Yonni:
My point goes like this, in over-simplified terms:
1) continuing with the status quo will ruin the environment for ourselves and the next generation especially
2) the problem can only be effectively countered via collective action and effective consciousness raising
3) the problem with collective action and indeed the tragedy of the commons is a bit like the cartel problem - if 50% of people shape up, you still have the other 50% dicking around with the environment (read: China)
4) that does not give the right-minded people license to just forget about doing the right thing. the right thing will never get done if no one does it. therefore the right action is to do the right thing now knowing not everyone will even as we pressure the wrong-doers to shape up. which we are
This makes sense from a Kantian perspective. We wouldn't want *anyone* fracking that shit and using all the oil that is better just left in the ground. So just because some other jackass will happily burn it all and spill some on the ground and in the water doesn't mean we get to, even if it would make us some dough.
this isn't about money, at least not in this sense. what we ought to be doing is focusing on incorporating the true costs of this kind of environmentally destructive activity into the prices paid by producers and consumers. at the moment it represents an externality of the first order.
if this means we have to do it by expending some political clout with canada, we ought to do that. because, let's be honest. in terms of long term importance, here are the issues that matter, in rough order:
1) environment
2) technology development, especially regarding outer space. exception: if we successfully get off this rock, #1 becomes sort of irrelevant
3) other geopolitical concerns like riches, power, peace, rule of law. none of it will matter if we all fucking die.
I'm not over-playing this, no. If they build the pipeline, okay. It won't change much either way. But if it can be stopped, and it can, it should be. So why not lend your support to people already trying to stop it?
tl;dr:
Oil is becoming obsolete no two ways about it. Better just do the right thing and try to stop using it now. No need to lose our god damn minds fracking the shit out of Canada, shipping it across our heartland and burning that shit into our atmosphere. Let's try nuclear power instead, thanks, and start looking for ways to make China pay it's share of the damage it will eventually wreak.
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Ranking should take into account etiquette, if possible
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