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by stinos 1205 days ago
I don't understand why politically it doesn't get the attention it deserves

Same as the obesity pandemic, the climate crisis, the biodiversity crisis: there are no clear immediate effects for the general population (consequences of that in turn lead from claims that it's fake to 'yeah sure whatever I don't care doesn't affect me' and everything in between), dealing with it will in the short run cost lots of money, not enough momentum to get anything long term going, sprinkle some lobbyism on top. Sounds cynical, I know, but: I've yet to see this proven wrong.. The wait for the tipping point has started.
3 comments
cmews 1205 days ago
I agree with you, however historically the move from leaded fuel to lead-free fuel proved that we could do it or the protection of the ozon layer (one of the few times in history that we took collectively action against something damaging humanity, but it doesn't happen often enough). Curious what would cause a tipping point for improving air quality or any of the other multiple crises you mentioned and if we could learn something from history.
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AstralStorm 1205 days ago
The only worked because we had a ready replacement in place. (Different comparable gasoline additives, different comparable refrigerants, alternative motive gasses for pressured containers.)

And even today, leaded gas is still used for aircraft.

The problem with fossil fuels is we really do not quite have anything as energy dense and useful, not even lithium. (Which there is too little of, not to mention mining issues.)

As such, it will require a major change not just a tweak.

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mistrial9 1205 days ago
a wise activist once said -- it takes an immediate crisis to move the needle in public action
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earlyam 1205 days ago
> Same as the obesity pandemic, the climate crisis, the biodiversity crisis

That and almost every problem is a political party's solution. Get the voter base whipped up about any attempts to do anything and get reelected for obstructing it. Rinse, repeat.

Politicians don't care about issues, they care about getting reelected; to do that they must exploit and perpetuate problems they're supposed to fix.

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