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by spodek 1664 days ago
The only thing changing slower than expected is humans. We resist stopping digging and burning fossil fuels.

One thing we know reduces emissions and pollution: stop digging and burning fossil fuels. We're using every excuse not to. Everyone has their thing they want to do that delays capping the wells and closing the mines. Beyond overconsumption, we can't even talk about overpopulation without losing our shit (though a few people and nations have made great progress, see Mechai Viravaidya, for example).
2 comments
anonporridge 1664 days ago
Might makes right.

You can't "just stop" unless everyone does. But if there exists any competitive advantage to cheat and not stop, then those who do will become more powerful than those who don't. There definitely exists a competitive advantage to burn cheap fossil fuels since we get to externalize and socialize the negative consequences on everyone while privatizing the gains when we do.

All hail Moloch, https://slatestarcodex.com/2014/07/30/meditations-on-moloch/

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mistrial9 1664 days ago
watch Elon Musk respond to this question on a panel talk, in front of Oil executives, in Norway .. master class in diplomacy.. hint "just stop" is not a winning position, no matter what outcome you favor
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Supermancho 1664 days ago
> hint "just stop" is not a winning position

It is the ONLY winning position. (almost) Every part of the world talks incessantly about it or around it rather than actually taking the position. Saying "just stop" is only the first step and if you can't take that, you haven't realized that every other position is a losing position. The trick is that it's a worse and worse position each day.

Saying "just stop" isn't supposed to win immediately against those who will fight you regardless of what you say. It's to show you're willing to take off the steering wheel in a head to head. Ofc, you don't want to say it when you don't mean it.

I'm convinced that parts of the world, thirsty for water (and other resources) will go to war and it still will not stop. The hand wringing and peace making is unsurprising business as usual.

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orthecreedence 1664 days ago
Yes, our beautiful little system we've constructed is starting to feel more and more like a ball and chain. We can't bother doing what's in everyone's best interest because it also happens to be in nobody's individual interest. Quite a predicament.
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spodek 1664 days ago
Elon Musk is today's Robert Moses. People associate him with helping the environment, but he's pushing for growth as his top-line strategy. He may lower emissions from tailpipes, but systemically, he's exacerbating the problems.
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jquery 1664 days ago
Elon? Is that the guy who moved to Texas to dodge taxes and regulations? Who’s expanding industry in one of the states with the least environmentally friendly laws in the nation? You know, a state where rolling coal is considered a pastime?

Yeah no thanks. I sold my Tesla shares after he took a cheap shot at Bernie Sanders (funny how he never took a shot at Donald Trump, weird huh)…

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sokoloff 1664 days ago
I’m guessing if Trump took a shot at him, he’d have quipped back, just as he did to Bernie.
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jquery 1664 days ago
Bernie didn’t take a shot at him, at least not directly. Nothing deserving a snarky reply.
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