>>But I should warn you. In your answer, you _should_ be able to answer how an international power grid would be developed, and how the technologies would be developed. You should be able to explain why researchers in a hypothetically non-capitalist system of 1900 or so would forgo the use of fossil fuels in favor of other sources of energy-- and why their political beliefs would determine their decision.
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>I don't have to put together some kind of alternative energy plan for the year 1900, because my point was that technology is not neutral.
Neither is silence on such a burning question neutral. It leaves the way open for your political opponents to speak for you without fear of contradiction. Which I hereby take the opportunity to do.
You see Brian, Chuck has explained that industrial society itself is the problem, the solution is for the population to return to the country-side. The Chucko alternative energy plan for the future is, as his slip suggests, modelled on the distant past. Energy will presumably be sourced mainly from the burning of cow-pats and plant material metabolised by human and animal work-horses.
So you can guess why Chucko prefers not to elaborate an energy plan. It isn't exactly going to inspire the masses.
Fortunately inspiring the masses isn't central to the strategy either. I don't imagine anyone expects this version of anarchist bucolic utopia is to be achieved by the consent of the masses.
Whatever you do, don't mention Pol Pot.
Bill Bartlett Bracknell Tas