Trying to fix the world economy to be permanently sustainable basically requires a few centuries of absolute cooperation on the part of every single group of people on the planet.
I don't think it's impossible in and of itself, because I think humanity is in fact smart enough to handle it as a whole, but it's just not going to -happen- because humanity isn't that NICE.
Overpopulation is a red herring. It isn't that the world is overpopulated, it's that our lifestyle is unsustainable.
Mostly it's just a lot easier to handle fewer people, and controlling populations tend to breed more slowly than the populations who get all uppity and want or require change.
The problem is that if every human being lived a first-world lifestyle, the maximum population the earth could support is 1-2 billion by multiple estimates.
Furthermore, as countries approach first-world economics, their population growth slows until it approaches the point of economic unsustainability where there aren't enough young productive workers entering the workforce or enough new consumers entering the market. (See Italy and Japan as examples.) The countries that have the most people and the highest birthrates are, in general, not the countries that are most rapidly destroying the environment.
So to solve the problem of sustainability through population, we'd need drastic, immediate negative population growth. That's unlikely to happen and even if it did there would be serious, possibly catastrophic economic side effects. But it's easy to argue for. It's easy to say "we should make less babies" because that doesn't directly affect you. It doesn't require any serious lifestyle sacrifices. Since most people in the first world plan to have fewer than 3 babies anyway for simple financial reasons, arguing for ZPG makes you feel like you're already doing your part. "I'm eco-friendly because I'm not planning on spawning any more humans." Uh, no, you're not. Not as long as you eat food that was grown 300+ miles away and use colossal amounts of energy mostly wrapped up in fossil fuels.
No, what we should do is:
- Drive only when absolutely necessary and use the cleanest-burning cars possible.
- Grow our own food if possible, or, at the very least eat only food that was grown less than 100 miles from where it was sold.
- Accept smaller, more easily heated/cooled housing closer to our workplaces.
- Use heating and air conditioning only when absolutely necessary. Use natural heat, light, and ventilation whenever remotely possible.
- Put serious economic and legal pressure on developers to build clean, green buildings that utilize natural heat, light, and ventilation in every way possible.
- Recycle/reuse more.
- Switching to nuclear couldn't fucking hurt, either.
I'm probably missing a few items in that list, but I think I covered the major ones. Reducing the population in any realistic fashion is not going to do a damn bit of good until we start improving our lifestyles.
Man, it'd be way easier to just turn this country into Logan's Run. It's not like the old people were doing anything for us other than fucking shit up, anyhow.
Not really, no. It's no one else's business. I mean, if I'm dating someone, I might mention it to my friends, but no.
If I could change the world, I'd help people to see that gay folks are just like other folks. Who we sleep with and find attractive has nothing to do with our personalities. You know, just like you straight people. The same for people of other races, cultures, etc.
Except Furries. To hell with them.
Yes, thank you.
Gay people aren't all hairdresser fashion designers with square rimmed glasses and a latin snap accent.
I would abolish all stereotypes
or banish talking about global warming
Building on what Feral said, I'd like to destroy much of our current infrastructure and replace it with more efficient versions. I mean, we know that things like having suburbs miles away from where we work is A Bad Thing, but the problem is that we can't just, you know, pick up the suburbs and drop them right next door to our offices. Likewise, bikelanes everywhere would be great, but often enough our roads just aren't that wide. So, I'd like to drive along with a bulldozer, taking out inefficient infrastructure and rebuilding it in a more efficient manner with my magical reconstrutive amulet.
Corlis on
But I don't mind, as long as there's a bed beneath the stars that shine,
I'll be fine, just give me a minute, a man's got a limit, I can't get a life if my heart's not in it.
The moment they switch on ITER, it works perfectly delivering a sustainable and high powered fusion reaction requiring no design changes. This would be great for the world, and mean no more worries about energy and pollution.
or...
A breakthrough in transport, it is now possible to be at any point on earth within about 1 hr using some kind of device. Infrastructure required to be installed is minimal so even small cities and towns can have a base station. Costs are trivial, and enviromental impact is as low as a bus or train journey of similar duration. In addition advances in biometrics make border controls quick and effective. Thus I could visit my friends all over the world with ease, and distance would be removed as a factor in relationships.
I'd give myself invulnerability and immortality with careful consideration of all loopholes, i.e. I can still feel, breathe, etc. And the ability to produce a cure for AIDs.
After that I'd move to Africa.
AcidSerra on
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DynagripBreak me a million heartsHoustonRegistered User, ClubPAregular
edited September 2007
I'd make girls find me irresistible. Fuck the world's problems.
Also, if you've ever known any flaming guys, you know that empathy is definitely not something that most gay guys posess.
Uh, what?
I should explain that further. I kind of forgot about that comment.
I dunno, I just remember that it was something that really bothered me about most of the gay boys in my school back in Oregon, and made me not want to date them. It's mostly the guys who are trying to fit into the gay stereotype, though -- they think it's charming to be callous and sarcastic and shallow and to be constantly insulting people for their appearance/mannerisms/etc.
I would make everyone live in a country/family/culture they absolutely loathe for a year and be forced to be respectful of their beliefs (though they themselves wouldn't have to be subjected to them if they chose not to be).
I really don't like threads like this. There are a lot of problems in the world, and they have complex, multi-faceted causes and require equally sophisticated and managed solutions. There's never going to be one thing we can do to fix any of them.
I really don't like threads like this. There are a lot of problems in the world, and they have complex, multi-faceted causes and require equally sophisticated and managed solutions. There's never going to be one thing we can do to fix any of them.
Also about 90% of the posts are comedy fool's gold rather than serious, thoughtful replies.
I really don't like threads like this. There are a lot of problems in the world, and they have complex, multi-faceted causes and require equally sophisticated and managed solutions. There's never going to be one thing we can do to fix any of them.
Hmmm... I think I'd institute profound and universal scientific literacy. That would at the very least go a long way toward solving the world's current problems, and I suspect some of them would be solved outright.
Actually if I had to pick one thing I'd do right the hell now it would be troops out of Iraq and George Bush out of the American presidency (i.e. elections tomorrow for the US).
Because jesusfuck nothing good is coming out of either of those things.
BUT.. if I absolutely had to pick one thing to change, it would be to make me more ignorant and naive.
I've (half-seriously) had this wish at various times throughout my life. Basically it would have made all those years of school much, much more enjoyable.
And it would be nice if my biggest concerns in the world were sports and getting laid.
All of the classical world* as of 500BCE shall be restored. All pyramids (tombs) and egyptian temples shall be fully restored (inculding mummies and treasure.) Any [modern institutions] that have noticable amounts of treasure shall have it removed. -- Special exception for Alexandria, to the night just before the burning of the Great Libary.
All restored nations shall take the place of the current nations, with indestructable properties attributed to all their works. (Some supermetal we can't ruin. Just so nobody ruins the sphinx' face again. For clarafication: the classical nations CAN build new buildings, with materials in the classical world restored to their former levels.)
As part of above, none of the nations of the classical world can be entered by modern mass migrations or memeonic warfare. (A cap at a thousand people. No weapons. No converting the people of 50 bce.)
It'll mess with the world. (Also will tick off the religions I most hate.)
All of the classical world* as of 500BCE shall be restored. All pyramids (tombs) and egyptian temples shall be fully restored (inculding mummies and treasure.) Any [modern institutions] that have noticable amounts of treasure shall have it removed. -- Special exception for Alexandria, to the night just before the burning of the Great Libary.
All restored cities nations shall take the place of the current nations, with indestructable properties attributed to all their works. (Some supermetal we can't ruin. Just so nobody ruins the sphinx' face again. For clarafication: the classical nations CAN build new buildings, with materials in the classical world restored to their former levels.)
As part of above, none of the nations of the classical world can be entered by modern mass migrations or memeonic warfare. (A cap at a thousand people. No weapons. No converting the people of 50 bce.)
It'll mess with the world. (Also will tick off the religions I most hate.)
And the brain works on electric impulses. Not light. (I might only be partially right. Somebody correct me if I goofed.)
As I recall from Psychology 101, nerve cells actually use ions to modify electrical potentials rather than using real "electricity", as such. You don't have any sparks in your brain, I mean.
Kupi on
My favorite musical instrument is the air-raid siren.
And the brain works on electric impulses. Not light. (I might only be partially right. Somebody correct me if I goofed.)
As I recall from Psychology 101, nerve cells actually use ions to modify electrical potentials rather than using real "electricity", as such. You don't have any sparks in your brain, I mean.
Hence it's actually limited by something closer to the speed of sound, and probably even slower then that.
I'd turn myself into Zeus.
Sure it wouldn't solve much of the worlds problems, but I'd fling lightning bolts and screw the hottest chicks I could find for the rest of eternity, and that sounds pretty nice.
I'm pretty sure that last sentence is screaming "I'M SIXTEEN!"
I would make it so CEOs etc could not make more than 50% of the lowest paid full-time employee. Obviously it could be legal-finegeled out of. What I mean is not a law, but a wish that would be followed in spirit. That would correct alot of problems we have today.
Derrick on
Steam and CFN: Enexemander
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HacksawJ. Duggan Esq.Wrestler at LawRegistered Userregular
I'd go back in time and make it so that "You pay 10% of your yearly salary in taxes" bill actually got through. It wouldn't change the entire world much, I suppose, but it'd sure as hell balance the US economy out just a tad.
I'd go back in time and make it so that "You pay 10% of your yearly salary in taxes" bill actually got through. It wouldn't change the entire world much, I suppose, but it'd sure as hell balance the US economy out just a tad.
What? How would a flat tax serve to do anything but widen the rich-poor gap?
Posts
I don't think it's impossible in and of itself, because I think humanity is in fact smart enough to handle it as a whole, but it's just not going to -happen- because humanity isn't that NICE.
Gay people aren't all hairdresser fashion designers with square rimmed glasses and a latin snap accent.
I would abolish all stereotypes
or banish talking about global warming
I'll be fine, just give me a minute, a man's got a limit, I can't get a life if my heart's not in it.
Pepsi Blue would still be around.
Absolutely nothing.
One man's definition of perfect is another man's definition of chaos.
I know kung-fu, bitch!
Seriously though, think about how awesome that would be.
LoL: failboattootoot
Sadly, this currently often results in -mandatory ignorance-.
See: Creation Science.
The moment they switch on ITER, it works perfectly delivering a sustainable and high powered fusion reaction requiring no design changes. This would be great for the world, and mean no more worries about energy and pollution.
or...
A breakthrough in transport, it is now possible to be at any point on earth within about 1 hr using some kind of device. Infrastructure required to be installed is minimal so even small cities and towns can have a base station. Costs are trivial, and enviromental impact is as low as a bus or train journey of similar duration. In addition advances in biometrics make border controls quick and effective. Thus I could visit my friends all over the world with ease, and distance would be removed as a factor in relationships.
Yeah downloading 4chan to your brain would be totally awesome...
*shudder*
- "Proving once again the deadliest animal of all ... is the Zoo Keeper" - Philip J Fry
After that I'd move to Africa.
I should explain that further. I kind of forgot about that comment.
I dunno, I just remember that it was something that really bothered me about most of the gay boys in my school back in Oregon, and made me not want to date them. It's mostly the guys who are trying to fit into the gay stereotype, though -- they think it's charming to be callous and sarcastic and shallow and to be constantly insulting people for their appearance/mannerisms/etc.
Oh well. I assume most of them grow out of it.
It seemed like they were doing it specifically to fit into a gay stereotype, though, which is kind of sad.
Experience is the best way to reverse bigotry.
Also about 90% of the posts are comedy fool's gold rather than serious, thoughtful replies.
Thus why all I ask for is tools and time.
Because jesusfuck nothing good is coming out of either of those things.
I've (half-seriously) had this wish at various times throughout my life. Basically it would have made all those years of school much, much more enjoyable.
And it would be nice if my biggest concerns in the world were sports and getting laid.
Alas, it's not that simple.
All restored nations shall take the place of the current nations, with indestructable properties attributed to all their works. (Some supermetal we can't ruin. Just so nobody ruins the sphinx' face again. For clarafication: the classical nations CAN build new buildings, with materials in the classical world restored to their former levels.)
As part of above, none of the nations of the classical world can be entered by modern mass migrations or memeonic warfare. (A cap at a thousand people. No weapons. No converting the people of 50 bce.)
It'll mess with the world. (Also will tick off the religions I most hate.)
*Except for the UK. I like britain.
I think he meant: Allow FTL travel.
And the brain works on electric impulses. Not light. (I might only be partially right. Somebody correct me if I goofed.)
All restored cities nations shall take the place of the current nations, with indestructable properties attributed to all their works. (Some supermetal we can't ruin. Just so nobody ruins the sphinx' face again. For clarafication: the classical nations CAN build new buildings, with materials in the classical world restored to their former levels.)
As part of above, none of the nations of the classical world can be entered by modern mass migrations or memeonic warfare. (A cap at a thousand people. No weapons. No converting the people of 50 bce.)
It'll mess with the world. (Also will tick off the religions I most hate.)
As I recall from Psychology 101, nerve cells actually use ions to modify electrical potentials rather than using real "electricity", as such. You don't have any sparks in your brain, I mean.
Sure it wouldn't solve much of the worlds problems, but I'd fling lightning bolts and screw the hottest chicks I could find for the rest of eternity, and that sounds pretty nice.
I'm pretty sure that last sentence is screaming "I'M SIXTEEN!"
Oh the things I could accomplish.
What? How would a flat tax serve to do anything but widen the rich-poor gap?