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Horrors.
Gag me.
Hey Kend, thanks for the left-handed compliment! - AIW
Underground or underwater homes would be interesting, for a while, as long as you can come out and breathe in fresh air once in a while. But if we are all forced underground, like the Morelocks, and having to drag down an Eloi or two for dinner, then I think I'd better watch a different movie. Oh, I know, What Dreams May Come! Naw, tried that once and had to walk out of the theater...never did watch it to the end...too stupid. And I really liked Robin Williams, too. But not in that movie.
I had a couple of uncles and aunts who built underground homes (at least 3/4 of them were underground) that I remember back when I was a kid. They subsequently, many years later (after living in it for many years), built houses on top of them. The previous "homes" became a basement. I don't think they had temperature stability in mind though. I guess they were not technically "underground". I read about some guy in a desert in California that did build an underground home...had shrubs growing on top of it. Only the front of the house was visible as a structure. It was built in such a way to minimize the sun's heat in the summer and maximize it in the winter. I guess if you don't mind coyotes and rattle snakes slinking and slithering around then that might be ideal.
Aliceinwonderland: Yeah, I can't imagine either...with all those other wives....I guess it takes a special kind of woman to get along with all those other "sister-wives" and their little brats too! ;-}
Wow Alice. I didn't think you would be one who didn't have children. Blogs like this are interesting Because we kinda thing we know other bloggers and the truth is we don't. For what it's worth you would have been a great mom. although I almost disagree with you on everything you write. I sincerly believe with your passion you Would have raised some fantastic little lefties.
ChicagoMatt ~ If worse comes to worse, we are already living in underwater homes. However, I do like your idea about underground homes. It wouldn't be the first time humans have had to seek shelter in holes in the ground.
2950-10K ~ Well said! I agree!
Kend ~ 2085 Kend, not 1085. Anyway, you're only off by 1000 years. On the bright side, that's pretty good for you.
Can you picture wealthy people in America, with big houses, having to share them with vagrants like Doctor Yuri Zhivago had to do after the Russian revolution?
I agree that there will always be people who will take advantage of the system and manage to skim off whatever subsistence they need to survive. Some of these people may be very capable of getting jobs but choose not to for whatever reason...lazyness? Many other people don't really have much of a choice because they have tried and failed to get jobs. Others can't because they are disabled. But none of these people are ripping off the system as much as corporateers (as in buckaneers) and people in business for themselves that have found a way to fraudulently (or found a legal nitche or loophole) bill the government for service claims (like doctors, insurance companies, etal).
Corporate welfare queens, including all of the military industrial and spy complex, and those corporations that hold our lives as ransom (the Medical/Pharmaceutical/Insurance companies), and oil companies, rake in exorbitant profits that only serve to make a few people insanely wealthy.
There is nothing more insidious than capitalist scumbags ripping off the system, big time, then trying to blame poor people for struggling to survive. The capitalist pigs have largely, for the past 30 years or so, squeezed their employees out of decent wages, squeezed them out of benefits like health care, and then sent their jobs overseas.
The real parasites, that will cause possibly a violent revolution and the total collapse of our country, are the arrogant dandies who fancy themselves as better than everyone else while stealing from them. But they are really no better than the Mafia or any other organized criminal empire. And they control their toadies very well. They own the major media propaganda machines and do quite well in manipulating people into developing memes that are contrary to their best interests.
Some of those people are lucky, maybe hardworking, and manage to surpass others which only feeds their delusions that "they are better than the others because they have accepted the correct ideology and deserve to be duly compensated for it." Others have tried and failed. Others have not tried at all...becoming discouraged from the start for various reasons...bad schools, bad parentage, whatever. And those things are usually the fault of a crooked and disadvantaged tax system where the wealthy get away with not paying their fair share of taxes.
This country pulled itself out of the dregs of depression, caused by those capitalist scumbags, by taxing the crap out of the wealthy who got wealthy from screwing the people in the first place. But it took lots of rebellions by the people to make this happen. It took the threat of communism to scare the crap out of the wealthy dandies before they came to realize, reluctantly, that they needed to relent. WWII was also a big part of that lack of warm and fuzzy feelings the wealthy had been experiencing. And before that, the crash of 1929 helped to make people realize that something had to be done.
Jobs were created by the government, paid for by the increased taxes, putting people back to work which circulated more money. Instead of a few extremely wealthy people hording all the money, the workers used it to better their lives. New laws and regulations were created to keep the rapacious capitalist wolves from creating so much misery for so many. Back then, the majority of politicians actually took seriously what the people thought and felt although there were still a lot of corrupt ones. I don't think they really care what people think or feel now. They know that they are in their positions because the wealthy own them.
But, since Ray-gun, we've had nothing but a reverse to the progress that had previously been achieved. During that time, we excelled in everything...even put a man on the moon...people got raises...had no problems putting food on the table, medical care for their families, and putting their kids through college. They could even buy a house that they could expect to pay off in time. It's time we stopped the greed meme and put brakes to the rapacious wolves who are again ruining our country. The eyes of TJ Ekleburg are watching. And so are the eyes of Marx and Lenin.
And if the wealthy don't come to their senses, they may very well see a violent revolution such as they had in Czarist Russia, their wealth and property handily removed from their ownership, and maybe even a few heads (or many) will roll as they did in France. Things are sure not going to change by the ballot box when it's nothing more than a rigged system in favor of the wealthy.
The solutions to these dire issues are often so simple. Affordable too. But as usual, politics get in the way and capitalism calls the tune. I'm glad I haven't had any kids to inherit the toxic shit hole these decision makers have created, with the help of our complacency and mindless consumption. Frankly Tom, I think it's gonna take more than a carbon tax to keep us from going off the proverbial cliff. At least it's a start, though. - Aliceinwonderland
Amazing that they can tell me what the tempature is going to be in 1085 but they can't tell me if it is going to rain tomorrow or not.
In my opinion, energy, like education and healthcare, is a sector that should be non profit and controlled by the citizens. The will of the people to not destroy our planet would certainly trump the revolting greed of a few out of control oil tzars.
I agree, PD. There's no meaner fascist than a stone-age fascist. I can't imagine why his wife would leave him! Tut-tut. - AIW
Chuck, I've no reason to doubt anything you say. But I'm still a socialist. And need I remind you that we've never had universal, guaranteed healthcare in this lame-ass country? Back in 1978, I needed a lot more healthcare than I do now, and keeping my MediCal benefits was like pulling teeth. Granted, the economy was much stronger back then. But I have to ask, by what measure do you claim our economy was the best the world has ever seen? Isn't that stretching it just a bit? How was it better than France's, or Germany's or Norway's, where the standard of living is so much greater than here and people live longer, healthier lives? In those countries working people are guaranteed sick leave, maternity leave and VACATIONS. I don't recall a time when we've ever had that here.
I realize this is only scratching the surface, Chuck. But you've made this assertion repeatedly and now I'm challenging it. - AIW
Yea, well, blah, blah, o'blah balh....just do NOT enact a policy of transferable discharge permits that are traded on the open market!
If you emit greenhouse gases, you pay without ANY assistance available from the "free market" of transferable discharge permits, ...in the hopes that you change your ways pronto are go out of business pronto!
Our atmosphere cannot tolerate any more brinksmanship like Obama's natural gas/fracking revolution.
America is THE largest PRODUCER of green house gas emitting energy product. But this product is CONSUMED (aka burned) by other countries throughout the World thereby putting the blame for the green house gas emissions that arise from CONSUMING that dirty energy onto another country.
Washington has latched on to this fact to confuse the issue and shift the blame for Climate Collapse on to those countries wgi are "using" the most dirty energy (but not "producing it") and therefore are responsible for emitting the greatest volume of green house gases. But don't kid yourself, the vast majority of greenhouse gas emissions being dumped into the atmosphere comes from dirty energy produced by America. So, is China the real culprit?!
Matt, the lack of compassion you routinely express towards your fellow humans is absolutely stunning. "What could be more selfish than expecting your neighbors to take care of you, and passing laws to force them to do it?" WOW.
You are one piece of work.
Has it ever occurred to you this could be a two-way street? Suppose the neighbors need our help; do we just blow them off? Tell them "sorry" and wish them luck? And let's be specific; what "laws" are you referring to? Is this how you characterize public services, or the commons? Has any law ever forced you to take care of your neighbors? Given your attitude, I wouldn't want you coming within a hundred feet of me if my house was burning down.
You criticize a "very close relative" who got pregnant when she was fifteen, for "poor judgment". Did she get pregnant all by herself like the Virgin Mary? I assume not. Yet I see no mention of the (AHEM) sperm donor in your vitriolic little screed. You seem to think the woman is exclusively to blame when an unplanned pregnancy occurs. You begrudge her WIC benefits and "other payments". Has the father of her kids made any contribution to their support? Have you even the foggiest notion of how much work it is, managing a household with kids all by yourself? ESPECIALLY in the good ole USA, where working single moms are guaranteed nothing; not even childcare or healthcare!
My husband just googled WIC, by the way. It's a program that ensures poor women with babies & toddlers access to food. And this annoys you? It also counsels and assists new mothers on matters related to breastfeeding. You have a problem with that?!
Meanwhile by your own admission, you are financially well off and secure; you live in a nice house, in a nice neighborhood. You bitch about paying property taxes while complaining that some of these property taxes pay for schools you've chosen not to send your kids to, that you've determined aren't good enough. This is breaking my heart.
You seem so outraged by the notion that one of the functions of government is to help its citizens who are down on their luck for whatever reason. Please enlighten me to what you think the purpose of government should be. I've never heard you express such outrage about our government killing people. But any suggestion that government should be helping people gets you so hot and bothered.
Yeah, you've got your point across, all right. - Aliceinwonderland
I believe externalities produced as a result of pollution should be privatized and paid for by those that contribute to and/or gain from the production of pollution.
Chicago Matt: Why would you have thought of me? I hate cell phones. I gave up cell phones when I was no longer required to carry one. But, you are right, I do approve of the ruling. :-)
I agree that that is the best first step.
The next step would be to develop a way to get carbon out of the atmosphere. First stop adding more, then start cleaning up what's there.
On a side-note: houses would be much more efficient if they were underground (no need to heat and cool them). This would also leave more room for plants or solar panels above ground. Someone should be developing these things right now.
I also like Thom's personal method of living on a boat. Water has a cooling effect in the summer and warming effect in the winter. Plus you could always just sail to nicer weather.
If worst comes to worst, underwater homes could be an option.
Chuck - What could be more selfish than expecting your neighbors to take care of you, and passing laws to force them to do it?
Perhaps I am just a bitter, selfish person. If I am, experience has pushed me to this point.
I look at people I know who are on government assistance - including a very close relative. They all put themselves into those positions with poor judgement or poor planning. For example, I know a woman my age who got pregnant when she was 15 (poor judgement) , moved out of her parents' house (poor judgement), and has been having kids and collecting WIC and other payments ever since. She doesn't care that people like us - who work for a living - pay into those programs. She is in her 30s now, done having children, and is starting to realize she is going to be screwed when it comes to finally finding a career or retirement (poor planning).
I got really bitter during the Chicago teacher strikes two years ago too. I thought about how I pay a disproportionate amount of property taxes to the city, because I have a nice house in a good neighborhood, my own children can't go to the schools I'm paying for because they aren't safe, and the teachers (who make double what I make at my private school) wanted even more. Do they not realize that money isn't coming from nowhere - it's coming from their neighbors. That seems selfish to me - to only think about yourself and how much money you can get from the system, and not where that money is coming from.
My social studies curriculum includes a unit on The New Deal. The book says, and I agree, that that was the moment when people stopped asking if the government would help, but began expecting the government to help. I wonder if that expectation leads people to put themselves into bad positions. If someone knew from the beginning that they were on their own, would they put more thought into their actions?
Yes, I'm being hyperbolic. But I hope I'm getting my point across.
I don't think the public is cognizant of the problem with global warming, in denial of any evidence gathered by experts, and unwilling to change their lifestyle. Sad but true...and we are all guilty !
Each and every one of us including the experts who have warned us about the problem. Who will be the first among us to deny our participation in power consumption until we have no alternative ? Uh Huh ! I thought so ! We have developed a culture of unsustainable consumption and as the population
increases the problem grows exponentially. I don't see this problem getting solved short of mass extinction. I don't want to be negative but I have little faith in humanity. They don't have a good track record. On the bright side I personally welcome a new agrarian lifestyle with superfluous technology
where we may find reward in hard work, security from our immediate community, and comfort in less competitive and stressful lifestyle. Of course it will be challenging and difficult, but that will be the case regardless.
Queenbeethatsme ~ Unfortunately, I must agree with you. In fact, there is a plethora of solid archaeological evidence to support your opinion. However, I am optimistic that the perpetual loop of doom that the human race has obviously trapped itself into can be broken. Whether or not that will happen this time around--or EVER--remains to be seen.
The known examples go on, and on, and on. It's deja vu all over again! Now that we know why they are lying about it and covering up, might I suggest that the truth might help set us free?
Malta: Everything We Have Been Taught About Our Origins Is A Lie
No solutions mentioned will probably occur in time. NONE. NADA. ZILCH. CAPITALISM AND INDUSTRIAL GREED IS A RELIGION now... As such, true believers will never believe or accept the reality of global warming and imminent destruction and thanks to greed and marketing by the West, most of the world are now also very faithful, economic sycophants. Besides fringe communities and a few ecological groups, who is left to turn the ship around?
I agree with what COULD HELP, but... I have to point out the unliklihood that greed will allow industry puppet masters, nor government puppets to stop what we are doing in time.
Humans and GREED are truly hoisted by our own petard.
I believe it. I feel like the lone non-blue peg in a sea of blue pegs where I live, but we all get along in the real world. I even married a lefty.
If a nationwide Progressive thought revolution ever comes along, I'll jump on the bandwagon.
See, I'm doing a public service. :)
I was thinking about healthcare today, and I have some serious questions for people who are more familiar with it than I am. So I'm throwing this out there for anyone:
1. With Medicare and Medicaid, who determines the reimbursement rate for providers? That is, can a doctor get more money by performing a procedure on someone with private insurance, rather than government insurance?
2. Can a provider refuse to see people with government insurance?
3. Does government insurance provide preventative care? (Specifically, I am thinking of weight-loss surgeries.) Some insurance companies call those "selective cosmetic procedures" and do not cover them. Some companies cover them fully because they know it's cheaper in the long run.
I have more questions, but I don't want to overwhelm anyone.