Monday, January 5, 2015

Energy inequality

The best way to understand economics and politics is to understand energy. A good start is to listen to talks by Richard Heinberg of the Post Carbon Institute. Though we disagree on solutions, Post Carbon does excellent analysis of today's problems.
The profit system has created energy inequality. A small percent of humanity is wasting a large percent of fossil fuel. Most humans live with small energy input and output, but they are the ones who suffer the most from the unequal system.

The main pillar of this system is the desire for suburban-style living. Sprawl profiteers depend on this to keep people subsidizing it, and allowing environmental destruction.

There is a way out of this. Provide car-free cities. This will attract people, and reduce birth rates. With more people in the city, they will see that it is safe and clean. Then more people will come. The suburbs can be returned gradually to organic farms. This is a goal you can pursue at the local level. Both degrowth and growth advocates can be won to it. Small steps can be taken. Start with a free shuttle downtown. Then make more buses free. Set up local food markets. There is much you can do.

If you are more stay-at-home, become a #freetransit blogger. We need people with local knowledge. You can be public or anonymous. Contact us at fpteditors at gmail.

photo from Scamp