On Resources, Consumption And Wanton Wastefulness

[TOMMYfromtheBRONX]

Sup Bro, great vid

[TheSkepticalAtheist]

@TOMMYfromtheBRONX

Hey! It's TOMMYfromtheBRONX! Thanks, man!

[KenChamberlain]

Just to put things in perspective, back when I was a kid [I'm 62 now] there was much concern about the population explosian. That was 50 some years ago. I remember reading that it wasn't known how we would be able to sustain ourselves much past the 1990's. That we wouldn't be able to supply the food and other resources necessary. Well, on the contrary, I think life in general, has gotten better since then. I think the only thing certain about the future, is, there will be change.

[KenChamberlain]

You paint a gloomy picture indeed! I think we will probably keep up with our power needs by developing other resources. All energy on the planet, including fossil fuels, had it's origin from the energy from the sun. When it's energy starts to wane in the distant future, that may present an unsolvable problem. Until then, I think we will continue to have vehicles to drive, though maybe not fueled with gasoline, and electricity to keep the lights on, though maybe not generated with coal.

[TheSkepticalAtheist]

@KenChamberlain

I think that, like a lot of problems, we won't end up doing anything about it until it hurts or causes us pain (metaphorically speaking). That's how humans operate. Just like with climate change, the only reason we're trying to do anything about it now is because it's beginning to cause actual problems for us.

I think that even if we could have foreseen the problems with global warming 100 years ago, we wouldn't have done anything about it until we absolutely had to...

[MrCrustyelbows]

There are many renewable source alternatives to fossil fuels, but they are not being explored, researched and funded the way they should. I think the main hindrance and the reason why those in power and the companies who can harness these methods aren't embracing them enthusiastically is CAPITALISM! Renewable sources are abundant and it is a lot harder to justifiably charge people for them than fossil fuels. They won't make the same amounts of money off them.

[TheSkepticalAtheist]

@MrCrustyelbows

Completely agree with that. There's no money in these renewable resources, and therefore, big business isn't willing to invest any money in the R&D for them.

[namitsu1]

Power generation has stagnated on these primitive and inefficient methods, it's terrible. Thorium reactors look promising, but people in control need to be willing to use things like that.

[TheSkepticalAtheist]

@namitsu1

I think that's a huge problem with these policies being set by politicians. They're so afraid to upset the status quo that anything new always gets thrown out.