Slightly Less Bad?



I was listening this morning to people on the radio, debating how best to get lots of energy to fuel all this stuff we all like to have. One was arguing that new oil drilling is one hundred percent bad, for a host of reasons - the other was saying, let's find alternative and renewable sources, but in the meantime we have to get our own energy. So we should drill some.

The best (and most amusing) point I thought was that pretty much everyone listening to the debate was listening on the radio in their car, while going around burning up fossil fuels. Heh.

So I guess the question is, do we try to do things that are slightly less bad short-term, or do we go cold turkey and wrench everyone out of the grip of all our energy piggyness?

The results will be the same regardless - resources will shrink and get really expensive (money and environment and time-wise) and stuff will have to change - the trick, though, is to convince everyone that they are making their very own choice as to what to do. See, because people in the US MUST like they are the deciders. Not unlike a 2 1/2 year old: You let them make a choice, but limit the options. Would you like the red socks or the blue ones (you WILL be wearing socks). Would you like the more efficient car or the non-petroleum-based fast food?