Remember, these people are just all about the science, this has nothing to do with politics and sociology and authoritarianism and stuff. Jacobin Magazine, which “is a leading voice of the American left, offering socialist perspectives on politics, economics, and culture” chimes in to say you’re crazy for thinking this isn’t about the science
Climate Doom Won’t Save the Planet
It’s another summer of climate dread. Earlier this month, Lytton, British Columbia hit 121 degrees Fahrenheit — the hottest temperature ever recorded in Canada. In Oregon, the Bootleg “megafire†— one of eighty fires currently raging in the West — is still only 30 percent contained after two weeks. The size of Los Angeles, it is “hot enough to create [its] own weather, [including] tornado-like winds that can tear trees apart and dismantle power lines.†Those in the Eastern US are experiencing the effects: hazy skies, air quality warnings, and unnerving red sunsets (more akin to a galaxy far, far away). Outside North America, unprecedented floods have killed hundreds in Europe and thirty-three in China.
Except, as we learn, every single one of those fires were either from lightning, which has always happened, or human activity like arson or poor control of transmission lines, made worse by more forest control. Not a slight increase in the Earth’s average temperature.
Climate dread isn’t just a cascade of bad weather — it’s the familiar feeling of seeing droughts, fires, heatwaves, and storms grow worse year after year as the political class sits on its hands. While Joe Biden talks the talk on climate, his aspirational infrastructure “American jobs planâ€Â falls far short of the investment needed to meet his ambitious targets. Administration officials John Kerry and Janet Yellen act as if it’s the 1990s by claiming “markets not government†and “private capital†are the keys to addressing the crisis.
So now it’s “climate dread”, not climate anxiety? Except, none of those things are growing worse. That last line almost seems like Jacobin wants to push Government control
Yet to read any headlines today is to realize that no amount of knowledge of the reality of climate change has spurred the necessary action. The climate struggle remains mostly not about knowledge, but about who controls production and energy investment. Even while oil and gas companies finally claim to “believe science†and announce targets to reach “net zero†emission by 2050, the Biden administration has quietly approved existing oil and gas drilling leases at a pace comparable with Trump.
The production part isn’t referring specifically to fossil fuels companies, but, to all rich people. To the producers. And that article wants to take power and money away from them.
Nevertheless, those experiencing acute climate disasters still form a minority — and thus experience of climate disaster is not yet a basis for mass action. In fact, if this group did form a majority, we would arguably be too late to stop climate breakdown.
As Ezra Klein recently noted, “there is a discordance between the pitch of the rhetoric on climate and the normalcy of the lives many of us live.†Recent polling suggests a stark 57 percent of Americans do not think climate change will harm them personally.
Put that one with all the pieces where the vast majority do not want to spend more than $1 or $10 a month of their own earnings on ‘climate change’. Doing Something is popular in theory, not practice.
Furthermore, it is quite a lot to expect from “frontline communities†to lead the struggle to save the planet. As some of the most marginalized and oppressed groups in society, their struggles for immediate survival will only fleetingly overlap with the planetary politics of climate change. And while their struggles are often waged directly against the same fossil capitalists that climate activists target, defeating these incredibly powerful corporations will take a much broader, mass movement.
Nope, not Modern Socialism, this is Science!!!!
There is an alternative. Instead of expecting climate mobilization to emerge from knowledge or experience of climate change, we should seek to orient climate action around the everyday material realities of the working class — the vast majority of society. Such an approach could build something the climate movement still lacks: a majoritarian political coalition with the power to confront fossil capital.
While more and more surely are experiencing climate disasters, for most working people the primary obstacle to survival is the daily struggle to afford the basics of life like food, electricity, rent, and health care. Capitalism is a daily disaster of lacking the most rudimentary needs for material security and human dignity.
That sounds like something out of the Marxist revolution which overthru the Russia oligarchy and replaced it with totalitarian system of the Union Of Soviet Socialist Republics.
And it is not as if these material needs are “distractions†from the climate crisis. Food, housing, energy, and transport are the key sectors we need to decarbonize. The problem is most climate policy technocrats tend to assume restructuring these sectors will increase (or “internalizeâ€) costs through carbon taxes or fees. A working-class strategy would do the opposite by guaranteeing access to de-commodified goods.
Where does that money come from, because it would skyrocket costs. Punishing the major producers? It would keep the proletariat class from moving, since they wouldn’t be able to afford travel.
The Green New Deal represents a breakthrough in this respect — offering a climate program around public housing, a job guarantee, and, most recently, public power to, “establish electricity as a basic human right and public good.†Still, for this strategy to work, you have to deliver these material gains in the name of climate action.
So, nationalization of the power sector? Remember, this is totally not about politics.
“Capitalism is a daily disaster of lacking the most rudimentary needs for material security and human dignity.”
That must explain why people flee the daily disaster of capitalism in places like Cuba and run to the safety of America for those “rudimentary needs”. Oh, wait.
Does this clown actually believe there is “material security and human dignity” in places like Cuba, Communist China, N Korea etc.? Is that why they build border walls to keep their people in?
This bitch watches too much CNN and MSNBC for his own mental health’s sake. He probably thinks 1/6 was an “armed insurrection” but the burning and looting of 26 American cities were “peaceful protests”. Talk about living ass backwards!
Remember when all the new inventions and innovations came from America? Then the “progressives” took over and here we are. The world leader in anti White hate and blue city crime! What an accomplishment!
“China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) launched on Tuesday the construction of the first onshore small nuclear reactor in the world, in its efforts to gain a leading position in the modular reactors market.
Once completed and commissioned, the small nuclear reactor is expected to meet the annual power needs of around 526,000 households, Global Times reports, without giving a timeline for the completion.”
William Teach: Except, as we learn, every single one of those fires were either from lightning, which has always happened, or human activity like arson or poor control of transmission lines, made worse by more forest control. Not a slight increase in the Earth’s average temperature.
That is incorrect. It’s a basic principle of firefighting that an increase in temperature and the resultant lowering of moisture content increases the dangers of fires.
https://www.nps.gov/articles/understanding-fire-danger.htm
William Teach: Doing Something is popular in theory, not practice.
The tragedy of the commons. Unrestrained capitalism can be a disaster in many ways, including with regards to air and water pollution.
Unrestrained socialism/communism is the worst plague ever to hit mankind. Top down command economies have the worst environmental records by far.
As well as the worst human rights records, technological and scientific progress records, social and cultural equality and accomplishment records, so basically you name it they F it up. Yet there are so many Americans pining for a really good benevolent demofascist dictator. Even here at The Pirates Cove. Go figure. Look at all the asshats wearing “Che” t-shirts.
Kangarew: Unrestrained socialism/communism is the worst plague ever to hit mankind.
Communism is unrestrained by definition, as it is tethered to an unattainable utopia along with a belief in the ends justify the means. Still, the actual Black Plague was probably worse.
In any case, that’s why the most successful modern systems are mixed, combining robust markets with social safety nets, and with political power distributed through the system at many levels.
Z,
Those comments are really fantastic bullshit. No, you have no idea of what you are talking about and zero knowledge of the political and social war for which we are in the midst. Graduate from high school, get a job and do much more reading. And what loser spends a weekend talking shit to a bunch of men old enough to be his grandfather.
d,
Do you disagree that communism is utopian? That it is unattainable? That Marxists believe the ends justify the means? Do you reject that the most successful modern systems are mixed?
Let us know when you can make a substantive reply.
Z,
Little loser,
You have no idea as to what communism is. The others on this comment section do. There is no person more stupid than that which falls for the song of communism. You are not very bright.
Elwood. Stop pretending to be Zach.
I disagree that communism is utopian and attainable. I also agree that any form of government you can devise it attainable in the form in which you wish it to take.
Substantive reply?
Here you go.
Communism is by no means a Utopian system. There will always be issues with any system, and Communism recognizes this. Where in the works of Marx or Engels is Communism labeled a panacea for humanity’s ailments?
Where in Das Kapital or the Communist Manifesto is Marxism promised to solve all of man’s problems? Nowhere.
If anything, Marxism promises increased conflict, class warfare, and revolution! Hardly what one would call a “Utopian†system.
It is because humans are naturally greedy and self-serving that Marx argues for Communism and against Capitalism. Humans are naturally violent and even murderous- that doesn’t mean we create a legal system that makes allowances for humanity’s shortcomings. As James Madison once put it, “If men were angels, no government would be necessary…â€.
Will democratic countries last forever? Absolutely not. Athens, the Roman Republic, pre-WWII Germany were all (FORMS) of democracies and they fell in ruin. Was it the fault of the system? Partially but mostly no as it was the fault of humans.
The corruption of governments is much like disease in our bodies. We can only delay the inevitable process.
The ancient Chinese were aware of this and rather than attempting to come up with a system of government that could circumnavigate social entropy, they based their political theory on the simple belief that what goes up, must come down. Their system was called the “Mandate of Heavenâ€, which stated that when a dynasty became corrupt, the people had not the right but the obligation to revolt and instate a new government.
This of course was the philosophy echoed by America’s founding father’s in the Declaration of Independence (“That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men… That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government…â€).
Yes, a Communist government will eventually become corrupt and collapse on itself, but so will any form of government created and run by man. The laws of physics aren’t optional.
Communism is based on the belief that humans are naturally predisposed to greed, lawlessness, and violence. Therefore it is illogical to argue that Communism relies on the belief that humans are naturally good.
Because a Communism government, like every form of government, will at some point self-destruct, it is impossible and illogical to argue that Communism is an attainable Utopia capable of solving the human curse of war, disease, crime, and conflict.
So do the ends justify the means. Never. Not in a world in which personal freedom is at stake. Communism squelches personal freedom in an attempt to destroy the desire to resist the ruling class, and there is always a ruling class or their is chaos. A quick look at Cuba and Haiti proves this to be true.
You are arguing for a mixed system of government to attain the utopia that eludes socialism, communism and capitalism. Unless and until you can eliminate those that would enrich themselves at the expense of the rest then your success with a mixed form of government is a pipe dream. Nothing more than a classroom exercise brought to us by the latest professorial teachings from Yale, Harvard and any one of a 100 colleges brainwashing a new generation of children to believe that Capitalism is bad and communism is good.
est1950: Communism is by no means a Utopian system.
Of course it is. Marxism advocates for “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs,” a stateless and classless society.
est1950: There will always be issues with any system, and Communism recognizes this.
Marxism predicts an intermediate socialist state, a dictatorship of the proletariat.
est1950: Where in the works of Marx or Engels is Communism labeled a panacea for humanity’s ailments?
“From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.”
est1950: Marxism promises increased conflict, class warfare, and revolution!
Only as an intermediate socialist state on the road to communism.
est1950: Communism is based on the belief that humans are naturally predisposed to greed, lawlessness, and violence.
Marx argued that property was at the root of class struggle.
est1950: You are arguing for a mixed system of government to attain the utopia that eludes socialism, communism and capitalism.
Actually, we pointed out that the most successful systems are mixed systems, and are also the ones with the most individual liberty.
est1950: Unless and until you can eliminate those that would enrich themselves at the expense of the rest then your success with a mixed form of government is a pipe dream.
What? All advanced systems are mixed, combining robust markets with social safety nets.
1950,
Unfortunately Z is a high school kid. This one is more of a loser than his predecessors. It shows how bad our educational system has become.
Z is actually defending the system that murdered over 100 million people in the 20th century.
Professor Hale: Z is actually defending the system that murdered over 100 million people in the 20th century.
Uh, no. Utopianism (Communism, perfect social equality) paired with extremism (Marxism, ends justify the means) has led to untold misery. We reject both.
Professor Hale: Z is actually defending the system that murdered over 100 million people in the 20th century.
Well, we have to admit that we did compare it favorably to the Black Death.
Black Death deaths:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Death#Deaths
david7134: You have no idea as to what communism is.
Communism is not a single thing, but an ideology that advocates for a communist society, that is, one with common ownership of property and the absence of social classes. Marxism specifically predicted an inevitable social transition from capitalism to dictatorship of the proletariat and socialism, until finally the state withers away leaving society in a pure communist society. When Marxism ran into hard reality, the concept of a dictatorship of the proletariat led to all sorts of tyrannies.
Elwood, you cherry picking a line of my Substantive reply and then refuting it using a quote from Marx, Engels or others is hardly a debate or even a discussion.
The idea of “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs” was first put to paper by a French utopian theorist Étienne-Gabriel Morelly. A century later, Karl Marx incorporated it into the Communist theory in his Critique of the Gotha Program.
The modem revolutionist knows full well that man is not superior to principle, that principle is superior to man, but he does not fly off the handle with the maxim, and thus turn the maxim into absurdity. The first words of Marx’s critique of the Gotha Program.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
As a humanist, Maslow believed that people have an inborn desire to be self-actualized, that is, to be all they can be. In order to achieve these ultimate goals, however, a number of more basic needs must be met such as the need for food, safety, love, and self-esteem.
What are those basic needs in order to be fulfilled and to live in your Utopian society?
Physiological, Safety, Love/Belonging, Esteem and finally the pinnacle of self fulfillment is Self-Actualization.
Agreeing with Carl Rogers, Maslow emphasized the importance of self-actualization, which is a process of growing and developing as a person in order to achieve individual potential.
So with the human needs of mankind in mind what does Marx mean?
quoting the leftist Wikipedia: The principle refers to free access to and distribution of goods, capital and services. In the Marxist view, such an arrangement will be made possible by the abundance of goods and services that a developed communist system will be capable to produce; the idea is that, with the full development of socialism and unfettered productive forces, there will be enough to satisfy everyone’s needs
Communism does not offer Utopia because it does not address the needs of the individual. EACH ACCORDING TO HIS NEEDS in the Marxist system does not address the individual needs of a collective of citizens but rather offers everything for free. Individuals need many different things. Is Sex free? Food? Can I get caviar and White wine for every meal? Each individual has differing needs, which is something the capitalist system allows for. If you want Caviar then work for it and it is yours. In Communism Utopia the collective makes the decision for the masses as to what is important and your personal input does not matter.
If that is so, who decides who will dig in the mine, 10,000 feet under ground for material X to make citizen Z happy? Man will want the job working as a flower gardener rather than a miner. Or who will pick up the trash, when you could have the job of sitting behind a counter and offering free tea to happy citizens who don’t feel like working today?
Who determines who will work, what will be produced and for how long? Of course it is those in charge and whenever you put one group in charge of another animosity arises and the 5 levels of human need according to the Humanist approach to Psychology is broken, the system collapses and no one is happy except those in power.
THE USSR tried to be communist and turned into an authoritarian dictatorship. The CCP of China tried and once again turned into a dictatorship. Cuba Tried and again the same result. This happens when those with power make the decisions as to what is best for the collective.
In this world with humanities need for individual attention there is never a time in which Communism will attain any semblance of Utopia.
No matter the system, there are and always will be haves and have nots. Utopia does not exist nor will it ever exist other than in your professors mind.
Or as the great Ronaldus Maximus said: “Socialism only works in two places: Heaven where they don’t need it and hell where they already have it.”
est1950: Communism does not offer Utopia because it does not address the needs of the individual.
That communism is “unattainable,” as we noted above, does not argue that the ideology is not utopian egalitarianism.
est1950: Utopia does not exist nor will it ever exist
That’s right. The word ‘utopia’ literally means ‘nowhere’ in Latin.
Kye: “Socialism only works in two places: Heaven where they don’t need it and hell where they already have it.â€
Interesting. However, both are usually depicted as monarchies.
Do you disagree that communism is utopian? That it is unattainable? That Marxists believe the ends justify the means? Do you reject that the most successful modern systems are mixed?
Let us know when you can make a substantive reply.
This is what I responded to with a substantive reply…PER YOUR REQUEST.
est1950: Utopia does not exist nor will it ever exist
That’s right. The word ‘utopia’ literally means ‘nowhere’ in Latin.
Seriously? Your using a dead language to wiggle yourself out of your inability to mount an argument?
utopia
[yoÍžoˈtÅpÄ“É™]
NOUN
an imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect.Compare with dystopia.
“misplaced faith in political utopias has led to ruin” · [more]
Jun 07, 2011 · Definition of utopia 1 often capitalized : a place of ideal perfection especially in laws, government, and social conditions 2 : an impractical scheme for social improvement.
If you move the goal posts during a debate you lose. Zach you are incapable of mounting a substantive defense of your own political positions because Saul Alinsky Demands it: NEVER LET THEM KNOW WHAT YOU WOULD DO. Biden used this tactic during the last election by even saying as much. If I say anything they will use it against me.
Ideals and reality are two differing forms of existence. All forms of government are mixed and diverse. Even the USSR was never a true communist state and China is now following the same mold as the USSR. They offer forms of socialism, Fascism and Capitalism as does the USA.
The problem with your position is that you offer communism as the starting point for your Utopian form of government. A place that does not exist and will never exist. Marx defended his authoritarian ideals by blasting the Socialist state created by GERMANY.
You defend todays Democratic party with a passion and yet all around the world inclucing DC authoritarian forms of government are emerging. Rebellion around the world only serves to prove the point that if you DEMAND of the people acceptance of that which YOU want and THEY do not. You get anarchy. You end up with the people rising up and throwing off the shackles of the previous government.
Today around the world we are seeing the results of YOUR form of government being crucified. The only way to make authoritarianism work each according to his needs is with the BOOT HEEL in your ass.
Americans will rise. Until you can mount a substantive defense of your own, I will have nothing further to do with your childish notions of defending communism while pretending you want a mixed form of government.
You do not. You want to lie to the people until it is too late. You encourage authoritarianism and you demand fidelity to your political beliefs. That is is where Utopia ends and failure begins.
est1950: This is what I responded to with a substantive reply…PER YOUR REQUEST.
We appreciated your substantive reply.
est1950: Your using a dead language to wiggle yourself out of your inability to mount an argument?
What? We’re agreeing with you. Utopia is unattainable, as we noted in our first comment. And the etymology of the word coined by Thomas More is relevant. Utopia means “no where.”
est1950: Ideals and reality are two differing forms of existence.
Yes, that’s right.
est1950: Even the USSR was never a true communist state
Of course not. They described themselves as a socialist state. Communism is, under Marxism, a later social development: capitalism –> socialist dictatorship of the proletariat –> communism. But the end is unattainable, the dire means never end.
est1950: The problem with your position is that you offer communism as the starting point for your Utopian form of government.
Uh, no. We reject Utopianism. Why ever did you think otherwise?
” You want to lie to the people until it is too late.”
Ahh, est1950, the money line! That’s exactly what the left in America has been doing for decades. That’s what they are doing today with the ever-changing Wuhan lies, the ever-changing climate lies and their willing blindness to the fraud of the last election, the refusal to audit the results in questionable states and the phony “insurrection” , illegal imprisonment and murder of sovereign American citizens.
When it’s no longer possible to sort out the truth from the lies the only people who benefit are the ones doing the lying.
A common political tactic of repressive authoritarians is to accuse their enemies of what they themselves are already doing, as the pretext justifying the imposition of tyranny.
Well, that is now what we are seeing happening in America, the land of the free and the home of the brave. And it’s the brave and the free who are the only people who can now stop the implosion of Western values and culture, and with it the collapse of the best and most enlightened civilization thus far in the history of mankind.
We have already started our slow journey on the quiet road to tyranny, and it’s the Left in the driving seat. And they are accelerating.
Apart from the brave and the free, who or what should we put our hopes on?
“You encourage authoritarianism and you demand fidelity to your political beliefs. That is is where Utopia ends and failure begins.”
Another million dollar observation. The reason they demand fidelity and fealty I might add is because like all communists their “political beliefs” have surpassed politics and have become the de facto state religion of the atheist elite. Even the Pope seems more devoted to the religion of communism than the Love of Jesus Christ.
Kye: the refusal to audit the results in questionable states
All states have systems for auditing the results. The process is overseen by both state and federal courts.
Kye: and the phony “insurrectionâ€
People were recorded saying they were going to take the Capitol. Then they called for the Vice President to be hanged and for the Speaker of the House to be found.
Kye: illegal imprisonment and murder of sovereign American citizens.
Each person arrested for their actions during the insurrection were brought before a judge to determine probable cause and conditions of bail. The majority were released pre-trial. Some have already pleaded guilty. Ashli Babbitt was shot while leading a mob trying to overrun the House Chamber where members were still evacuating. This was the mob calling for the Vice President to be hanged and making efforts to find the Speaker of the House.
However, each person will be held responsible only for their own actions. Most are charged with obstruction of Congress.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8-vHGerB_Q