[lit-ideas] Re: Where politics hits the grass
- From: "Julie Krueger" <juliereneb@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2008 23:23:29 -0600
I wasn't suggesting you join an environmental group (or any group) at all.
I think it is encouraging that there are some very real, very practical ways
that our society is addressing both the environmental and economic issues
these days. It encourages me. I like to be aware of things which look
hopeful and encouraging and pragmatic. Reading some of the ideas helps me
think outside the box a little. I like that too.
On Thu, Nov 6, 2008 at 11:18 PM, Andy <mimi.erva@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> You're right. But the way I look at it, I'm just one yeast out of almost
> seven billion, and I'm absolutely ineffective in swaying others. I did my
> best on this list to convince people to vote for Gore in 2000 and I know
> that all those good republicans out there voted for Bush anyway. Then they
> did it again in 2004. Best case scenario they voted for Ralph Nader which
> is a vote for Bush. Plus look at all our discussions on pharma. What a
> waste of time that was in convincing anybody.
>
> I live my for the most part environmentally conservative little life, which
> is to say, I don't eat meat and haven't for decades (tons and tons of
> pollution and water saved) and a list of other things that I do personally
> to save energy and water and electricity. Beyond that, there's nothing I
> can do. People don't care. They love their meat and will not part with
> it. They think it's a bother putting on a sweater. They use water like
> it's always going to be there. They burn those stupid votive type lights in
> their windows all night year round.
>
> If I join an environmental group, what's that going to do? Those few who
> care are already implementing changes; the vast majority will glaze over.
> My neighbors have no idea about climate change. Can you imagine? No idea.
> If I tell them, I'm being their mother and they wouldn't believe it
> anyway. And companies like ExxonMobil spend millions advertising against
> climate change, so those who even heard of global warming think it's some
> myth.
>
> The society and the economy have to be rethought from the ground up. We
> have to reverse consumerism, get people to want to build the economy around
> environmentalism, and that is not going to happen. My efforts to convince
> anyone would be quixotic at best. Beyond even all that, it's too late. The
> problem if it isn't irreversible just yet will be in the near future.
>
> That's not to say that I don't admire others who are activists, it's just
> that I would feel *more* impotent, not less if I were to become active, the
> way Cindy Sheehan finally in despair said Americans deserve the government
> they have. Maybe the bottom line the way I see it is that the human race is
> out to destroy itself, and there's no way I can stop them.
>
>
>
> --- On *Fri, 11/7/08, Julie Krueger <juliereneb@xxxxxxxxx>* wrote:
>
> From: Julie Krueger <juliereneb@xxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Where politics hits the grass
> To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Date: Friday, November 7, 2008, 3:02 AM
>
> You say things like "what can be done?" and shrug in resignation, but when
> there are real, viable, approaches to solutions out there you aren't
> interested in them? Or, rather, you aren't interested in what people who
> are passionate about changing things are proposing? That sounds like
> exactly what you're describing by "that's the way people are". The irony is
> that you aren't interested in glancing at a website or discussing it which
> actually suggests specific ways to make the economy thrive by working on the
> environment...you seem to just want to complain that no one cares, there
> aren't any decent ideas, and no one will pay attention ....wo, say, a
> website like that...
>
> But whaddo I know.
>
>
>
--
Julie Krueger
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