Do you think Trump's tariffs will usher in an age of degrowth and decreased consumption? I haven't seen this angle covered in mainstream economic commentary, but maybe this can be an opening for us to write about (and encourage in our circles) these in our own ways.
That's an interesting question that I haven't had time to think about thoroughly, although it's burning in there. Without giving it focused thought, I would say Trump's tariffs will cause degrowth, but not in a positive way. The worst of the consumption that is destroying the planet is caused by the wealthiest. The rest of us are a drop in the bucket. It's hard to comprehend, and I would have to look up the information again for complete accuracy, but the average billionaire's jet travel for 45 minutes creates more CO2 than the average person for a year. Stunning, right? Getting the wealthy to decrease their consumption is essential. So the degrowth on the pain of our sacrifice is unlikely to change our course. The wealthy must be brought to heel.
This is not to say I don't advocate for you and I living small. Hell, writing from home, I have T-shirts that could have been retired years ago. Doing the right thing is at least good for our mental health while we fight for more. Keep encouraging and educating, Leslie. Now is a prime opportunity IMO.
Geoffrey writes: "Take this information and carry it forward. My words and those of other sentinels are only as good as how far you carry them, dear reader. We writers depend on you. We must fight together."
Overshoot (in population, consumption and waste) is close to a root problem. Even further down is that we see ourselves separate from Earth, separate from each other, and even separate from ourselves (distraction from our own reality inside creates this). Yes, take Geoffrey's info in, deeply. Understand what this means--existential threats. We are all in this together. Others more powerful and wealthy are in charge now. And, we have the numbers--but only if we "carry it forward." Together with a North Star like "Creating a compassionate, just and ecologically sustainable world," or "a world that works for all" or "a life-affirming culture."
Stable Planet is close to being complete with training (nominal fee--for skin in the game) that lays out the need for educated and wise public engagement to support new leaders and legislators who will fulfill the will of the people--to kindly survive the cruel harm to Earth and human ecosystems and create Earth and humanity flourishing.
Thank you for this, Pam. We truly must fight for sane values NOW. There is no more time. We are already consigned to disaster. I choose to keep writing and fighting in hope we can salvage a future for some of us, and some of the flora and fauna strong enough to adapt to the mindless destruction of our beautiful, amazing home since the tragic exploitation of fossil fuels. It's triage mode now.
I am careful with the word Jew these days. It's not to be equated with Zionism, anymore than being white is equated to be supportive of the Ku Klux Klan. Hate is hate, and it's ridiculous since human genetics are 99.99 percent the same regardless of superficial outward appearances shaped by the Earth. Trump is a virtuoso idiot and indictment of our culture which managed to advance him to this level.
Considering his stand on Gaza, one could say that, but frankly he is so stupid and removed of human empathy, his wormy brain might literally see it as a real estate deal. That’s how fucked up a human brain can be.
Hoping our president’s misdeeds lead to some form of degrowth is a significant effort to find a silver lining, Geoffrey. The lost opportunity cost while we pour all of our efforts into saving our democracy is huge. Every possible effort to reduce climate change in this era of mass extinction should be underway. Yet, the worst people among us are making the decisions that will doom the planet. Instead of positive action, they preach the insane mantra, “Drill baby drill.”
Agreed. We are losing critical time to salvage any chance of a decent future, but then again, it's a matter of degrees. Biden's efforts fell well short, as even the so-called "vision" of a green, renewable economy does. The truth is, oil is on the verge of decline, and these political ideas don't address the fundamentals of overconsumption and overpopulation. Trump's brand of insanity is much more cruel, but in some ways merely hastens an outcome we have little to no control over at this point.
I guess we can look back at all of our presidents and agree that their efforts to resolve climate change fell miserably short. Whenever critical decisions needed to be made, they just kicked the can down the road.
Remember when the Department of Energy set a date in the future to find a permanent storage facility for nuclear waste? I think it was by the year 2000. That glowing pile has been sitting in a temporary facility in Texas since 1980! It’s close to 100,000 tons of radioactive garbage.
Maybe Musk can shoot that shit up to his future home on Mars…if SpaceX can ever get off the ground.
Gosh. I didn't know Texas was having problems with nuclear waste. Hawaii has the perfect solution! We will happily add it to the upcoming land fill designed to accommodate all the tourists generated trash here in paradise -
Plenty of room and the radioactivity will help break it all down. Might even catch fire if we're lucky! It'll go nicely with the depleted uranium shells the military practices with. It's a wonderful solution. Far better than the radioactive dump sites in the Atlantic and Pacific. Glad we're being led by such genius.
I'm jumping the gun on my Substack coming out tomorrow that is built around what, in an out of left field way, could unite us in a positive vision that would be our salvation. It may be too late for retaining a very sophisticated civilization, but at least it could give us our best shot at coming out of this at all: "A Wider Perspective on Our Moment" by Stephen Dinan: https://stephendinan.substack.com/p/a-wider-perspective-on-our-moment. See my comment, from SUE Speaks.
Do you think Trump's tariffs will usher in an age of degrowth and decreased consumption? I haven't seen this angle covered in mainstream economic commentary, but maybe this can be an opening for us to write about (and encourage in our circles) these in our own ways.
That's an interesting question that I haven't had time to think about thoroughly, although it's burning in there. Without giving it focused thought, I would say Trump's tariffs will cause degrowth, but not in a positive way. The worst of the consumption that is destroying the planet is caused by the wealthiest. The rest of us are a drop in the bucket. It's hard to comprehend, and I would have to look up the information again for complete accuracy, but the average billionaire's jet travel for 45 minutes creates more CO2 than the average person for a year. Stunning, right? Getting the wealthy to decrease their consumption is essential. So the degrowth on the pain of our sacrifice is unlikely to change our course. The wealthy must be brought to heel.
This is not to say I don't advocate for you and I living small. Hell, writing from home, I have T-shirts that could have been retired years ago. Doing the right thing is at least good for our mental health while we fight for more. Keep encouraging and educating, Leslie. Now is a prime opportunity IMO.
If he succeeds (we may know within the week), only the 0.001% will have the wealth. That would lead to horrendous suffering and death as "degrowth."
Geoffrey writes: "Take this information and carry it forward. My words and those of other sentinels are only as good as how far you carry them, dear reader. We writers depend on you. We must fight together."
Overshoot (in population, consumption and waste) is close to a root problem. Even further down is that we see ourselves separate from Earth, separate from each other, and even separate from ourselves (distraction from our own reality inside creates this). Yes, take Geoffrey's info in, deeply. Understand what this means--existential threats. We are all in this together. Others more powerful and wealthy are in charge now. And, we have the numbers--but only if we "carry it forward." Together with a North Star like "Creating a compassionate, just and ecologically sustainable world," or "a world that works for all" or "a life-affirming culture."
Stable Planet is close to being complete with training (nominal fee--for skin in the game) that lays out the need for educated and wise public engagement to support new leaders and legislators who will fulfill the will of the people--to kindly survive the cruel harm to Earth and human ecosystems and create Earth and humanity flourishing.
Thank you for this, Pam. We truly must fight for sane values NOW. There is no more time. We are already consigned to disaster. I choose to keep writing and fighting in hope we can salvage a future for some of us, and some of the flora and fauna strong enough to adapt to the mindless destruction of our beautiful, amazing home since the tragic exploitation of fossil fuels. It's triage mode now.
Right with you!
Trump is a virtuoso on the Jews Harp.
I am careful with the word Jew these days. It's not to be equated with Zionism, anymore than being white is equated to be supportive of the Ku Klux Klan. Hate is hate, and it's ridiculous since human genetics are 99.99 percent the same regardless of superficial outward appearances shaped by the Earth. Trump is a virtuoso idiot and indictment of our culture which managed to advance him to this level.
Zionist Harp?
Considering his stand on Gaza, one could say that, but frankly he is so stupid and removed of human empathy, his wormy brain might literally see it as a real estate deal. That’s how fucked up a human brain can be.
Hoping our president’s misdeeds lead to some form of degrowth is a significant effort to find a silver lining, Geoffrey. The lost opportunity cost while we pour all of our efforts into saving our democracy is huge. Every possible effort to reduce climate change in this era of mass extinction should be underway. Yet, the worst people among us are making the decisions that will doom the planet. Instead of positive action, they preach the insane mantra, “Drill baby drill.”
Agreed. We are losing critical time to salvage any chance of a decent future, but then again, it's a matter of degrees. Biden's efforts fell well short, as even the so-called "vision" of a green, renewable economy does. The truth is, oil is on the verge of decline, and these political ideas don't address the fundamentals of overconsumption and overpopulation. Trump's brand of insanity is much more cruel, but in some ways merely hastens an outcome we have little to no control over at this point.
I guess we can look back at all of our presidents and agree that their efforts to resolve climate change fell miserably short. Whenever critical decisions needed to be made, they just kicked the can down the road.
Remember when the Department of Energy set a date in the future to find a permanent storage facility for nuclear waste? I think it was by the year 2000. That glowing pile has been sitting in a temporary facility in Texas since 1980! It’s close to 100,000 tons of radioactive garbage.
Maybe Musk can shoot that shit up to his future home on Mars…if SpaceX can ever get off the ground.
Gosh. I didn't know Texas was having problems with nuclear waste. Hawaii has the perfect solution! We will happily add it to the upcoming land fill designed to accommodate all the tourists generated trash here in paradise -
https://www.civilbeat.org/2024/12/city-announces-new-landfill-location-above-islands-water-supply/
Plenty of room and the radioactivity will help break it all down. Might even catch fire if we're lucky! It'll go nicely with the depleted uranium shells the military practices with. It's a wonderful solution. Far better than the radioactive dump sites in the Atlantic and Pacific. Glad we're being led by such genius.
I'm jumping the gun on my Substack coming out tomorrow that is built around what, in an out of left field way, could unite us in a positive vision that would be our salvation. It may be too late for retaining a very sophisticated civilization, but at least it could give us our best shot at coming out of this at all: "A Wider Perspective on Our Moment" by Stephen Dinan: https://stephendinan.substack.com/p/a-wider-perspective-on-our-moment. See my comment, from SUE Speaks.