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90 comments on Is More Better?

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Cherenkov on March 6, 2006 - 1:12am Permalink | Subthread | Comments top
It is important to note that the writer of the post has a very good point that just misses the mark, and, in fact, actually states the real problem then moves on to a not trivial subject.

As a buddhist, I know that happiness is not related to the material world except that you are hungry, tired, or in pain, and even that can be overcome (the additional psychological pain we inflict on ourselves on top of actual real world input).

What he skirts here is stated right up front with the simple statement "Our genetically embedded drive for `more' coupled with an expanding world population of 6.5 billion suggests a finite limit for growth will eventually be reached, if it hasn't been already." The problem is a matter of population, the drive for more, and other biological imperatives. We hit the carrying capacity some time ago, probably at one billion people, and no amount of wishful thinking can undo that. The sad truth is the human population must be reduced either by social engineering or it will happen in much crueler fashion through war, disease, and famine. The happiness quotient will probably be of little interest to those who are merely trying to survive with few survival skills. They may actually be happy in the moment, but the chances for physical pain and for death will clearly be increased come peak oil.

I am a firm believer in the idea of living in the moment and not letting the monkey brain make a bad situation fantastically worse, but we must acknowledge that we need to decrease our footprint, and we must start now.

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Don in Colorado on March 6, 2006 - 1:38am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
I saw all this coming way back in the 1970s, when I incessantly studied energy, environment and population issues. I decided then not to have kids, because even 25 years ago, I believed it was ethically irresponsible.

I haven't missed the kids a bit; instead I work with the Partners program and help tutor kids (and they all know about peak oil!}

A big topic in the 1970s was "appropriate technology." Build passive solar homes. Pump water with solar or wind. Recycle clothings and tools. Ride a motorbike instead of driving a 4WD SUV to the coffee shop ...

In a way, we've lost our connection and love for simplicity and thrift.

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beggar on March 6, 2006 - 9:03am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
My wife and I don't have biological kids either.  We did openly adopt two children.  We have nurtured the relationship between our children and their birthmoms, and have watched their birthmoms grow and mature into terrific, confident adults while maintaining a positive connection with their biological children.

I agree that we need to reduce population, and agree that this will not be easy at all.  There are some "rational" or at least "rationalistic" approaches to this which on the face of it sound better than the apocalyptic approach of letting resource depletion, war, disease, and so forth reduce population.

While we work toward population control I want to emphasize the importance of nurturing the next generation.  Paradoxical at best?

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sendoilplease on March 8, 2006 - 5:23am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
I think it is FAR too late for "social engineering" and Mother Nature's Natural remedies (you mention) will be used again.  I do not bet against history when Homo Sap say's he can make a new wave.  "Different this time"  is correct only in the rhyme, but not likely the mechanims of population reduction.  Manz is just a little peon and is not at all capable of social engineering on the scale or speed necessary to adjust now.  Mother Nature will do the culling for us.  Batten Profoundly Local hatches as Kunstler et. al. would say.  Mother Nature expects Us to Not depend on the Central Planners this timezUp.
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