I have finally created an account. My number will identify me as a newbie, but in fact, I've been reading regularly since 2003. I marched in San Francisco to protest the Iraq war, and I supported Howard Dean, and I read Talking Points Memo and DailyKos to keep myself informed. I just wanted to offer a few points to demonstrate a bit of who I am and what I believe. I try to keep the big picture in mind and not get too caught up in the little stuff.
- The important thing is to ensure the continued survival of the human species, together with as many other species as possible; biodiversity gives us more flexibility and decreases the odds of a sudden collapse in the food chain. To this end, we should put the highest priority on environmental sustainability, even above health care, the Iraq war, the economy, etc. The food diaries are my favorites on here, because we really have to get back to the basics of survival.
- Our population has grown exponentially in recent years, and I don't see any way for it to plateau at 6.5 billion in the long term. Maybe 3 billion would be reasonable. Sudden population explosions are usually followed by sudden crashes. It could be caused by disease, famine, flooding, war, or various other potential catastrophes (or a combination of several of these). If we assume that a crash is going to happen in the near future, shouldn't we be discussing the best way to prepare? Build bunkers and stockpile water purifiers and canned goods? Buy a few acres of arable land and learn how to grow vegetables and raise chickens? Build backyard windmills and rooftop solar panels, so our homes are off the grid? I'm not thinking about Roland Burris (for example), I'm thinking about how to make sure my children will have enough food twenty years from now.
- Since I believe there are more than enough humans on the planet, I have no problem with abortion. It would be nice if we could remove it from the list of big issues that we continually debate with the GOP. Couldn't we focus on redirecting their attention elsewhere? For example, every time they mention abortion, accuse them of neglecting the millions of children who are currently dying of starvation or malnutrition, in favor of ones who aren't even born yet. Or start citing examples of child abuse, to demonstrate their failure to follow through on their "pro-life" stance. If abortion comes up, immediately change the subject: keep reminding the GOP that the first priority is to keep already-existing children alive!
- While we're busy preparing for an impending population collapse, there's no harm in spending a little spare time on the moral issues of war and torture. I firmly believe that killing is never acceptable, whether it's a drive-by gang shooting, or a bomb dropped on Afghan militants. It's never acceptable to hurt a prisoner who is at our mercy. Why can't we impress that upon the GOP? Our soldiers have murdered tens of thousands of Iraqis, including women and children. What could ever possibly justify that? Let's just Stop. Killing. People.
This is my first diary, so I hope it's not too out of line. After lurking for so many years, I just wanted to introduce myself and tell you a little about my priorities.
UPDATE: Oh my goodness! My very first diary, and I'm on the rec list! Wow, very unexpected. Thank you all... it's nice to feel so welcome here! One other note: I have two small boys (a one-year-old and a three-year-old; I guess I'm not helping with the population problem), so I have a limited amount of time for responding to comments. I'll try to keep up!
UPDATE 2: Okay, I've learned a valuable lesson about inflammatory topics like abortion and the Iraq war. I apologize up front for offending the vets here. I don't think you're all guilty of murder. I do think we invaded Iraq illegally and without provocation, so many of the casualties there could be classified as murder. And I should have clarified that I primarily lay the blame on the commanders, including George W Bush. I hope you'll forgive me and please stop cussing at me.
I'm grateful to everyone who took me seriously and responded with a thoughtful debate on sustainable community, renewable energy, population control, etc. I'm currently part of a group of five adults who plan to buy land in Oregon in the next year or two, because it's still affordable and there's enough water to grow stuff. We'd rather work on it together, instead of each building our own bunkers or whatever. There are a bunch of groups who are way ahead of us on this-- the Amish, the few communes that are still going after 30 years, some of the extremist wingnuts with their rural compounds, maybe even the Latter-Day Saints who are really good at helping each other as a community. The point is, we want to actually get started soon-- does anyone else want in on it?