... but our current economic theory and practice has us in a graveyard spiral.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graveyard_spiral

We've probably got the instruments we need to successfully bring this airplane safely down on the river, but the cornucopian and anthropocentric faithful are paying no attention to the ecologists. They are flying by the seat of their pants and mocking those who have seen these curves before.

The concept that humans are nothing more than an innovative eukaryotic life form just like all the other eukaryotic life forms who have profoundly disrupted existing environments throughout earth's history is anathema to them. Mankind is the center of their universe. Unseen godly powers created this garden for us to exploit and it's inconceivable that we would be "allowed" to die like ordinary animals in the ordinary fashion, exponential growth followed by collapse.

At the last second, seeing the ground or ocean expanding rapidly in front of the windshield, they do not accept reality and will simply die for their faith.

It's a morbidly fascinating thing to watch... who needs horror films when we've got this reality?

... but a little bit of tritium freaks them out.

Mercury has a half life of just about forever, and it comes from coal fired power plants, mine waste drainage, and other industrial sources. Look at the warning labels of certain fish species in the supermarket. That's a problem far worse than any tritium dumped at Fukushima. And frankly, I think commercial fishing ought to be outlawed, just as commercial hunting was outlawed in the USA.

The world could suffer a Fukushima sort of accident every year, and it still wouldn't be as hideous as the environmental damage done by the ordinary operations of coal fired plants.

Do I think we should "replace" coal with nuclear? No. I think we should shut down 90% of the industrial economy, sit back, and watch the flowers grow.

No cars, no wars, no airlines, and plenty of time to read a book, grow a garden, chat with neighbors, go to school, or take a hike. Like to travel? Walk, bicycle, take a slow train or sailboat to anywhere at all. No hurry.

Things we must do as humans are few. Feed everyone, shelter everyone in safe environments, teach our children, limit our population, and provide appropriate health care. Everything beyond that is optional and ought to be avoided if it is harmful to other people or the earth's environment.

We could have a twenty hour work week, long vacations and retirements, universal health care, housing and education for all, but instead we turn our lives into a meaningless race to nowhere, destroying ourselves and our world.

My mom was Jehovah's Witness until they booted her out of their church. And then we were Quakers. The Quakers were the only religion that accepted my mom's particular brand of talking-dirctly-to-God-and-He-answers crazy. Catholics and JWs not so much. Short-circuiting the hierarchy by asking God directly and hearing the answer is not allowed in many religions. The Quakers are okay with that. Say what you will, they nod their heads respectfully and move on.

When I was teaching in public school not many teachers were leading the pledge in homeroom so the principal decided to do it over the intercom with a few volunteer students (set up by patriotic parents) to lead. Great honor to speak into the microphone.

In my classroom it was a moment of respect. About a third of the students participated, the others were quiet. Probably a third of my classes had parents who were not US citizens, a third were afraid I'd call their parents if they disrupted my class, and the rest were patriots like their own parents, terrified I might call home if they disrupted the ceremony. Your kid disrupted the pledge. Horrors!

It was in my contract that I should lead the pledge but nobody ever said anything about participating myself. The "under God" part still irks me. According to my upbringing a guy could go to hell for that.