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I used to feel this way (I bike commute and only turn on our AC maybe 3-4 times a year), but I've come to believe that this idea of personal responsibility is a

by sauwan 3y ago

I used to feel this way (I bike commute and only turn on our AC maybe 3-4 times a year), but I've come to believe that this idea of personal responsibility is a major fossil fuel industry talking point. The fact is, governments around the world provide massive subsidy to all sorts of industry's that tends to support GHG production. We're never going to get this under control until we demand our representatives change the policy and incentive structures for a large majority of industry out there. It's not just cooling and cars/trucks. It's agriculture, heating, almost all of transportation/shipping, a majority of power consumption, etc. But the entrenched powers at be want you to think that this is a personal responsibility issue, because lots of people stand to lose lots of money once we realize that the only thing that can fix this issue is a massive restructuring of worldwide government policy and incentives.

lwansbrough 3y ago
The government forms policy around popular opinion. If people don’t believe their impact is important than their government won’t affect policy that makes a difference to peoples’ personal impact. The fossil fuel industry is a response to the people DEMANDING its service. > But the entrenched powers at be want you to think that this is a personal responsibility issue, because lots of people stand to lose lots of money Nothing will get done if people think this way. Just take your personal responsibility and inform others to do the same.
- MrBodangles 3y ago
  The government forms policy around capital [0]. Only when popular opinion “aligns” with capital does it succeed. This is the same everywhere, just to varying degrees. Either way, civilization as we know it is wholly reliant on fossil fuels so the majority will never agree to the degree of sacrifices required to prevent disaster. We’re ultimately doomed to “bandaid the broken arm” until ecosystems collapse and we have no choice; forcing everyone still alive to suffer significantly worse consequences as a result. [0]: https://youtu.be/5tu32CCA_Ig https://youtu.be/5tu32CCA_Ig
haizhung 3y ago
Yes and no. You are correct that it needs government and regulatory action to get the problem under any sort of control. However, it needs a critical mass of individuals that take it upon themselves to live by example. Otherwise, the administrations will always default to “look, we would really like to change something, but the majority of our constituents just can’t handle the drastic change”. We need to show that it is possible to live a better life AND we need the government to force everyone to the same standard who is dragging their feet.

by sauwan 3y ago

lwansbrough 3y ago

The government forms policy around popular opinion. If people don’t believe their impact is important than their government won’t affect policy that makes a difference to peoples’ personal impact. The fossil fuel industry is a response to the people DEMANDING its service. > But the entrenched powers at be want you to think that this is a personal responsibility issue, because lots of people stand to lose lots of money Nothing will get done if people think this way. Just take your personal responsibility and inform others to do the same.

MrBodangles 3y ago
The government forms policy around capital [0]. Only when popular opinion “aligns” with capital does it succeed. This is the same everywhere, just to varying degrees. Either way, civilization as we know it is wholly reliant on fossil fuels so the majority will never agree to the degree of sacrifices required to prevent disaster. We’re ultimately doomed to “bandaid the broken arm” until ecosystems collapse and we have no choice; forcing everyone still alive to suffer significantly worse consequences as a result. [0]: https://youtu.be/5tu32CCA_Ig https://youtu.be/5tu32CCA_Ig

haizhung 3y ago

Yes and no. You are correct that it needs government and regulatory action to get the problem under any sort of control. However, it needs a critical mass of individuals that take it upon themselves to live by example. Otherwise, the administrations will always default to “look, we would really like to change something, but the majority of our constituents just can’t handle the drastic change”. We need to show that it is possible to live a better life AND we need the government to force everyone to the same standard who is dragging their feet.