3 ms·

An equally likely solution - probably more likely, given the historical trends of governments - would be to declare half the population as "undesirables", force

An equally likely solution - probably more likely, given the historical trends of governments - would be to declare half the population as "undesirables", force them to live a pre-industrial existence (if you allow them to live at all), and double the energy prices for the other half, which I'm sure they'll gladly pay given the alternative.

TeMPOraL 12y ago
That's a free market solution, and probably what will happen if we don't act to change things.
- none_for_me_thx 12y ago
  Are you joking?
VLM 12y ago
To "fix" it you'd have to go further, all Pol Pot on the population. We'll probably just continue existing policy, which actually is fairly environmentally sound. If you eliminate the middle class, they can't buy SUVs and take jet aircraft on vacations. Check. If you eliminate industrial sites, they can emit greenhouse gasses. Check. Public policy for decades. See above, temporarily we've outsourced our middle class purchasing to Chinese factory production, but once we get rid of the middle class and return the USA to our agrarian roots, the factories in China will also close. If you concentrate all capital and property ownership into a Very small, optimistically well educated group or individuals or corporations, they will have better chance of enlightened self interest than if the general population is permitted private property. Check, thats been public policy for decades. Impoverish young people to discourage children, permanently lowering environmental load. Check. Public policy for decades. I could go on about health care and homelessness and the highest prison population on the planet, but it all aligns quite well. Honestly, we're already doing so much for the environment I don't know what more we can do without "extreme" measures.

3 ms·

An equally likely solution - probably more likely, given the historical trends of governments - would be to declare half the population as "undesirables", force

by squozzer 12y ago

TeMPOraL 12y ago
That's a free market solution, and probably what will happen if we don't act to change things.
- none_for_me_thx 12y ago
  Are you joking?
VLM 12y ago
To "fix" it you'd have to go further, all Pol Pot on the population. We'll probably just continue existing policy, which actually is fairly environmentally sound. If you eliminate the middle class, they can't buy SUVs and take jet aircraft on vacations. Check. If you eliminate industrial sites, they can emit greenhouse gasses. Check. Public policy for decades. See above, temporarily we've outsourced our middle class purchasing to Chinese factory production, but once we get rid of the middle class and return the USA to our agrarian roots, the factories in China will also close. If you concentrate all capital and property ownership into a Very small, optimistically well educated group or individuals or corporations, they will have better chance of enlightened self interest than if the general population is permitted private property. Check, thats been public policy for decades. Impoverish young people to discourage children, permanently lowering environmental load. Check. Public policy for decades. I could go on about health care and homelessness and the highest prison population on the planet, but it all aligns quite well. Honestly, we're already doing so much for the environment I don't know what more we can do without "extreme" measures.