The point of the meme here, of course, is that the electrification of transportation (and everything else) is going to run into temporary roadblocks. Will there be enough lithium? Will EV battery recycling become feasible? Will the ubiquity of fast charging stations come to satisfy demand? Will we rid ourselves of hydrocarbons from the grid-mix?
I would suggest that the answer to all these questions is yes, i.e., that we’re going to get there eventually, perhaps in a couple of decades. A more interesting question: Will all this happen in time to prevent our civilization’s experiencing devastating long-term environmental damage?
No one knows, though one thing is certain: there are forces at play that apply great economic pressure and make this anything but a level playing field. The entire fossil fuel industry is doing its damndest to stay in place indefinitely, regardless of how horrific the consequences may be to humanity, and to all life forms here on Earth.
I join those who say that the human race has evolved to be tribal and selfish. We are largely indifferent to the needs of others, and the capitalist society we’ve built has only served to reenforce this.
As Tom Waits observed, “We’re monkeys with money and guns.”
Now, are there some extremely decent and kind people spread around the globe? Of course. But they tend not to be the billionaires who make all the important decisions as to the how our culture will conduct itself.
Well, never is a long time, as they say.
Yet imagine this scenario, which is quite possible:
Trump is impeached and removed. Almost immediately, there is an incredible outpouring of information on an additional set of crimes committed by Trump and his administration. Simultaneously, the U.S. morphs into a social democracy, and its people enjoy quality education, access to healthcare, and prosperity, not unlike those in Northern Europe and elsewhere around the globe.
Yes, there will always be Republicans promising mass deportations and whatever else appeals to a dwindling MAGA base, but I would think they will have one hell of a hard time winning a national election.
The GOP can say the American economy is skyrocketing. But then there’s that nasty little piece of reality that people can’t afford groceries and are suffering financially more generally.
Or they can day that people are suffering financially, but it’s Biden’s fault. Oops. Biden left office 588 days ago.
Or they can say that the war in Iran has driven up gas prices, but that will turn immediately because we’ve won the war. Yikes. What can we say about all these bombs?
Or they can say that all the racial hatred and divisiveness is Obama’s fault. No, that’s problematic, since he’s been gone for almost 10 years.
Trump supporters may not be too sharp, but even they are having trouble accepting all this crap.
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