Letters
Only way out is to cut consumption
To the editor:
So environmentalists are howling at the thought of tourists having to view oil rigs through Delicate Arch (Daily Sun, Nov. 17) ? Sorry, but it seems quite a fitting result for a nation unable to come to terms with itself. Landscapes all over the Colorado Plateau have been ruined by mining, power generation and swarms of people paying to love the "wilderness" to death. Look again at the story photo. Desert Solitaire at Arches is a thing of the past.
But the idea of "pristine" national parks is not just a myth about the present, it distorts history as well. Fact is, we stole this continent from the natives, who altered their environments significantly, sometimes sustainably, sometimes not. Reactions expose the hypocrisy in both political camps. "Conservatives" want to "drill here, drill now, pay less" and progressives say we need to rely on renewables without mentioning the impossibility of doing that without drastic cuts in consumption. Let's see them explain how the world will be saved by giving a Prius to 6.5 billion (soon to be 9 billion) people and then covering our mountains and deserts under an ever-growing sea of wind farms.
Unable to admit the inevitable defeat of the global growth monster, progressives are now part of the problem. Humanity still fails to learn this simple lesson: the physical Earth has physical limits to our expansion. Instead, the weak hide behind today's environmentalism, a lie we tell ourselves to avoid looking in the mirror for the problem.
DOUG MEYER
Flagstaff
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Leave your comments below:
Kyle wrote on Nov 24, 2008 10:32 AM:
" Thank you for the article which put a simple mathematical truth out in the public eye. Virtually every problem facing the world can be linked back to growth of population and consumption. The exponential nature of this growth demonstrates its' severity.
However, the response that this can be fixed by stopping immigration is ridiculuous. First of all, this is a global issue, not a U.S. one (our population density is quite low by world standards). However, our per capita consumption is far and away the worst in the world. Our contribution to the solution is to decrease our consumption rates and limit our birth rate. To pin this on illegal immigration is both mean spirited and factually inaccurate. "
However, the response that this can be fixed by stopping immigration is ridiculuous. First of all, this is a global issue, not a U.S. one (our population density is quite low by world standards). However, our per capita consumption is far and away the worst in the world. Our contribution to the solution is to decrease our consumption rates and limit our birth rate. To pin this on illegal immigration is both mean spirited and factually inaccurate. "
Brian wrote on Nov 24, 2008 6:42 AM:
" Nothing but another rant from the dirt-scratching crowd. Suicide and birth-control would be absolutely unnecessary in their world. Plenty of people to die at the average age of 40. Unless of course they want to keep the benefits of medical technology without the rest. "
Josh wrote on Nov 21, 2008 9:09 PM:
" Who said anything about giving a Prius to 6.5 billion people? Is the writer saying we shouldn't at least start somewhere? I don't know where he gets the idea that progressives don't include conservation as part of their vision of a more sustainable world. Progressives espouse it all the time. What have you been reading Doug, the National Review? "
rezzdog wrote on Nov 21, 2008 12:36 PM:
" Dave:
Suicide is not necessary. Birth control works quite well, and is much more fun! "
Suicide is not necessary. Birth control works quite well, and is much more fun! "
dave wrote on Nov 21, 2008 12:02 PM:
" I have noticed over the years one of the biggest complaints by the Enviro crowd is the excessive population growth. It can be addressed in this country two ways. One stop all immigration period, deport those who don't belong and second if the Environmentalists really want to put their money where their mouths are and cut back. They might all consider suicide. "
dude wrote on Nov 21, 2008 9:21 AM:
" You're right, Doug. Consumption and growth are what's causing all this, not republicans. Conservation has become a markerting tool. The only way to save the environment is to lessen our demands for what's beneath it, and that's not going to happen. Even protest hippies aren't going to give up their Xterra. Burn gas for 12 hours to get to Arches and claim you're a conservationist. We're doomed. Doooomed. "
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Doug Meyer wrote on Nov 24, 2008 1:36 PM: