This is my fault for not highlighting the crux of the issue.[1] That was only sarcastically pointed at in my “Step one.” paragraph. Okay, so I guess “blame” is

This is my fault for not highlighting the crux of the issue.[1] That was only sarcastically pointed at in my “Step one.” paragraph. Okay, so I guess “blame” is too contentious. It is of course technically true that we can all bike more, or we can stop the petroleum industry, and both have a positive effect, but the Petroleum Industry is not here in this thread so biking is the real thing to discuss. But let’s not say that I blame the Petroleum Industry or whatever else. Let’s call it: Properly seeing cause and effect, if you prefer. Properly seeing cause and effect is actually the proper way to solve any problem. You should root out weeds rather than trimming them. We can see the symptoms of mystification (cf. considering real cause and effect) with terms like “basic human psychology”. I don’t think, ever, that the basic human psychology and “needs and desires to lead a comfortable life” for the average person has ever mattered in a real crisis. In a real crisis like a war you use rationing and other harsh measures to deal with the problem. The powers that be don’t fret that Johnny is on keto and needs his daily butter. But we are not in a crisis according to this irrational system which would rather burn the world down than to upend... the system itself. Of course you dismiss my remedy as wishful thinking and make-believe because that is the real, challenging task ahead of us. Merely to stop companies and other entities that have the whole economic system, militaries for that matter, etc. behind them. Not just wishing and praying that the consumers will drive less and for China to give up their jerbs to produce less commodities. > > I don't want to criticize you, but a question: what are you doing in practice to change something? Is your carbon footprint below what is sustainable? Oh if we just prodded each other. A little, day by day. Have you heeded the call of British Petroleum? [1] Which is https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49425790 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49425790