Ah yes, the good old days. When manufacturing jobs were plentiful and American production was second to none.
It’s important to remember the cost of what made America “great” back then.
It’s important to remember the cost of what made America “great” back then.
However, we sent many of those jobs to Mexico and China where they have fewer environmental and safety regulations.
We gutted blue collar jobs and created the current populist environment because we didn’t want to pay fair wages.
In addition, the large increase in pollution and CO2 in China (largest producer by far) is because Europe and the US exported steel mills, factories, etc.
In my view this is just a right-wing talking point to try to destroy our ability to keep clean the commons in a working economic system.
I made my choice.
But also, measures to control population strike deeply dystopian chords, and result in similarly adverse reactions.
I think most people realize things have long not been sustainable... but it isn’t obvious what to do about that. I think that’s why the focus has been on technology that can buy us more time. Anything else that could help is probably not gonna happen in short order...
We'll save a lot of water when that happens, which isn't a bad thing regardless of your position on animal rights.
Civilization isn't a zero-sum game. Everyone, without exception, who has ever claimed otherwise, has been wrong. In order for someone living in the middle of Africa or India to live better, you and I don't have to live worse.
This is only a matter of time though. What happens when we hit 10B, then 15B? This idea will start to gain more appeal as time goes on.
I’m not saying I disagree FWIW. Just saying I think the problem is nearly intractable; humanity as a whole may literally rather see the end of itself than make lifestyle concessions.
Healthcare doesn't have major impacts on the environment.
Flushing toilets are probably a net benefit for the environment.
This [1] suggests we can all live like China, but we can probably do a little better if we remove the coal power stations and use that co2 budget for something else.