[Rhodes22-list] Political ecology - You can't change just one thing in a system

[Brad Haslett]

Bob,

Let's blow through all the bullshit and cut to the chase!  Your points are
on target, especially the ones about the Islamic adolescents.  Where we
disagree is the "shooting mosquito's with shotguns".  It took a major effort
on our part to teach the Japs not to go raping the Chinese and the Germans
to quit taking France, again.  Perhaps Iraq wasn't the best first choice in
the Islamic world to pick a fight, but fight them we will.  What is at stake
is whether Western civilization will prevail or not.  If you're a betting
man, you have to give good odds to the Chinese.  They made their corrections
for the little 50 year experiment with communism but they are kicking the
world's ass right now.  They also have huge environmental problems.  We can
and should do our part not to soil our little spot on the globe, but the
real environmental battleground is India and China.  As long as the Middle
East controls the drug trade (OIL) we western world addicts will have to put
up with an occasional broken window. Burning energy that was created by
ancient sunshine, fixed in amount, and located in unfriendly places is a
pretty stupid idea.  Oh yeah, don't forget that global warming scare thing!

Nukes anyone!  Hello?

Brad


On 3/22/07, Robert Skinner <robert at squirrelhaven.com> wrote:
>
> Tootle wrote:
> > I agree with your points, however please explain how garbage in the
> ocean
> > and mercury in drinking water are direct causes of global warming?
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Ed, they are not causes; they are symptoms of an attitude
> which I believe you alluded to later in your response.
>
> The point that I was making is that (contrary to the Czech
> president's view) it is possible to ruin this planet -- and
> I believe we are doing a fine job of it already.
>
> Global warming, because it is the focus of so much
> discussion today, obscures the certainly man-made assaults
> on our home -- which is the whole earth.  You cannot change
> just one thing in a system, and you cannot isolate one
> country's impact on our global home any more than you can
> ignore the effects of a truck coming at you in your lane.
>
> We have a government to mitigate the effects of the
> dictatorial power and individual's avarice, agression, or
> misfortune, and to defend against other countries' acts
> against us.  At one time, we could ignore the interactive
> effects of countries who were not either neighbors or
> attacking us, but as our understanding of our global
> ecology matures, we find that there are huge effects --
> consequences of one country's actions ring worldwide.
>
> Brad's point about the effects of zealots on global
> politics -- that we who are happy with our lives may be
> overwhelmed by those who are not -- is valid.  It is
> related, in that only a global response to global
> vandalism will be effective.  Terrorists are nothing
> more than children who have not given up breaking
> windows as they got older.  The fact that many are
> Islamic is incidental.  The patriarchal character of
> Islam creates a cognitive shelter for their mis-leaders.
>
> Just as good health is the slowest way to die, so do we
> face the horse race between being blown to bits or
> poisoned by our air and water.
>
> Ultimately, our daily choices do have an effect.  I
> choose to minimize my impact on my nearby environment,
> knowing that there is no pure green action other than
> digging my grave, lying in it, and starving myself to
> death.
>
> I also advocate persuing the individual terrorists and
> killing them before they kill me.  I do not support
> taking entire countries and occupying them while
> attempting to mediate a civil war.  When you shoot a
> mosquito in your house with a shotgun, you blow a hole
> in your wall.  Counterproductive overkill.
>
> --
> Robert Skinner       "Squirrel Haven"
> 9 Gateway Comn, Gorham, ME 04038-1331
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