<DrumBeat: July 12, 2006 The Oil Drum Deep Ocean Energy Resources -- A Critical Analysis>

289 comments on Peak Oil, Persuasion, and the World Meme

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Kevembuangga on July 13, 2006 - 2:25am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
People will almost always choose something that offers short term individual pleasure even if it risks long term individual pain. Despite our individual abilities to plan for the long term. This differs across issues, but IMHO we are still very much creatures of the moment.

Exactly, and infortunately it is not going to change any time soon because it is somewhat "hardwired" in the brain.

See Breakdown of Will from George Ainslie.
Also of interest A Selectionist Model of the Ego: Implications of Self-Control and Emotion as a Motivated Behavior (same page).
As a quick summary, we are not rational creatures, we are not "in control" and even we try to this brings so serious drawbacks that one has to wonder which option is worse.

How do we fix the mess then?
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Glenn on July 13, 2006 - 7:21am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
How do we fix the mess then?

Same as fighting smoking!

Good hard scientific evidence.

Political leadership at all levels of government to promote efficiency and alternatives to oil

Social pressure against wasteful behaviors like suburban living, buying SUVs/Hummers, 6,000 sq/ft houses

Economic incentives to "do the right thing" and consume less fosssil fuels.

And of course large scale investment in alternatives!

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289 comments on Peak Oil, Persuasion, and the World Meme

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