I put together this question when I first joined this group but, until now, I didn’t really have an answer. Now I do thanks to, of all places the latest issue of “Popular Science”.
I just heard a report on NPR about a town that, despite tRumps promise to the contrary, are losing jobs in their coal mine. One woman interviewed (who runs a gun store) said her business has fallen because people are losing their jobs and moving away. Of course everyone is concerned and want their jobs to remain. I remember hearing the same sort of thing when tobacco sales fell. Don’t these people get it? What happened to their ‘Christian’ sense of virtue; it’s OK to harm others just so long as you are employed. I guess when one works in a hole in the ground one is not expected to understand much except holes and rocks.
The coal industry has gone because of cheap natural gas utility companies are using cheap natural gas because plentiful and they make more money.. It's simple economics. And that's good for the environment.
I disagree because of a theory I recently heard which spoke to me. It is about a 19th century philosopher, (whose name I cannot remember) who said that efficiency was counterproductive because it meant more a given resource would be used. For example, we were once nearing "peak oil". People were gearing for ways to reduce their oil dependency. Then along came fracking and oil is cheap. This has hurt the environment and the economy.
If I think of the person I will put it out. However, in doing the search I came up with something else I will add to the group.
@JackPedigo I invested in the stock market I have notice some correlation between cheap energy and increasing stockmarket . I believe cheap energy is good many people it inspires them to do more things like travel and use their recreational vehicles more and drive to visit friends, this causes a need to purchase new vehicles and appliances. Cheap energy is good for industrial society that we live in. Not so good for the environment.
@dc65 In the bank of life the natural environment forms the principle and the economy is the interest. We have been drawing from the principle for a long time. There isn't a lot left.
Fear, I think and then ignorance. Fear takes many forms, the big one of course is money, not enough of it and afraid you won't or can't get it. trump preyed on that.
I like to think of it as having enough resources. Many can get by on less and still maintain a sense of awareness and decency. Unfortunately, luck also plays a big part.
@JackPedigo mick jagger said it best - 'ya can't always get what ya want but ya get what ya need.'
@silverotter11 wants often exceeds one needs so sometimes you just have to be satisfied with what you get.