Europe incapable, America unwilling

[u crank]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Is's not about how I wish things would be. It is about how they are, and the tendency that indicates where they go. I said that clearly before.

I guess on that point we agree.

The SPIEGEL link is very interesting and clearly points to where we are going. The energy corporations will not rest until every bit of fossil fuel has been extracted from the earth. I should qualify that. As long as it is profitable.

Hydraulic fracturing [fracking] is the new method to search for and extract natural gas from deep below the surface. Like tar sand recovery, it does not seem like a very environmentally sound method. Injecting chemicals into the earth under pressure is asking for trouble. But the spin put on this, as the article says, is all good. A bright future. With rising energy costs and dwindling supplies it will be an easy sell.

"The money power preys upon the nation in time of peace and conspires against it in times of adversity. It is more despotic than monarchy, more insolent than autocracy, more selfish than bureaucracy. I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me, and causes me to tremble for the safety of our country. Corporations have been enthroned, an era of corruption will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people, until the wealth is aggregated in a few hands, and the republic is destroyed."

This is nothing new. Money has always been the driving force that decides what happens in this world. I'm a realist but I don't think it will ever go too far. The 'money' knows that chaos and anarchy are not profitable. What is profitable is perceived democracy and a steady growth rate. And war is only good if you win or at least give the perception of winning.

I also point at historic examples that show by the huge numbers that people and cultures very often intentionally deicde for the path leading them to their doom - for perceived reasonable and rational reasons:

Agreed.

What I desire, has little to do with where things are going.

Again, agreed.