Don't Look on the Bright Side: Pessimism, Not Magical Thinking, Is What Will Save Us

AlterNet by Marty Kaplan | Jun. 29, 2011 (Opinion)
It would take a miracle for our intractable problems to become tractable. Being in denial about that doesn't help anyone.

Whatever global threats scare you -- climate change, the Middle East, loose nukes, pandemics -- and whatever domestic issues haunt you -- failing schools, crumbling infrastructure, rising poverty, obesity -- the odds are that the honesty, discipline, resources and burden-sharing required for a happy ending will not, like Elijah, show up at our door. Full Story »

Posted by Dwight Rousu

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Gary Clark
4.0
 by Gary Clark - Jun. 29, 2011

It is a thought provoking editorial commentary about the mind-set that many have toward insoluble problems; that any darkness may be turned to rainbows and butterflies with the application of money, ingenuity and elbow grease. Yet so many of the situations referenced (and climate disruption with resultant food production instability isn't addressed--a major omission for our future well-being) are progressing toward furtherance of inequities that it should be possible to at least talk, discuss rationally, the problems and options open to our species in its darkening hour. I must note that some European nations are taking steps to prepare for fossil fuel phase-out, and have political structures that make reforms more citizen friendly. But that's the sort of thing that might be blasted as "unAmerican", thus not open for consideration.

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