturers by allowing frequent sales repetitive sales. Companies that used to produce reliable stuff don't do that no more. Not in their offer list. How do I fix this individually?