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Science Forum Index » Geology - Meteorology Forum » Sancho, Quixote, and Cake
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| Author |
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| D.H. Gottlieb |
 Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 12:39 pm |
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Guest
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"Sancho, I don't see why you care and they don't."
"Who doesn't care, and about what, oh altruistic one?"
"Reports are leaking out every day on the dangers of climate change:
The southwest and the southeast are facing droughts that will kill
cities, while places like Portland are facing floods that may wipe out
large sections of the city overnight--and no one is paying attention.
Sancho, that's madness."
"Quixote, maybe the population wants to commit suicide?"
"Sancho, do you have any idea how bad it is going to be?"
"I do. Perhaps the population doesn't have the time to think about
it."
"My point, exactly, Sancho. Why bother caring? They get what they
deserve."
"Quixote, on the other hand, at some point the horrors will multiply
and the population's apathy will turn into fear and anger--oh I see
what is bothering you. Those that would-be-king fear a backlash from
the tribe."
"I didn't say that, Sancho."
"You didn't have to, Quixote."
"All right, let's say for a moment that you are correct. Do you think
there will be a backlash?"
"Let's see, economic misery, the loss of loved ones, starvation,
death, the realization that the oligarchy knew it was coming all along
and hid it, hmmm, ah, maybe."
"We've done a good job of hiding what we know, Sancho, I don't think
our intelligence will be a problem."
"Never was in the past, Quixote, but just because your friends appear
indolent, selfish, greedy, and stupid--it doesn't mean they have any
plausible deniability on the dangers of climate change. There are
enough people who understand the link between anthropogenic forcing
and the coming horrors that anger will be everywhere. It'll make the
Jacobins look like a cub-scout troop."
"So we need to increase the size of our military, train them better in
urban warfare, legalize torture, and build up walled compounds to ride
out the turmoil. Is that right, Sancho?"
"Castles? Quixote is the current ruling class really that ignorant?"
"Oh, I'm certain of that, Sancho. We embrace ignorance--it's our
friend."
"Quixote, if a strong military really kept the masses in line, if
that strategy really worked, why then would rights have been granted
to the masses in the 18th century?"
"A lack of computers?"
"You really believe that?"
"My friends do--and I see your point--Sancho."
"Quixote, the rulers and ruled, need to wake up to one reality: The
climate wins."
"Sancho, we can own the weather."
"Quixote--stop being an asshole--the climate is out of control. There
is nothing you can do about it. That's the reality of our lives."
"You said cutting our output of carbon dioxide by 75% would save us."
"At this point, Quixote, all that reduction will do is cut down on the
length of time that humanity suffers."
"That's terrible, Sancho. How can you say such a thing? It's
defeatist."
"I still say we should cut carbon dioxide output by 75%. I just said
we are facing mounting horrors. I also said we have passed the point
where the transition to sustainable economic system will be benign."
"Meaning we have passed the tipping point?"
"The economic tipping point, yes. The climate tipping point, not yet,
but we will be there soon."
"Sancho, the tipping point is the boogey man--like bird flu."
"Quixote, you and your friends are laughable. The tipping point is
the point of no return."
"Meaning?"
"Permanent hurricanes the size of states, droughts that never end,
ocean waves the height of 20 story buildings that wash ashore daily.
Storms that pack the punch of tornadoes, increased tectonic activity,
isotonic rebound in the Antarctic, three-meter sea level rise in less
than a decade, uncontrollable disease, a lack of food and clean water,
population migration, and oh yes: no economy to speak of."
"But you say we can still make a difference if we cut carbon dioxide
output by 75%."
"Immediately."
"Sorry, no can do. This is an election year. Look, Sancho, all we want
to do is make money and control everything. The climate change problem
is everybody's problem."
"Yes it is--so why have you and your friends installed a media machine
that keeps the people in the dark about how bad it is going to get and
how to fix it?"
"Some of our friends in the fossil fuels area are not willing to
support dramatic changes--or any changes."
"So what passes for caring among your friends, Quixote?"
"Economic interests. Wait, are you are saying climate change is all
about a lack of caring, a lack of political will, Sancho?"
"Ya' think, Quixote? The Rulers are going to have to lead-- not just
take perks--or they will get caught up in the madness and swept away,
just like everyone else."
"Well then, Sancho, the Ruled are going to have to face the horrors of
climate change and accept drastic changes to their lifestyles--
immediately--or be annihilated by the thousands."
"Imagine it, Quixote, a social contract between the Ruled and the
Rulers. America leaps boldly into the 18th century. Cake anyone?"
February 15, 2008
Peace,
D.H. Gottlieb |
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