[lbo-talk] Nicolas Stern's What Is To Be Done on climate change

[Bill Bartlett]

At 6:51 PM -0400 12/7/08, Dwayne Monroe wrote:
>Previous message got away without content...
>
>
>Carrol wrote:
>
>This whole continuing discussion of what "we," technologically, need
>to do re global warming seems in cloud-cuckoo land. "We" are simply
>NOT going to do it. The political obstacles are insuperable.
>
>...............
>
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>I don't know why you're saying this.  Then again, perhaps I do but I'm
>not sure what message you're hoping to put across.
>
>If, as you say, the "political obstacles are insuperable" that means
>that C02 levels *will* reach unacceptable levels, the climate *will*
>achieve runaway -- becoming more violently unpredictable -- and Earth
>will take a few steps closer to matching the conditions of her sister
>world, Venus.
>
>
>That being the case, what's the point of political action: to prepare
>for a socialist future amidst the ruins?

I'm not sure whether the "we" who are not going to do anything 
because the obstacles are insuperable are the "we" of the human race, 
or the "we" of the working class.

Of course its true that "we" of the working class don't make those 
big decisions, by definition the ruling class do. But it doesn't mean 
we can't give them an incentive.

If the "we" of the human race can't possibly do anything to save the 
eco-sphere from destruction, then no doubt the ruling class will be 
seen investing heavily in spaceships very soon. In fact I've heard 
them talking about it. Talk about impractical.

Bill Bartlett
Bracknell tas