I’ve been studying climate change since 1974 at Syracuse University’s geology program. It’s refreshing to see that coherent minds are still educating people on science that has settled for decades. I have learned that folks would rather not think about long-term existential threats. Humans live in the moment and plan ahead by 5 years at most. There must be a way to bring the threat closer, if only to get around the climate deniers
Thinking about the future beyond next paycheck or the next set of bills, or at longest, the next upcoming holiday seems to be a major challenge for a lot of people.
I wonder how much of that is socially imposed and people just don't have the time/energy to imagine beyond the next thing, or if there's actually a difference in some adults hippocampus' such that it's actually biologically/physically inconceivable.
Either way, even adult brains have incredible plasticity so, y'know, I'm just gonna keep trying to help people understand.
I think it’s actually an embedded feature of Capitalism and the control of society by corporations. We have evolved into an economic system which keeps us hungry for security through a paycheck and buy-in to Wall Street. If people are easily hired and fired, they will be focused on short-term wage accumulation and household accounting. Long-term threats, unless they are specifically economic, are too weighty to consider for long. The response seems to be denial or “the government will fix it.” Look at the potential for an asteroid strike. People are fascinated for a couple of days, but will go back to watching tv in the evening instead of educating themselves on the repercussions. Climate change is so easily manipulated by corporations and the bought politicians that doubt lingers long after the science is settled.
Yep. It is a real 'feature, not a bug' facet if you are in the C-suite class or higher.
And as FDR said, "a necessitous man is not a free man" -- if your entire existence is just spent chasing survival and you never get past the bottom of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, then you are never able to participate fully civically or economically.
Keeping people desperate and replaceable is an old story here in WV and especially in the coalfields.
The only reason coal jobs have ever been good paying jobs is because of the interracial and multi-national solidarity that was the backbone of the UMWA. Which makes sense, because every miner has a black face in the mine.
Ever since then the emphasis has been to break that solidarity and convince everyone that it's okay to be desperate for a while, because if you step on enough of your neighbor's heads, you too can have enough capital to live off the profits generated through the desperation of others.
Hey Troy
My name is Patrick Webb I’m from Lincoln county and I have been trying to contact somebody from the Democratic Party in WV
Please get back to me
Hey Patrick -- shoot me an email at TroyNMillerWV@gmail.com and let's find a time to talk! Thanks for reaching out!
I’ve been studying climate change since 1974 at Syracuse University’s geology program. It’s refreshing to see that coherent minds are still educating people on science that has settled for decades. I have learned that folks would rather not think about long-term existential threats. Humans live in the moment and plan ahead by 5 years at most. There must be a way to bring the threat closer, if only to get around the climate deniers
Thinking about the future beyond next paycheck or the next set of bills, or at longest, the next upcoming holiday seems to be a major challenge for a lot of people.
I wonder how much of that is socially imposed and people just don't have the time/energy to imagine beyond the next thing, or if there's actually a difference in some adults hippocampus' such that it's actually biologically/physically inconceivable.
Either way, even adult brains have incredible plasticity so, y'know, I'm just gonna keep trying to help people understand.
I think it’s actually an embedded feature of Capitalism and the control of society by corporations. We have evolved into an economic system which keeps us hungry for security through a paycheck and buy-in to Wall Street. If people are easily hired and fired, they will be focused on short-term wage accumulation and household accounting. Long-term threats, unless they are specifically economic, are too weighty to consider for long. The response seems to be denial or “the government will fix it.” Look at the potential for an asteroid strike. People are fascinated for a couple of days, but will go back to watching tv in the evening instead of educating themselves on the repercussions. Climate change is so easily manipulated by corporations and the bought politicians that doubt lingers long after the science is settled.
Yep. It is a real 'feature, not a bug' facet if you are in the C-suite class or higher.
And as FDR said, "a necessitous man is not a free man" -- if your entire existence is just spent chasing survival and you never get past the bottom of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, then you are never able to participate fully civically or economically.
Keeping people desperate and replaceable is an old story here in WV and especially in the coalfields.
The only reason coal jobs have ever been good paying jobs is because of the interracial and multi-national solidarity that was the backbone of the UMWA. Which makes sense, because every miner has a black face in the mine.
Ever since then the emphasis has been to break that solidarity and convince everyone that it's okay to be desperate for a while, because if you step on enough of your neighbor's heads, you too can have enough capital to live off the profits generated through the desperation of others.