This ain't no solution because it won't happen, but I think we should be clear that it needs to happen: the government has to declare that all fossil fuels, whether they are in the ground or in pipes, is immediately owned by the government, by the People. Then we can use the science of centrallly planned economies to use only the oil, coal, and gas that is most essential, and forbid their use elsewhere. We would need collaboration from China and Russia, not enmity and endless wars.
This is the world I live in. I understand what's happening, I'm seeing it happening. I also understand that there's nothing that will be done about it, even though (as Al Gore is fond of pointing out), the technology to stop ruining the climate exists *right now.* Every time the seasons change, and the birds head north or south (depending on the bird and the season), I wonder if it's the last time I'll see them. I actually teach a course on climate change, and I've incorporated a unit on climate change into every class I teach. I'm careful to try to be optimistic, and talk about technological and political solutions to the problem. I don't believe a word of it. Instead, I doom-scroll through news items, seeing phrases like "mass human die-offs" and "not compatible with human life."
We are off to 118 sometime in the next week. My heat resistance stops at 110. I have not seen you in a bit. Indeed, this is your first commentary I have seen in a bit. Hope all is well by you.
Great read and as usual you have all the facts out there. Peace.
To say it's good to see you here again may be the understatement of the month, but the month isn't over. My June ended with me finishing "The Passenger," Cormac McCarthy's last novel, becoming abyssally despondent over it, then waking up to find that he had died. You have not; I have not. I'm going to copy out your remark about writing being as good as not writing and putting it somewhere I have to look at it every day, which will be a feat, given the clutter in which I live. Anyway, welcome back to the hellishness we inhabit, and all that.
Hey, Joe, Where You Going With That
This ain't no solution because it won't happen, but I think we should be clear that it needs to happen: the government has to declare that all fossil fuels, whether they are in the ground or in pipes, is immediately owned by the government, by the People. Then we can use the science of centrallly planned economies to use only the oil, coal, and gas that is most essential, and forbid their use elsewhere. We would need collaboration from China and Russia, not enmity and endless wars.
https://thespouter.substack.com/p/the-punchline-to-history
This is the world I live in. I understand what's happening, I'm seeing it happening. I also understand that there's nothing that will be done about it, even though (as Al Gore is fond of pointing out), the technology to stop ruining the climate exists *right now.* Every time the seasons change, and the birds head north or south (depending on the bird and the season), I wonder if it's the last time I'll see them. I actually teach a course on climate change, and I've incorporated a unit on climate change into every class I teach. I'm careful to try to be optimistic, and talk about technological and political solutions to the problem. I don't believe a word of it. Instead, I doom-scroll through news items, seeing phrases like "mass human die-offs" and "not compatible with human life."
I drink. A lot.
Weldon:
We are off to 118 sometime in the next week. My heat resistance stops at 110. I have not seen you in a bit. Indeed, this is your first commentary I have seen in a bit. Hope all is well by you.
Great read and as usual you have all the facts out there. Peace.
Bill
Doesn't matter if you don't want to hear it. Nothing happens with the current political lineup. It has to be changed. Sorry about that.
To say it's good to see you here again may be the understatement of the month, but the month isn't over. My June ended with me finishing "The Passenger," Cormac McCarthy's last novel, becoming abyssally despondent over it, then waking up to find that he had died. You have not; I have not. I'm going to copy out your remark about writing being as good as not writing and putting it somewhere I have to look at it every day, which will be a feat, given the clutter in which I live. Anyway, welcome back to the hellishness we inhabit, and all that.
Don't look up