re: #84 Gus 802

Fomr the Copenhagen Diagnosis:

We’re looking at two deadlines here. One is 2050 and the other is 2109. We’re talking about 41 years for the first deadline and 100 years for the latter.

Now, think about where we were in in 1969 and 1909 technologically. It’s hard to believe that people think we won’t be able to accomplish these goals within 100 years. Even harder to believe that people actually think we’re supposed to be living in the same manner as we do today come 2109.

Think about it. Is the world today the same as it was in 1909?

Of course the world isn’t the same today as it was in 1909.

If we can keep government officials from getting to the point where they are regulating and taxing and watching over every move we make, the marketplace will take care of much of this.

When I was born, my parents did not have a television set, not even a black and white one, because they could not afford it. The technology was still new enough to be very expensive. Regular TV sets today cost less than they did in the 1950’s.

I couldn’t imagine ever being able to afford having a computer in my house. I now have a desktop and 3 laptop computers.

“Car phones” - very expensive to buy, and very expensive to use. Now just about everyone has a cell phone.

Beta-max - remember? Only the very rich could afford a device that allowed them to record and play from the TV set. Today I have 3 DVD players in my house, one for each TV set.

Technology evolved, and the things that could be afforded by only the very rich are not affordable to everyone.

Right now I do hang most of my clothes to dry, but it’s not because I will save a quarter or two in electrical costs. It’s because it makes sense to preserve my clothes instead of having them beat to death and shrunk in a dryer.

I have no reason to doubt that the same thing will happen with “green” construction methods for homes and “green” technology for automobiles.

When people can afford to buy and use these things, when it makes sense in their everyday lives to do these things, they will.