Quote:
Originally Posted by New Era
I know you're not, I'm just using your post as an example. I know you understand the issue and are taking a position to garner discussion. I'm just challenging that "position" you're talking about and presenting the counter argument. I believe we are closer on the issue than this engagement displays.
That is the big question. Unfortunately there are two extremes on this as well. One (the denier) is that we do nothing as it would be detrimental to the economy and impossible to get off big oil. Two (the tree hugger) is that we immediate kill all oil production and try and survive on renewables. The reality is somewhere in the middle.
What we need to do is recognize the problem. What do we have to control and what are the best ways of doing this without causing significant harm to the economy. Obviously we have to eliminate as much CO2 and methane production as possible. So we have to focus our efforts on that. Find ways to sequester CO2 from fossil fuel use. Find ways to prevent further methane release from permafrost and existing oil wells.
Another thing we have to do is also recognize that there are changes in the economy happening. For example, the coal industry is dying. More jobs exist in the renewable economy than exist in the coal industry. Evolution in the economy happens, we just have to wait for it and go with it. Same thing will happen with the petrochemical industry. The important thing is to continue to shift until we see critical mass and a natural adoption of new technologies. We will solve the problem if we commit and put our minds to it. As long as we continue to "dialogue" the longer it takes to commit to solving the actual problem.
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I guess we have different definitions of dialogue,because to me it means finding ways to implement feasible, working solutions - discussing some of the things you've mentioned, plus searching for other possible solutions. But bleating out that we need action, not discussion, solves nothing. And the garbage we get from people like Elizabeth May accomplishes nothing but animosity and divisiveness. Meanwhile real solutions remain a long way off.