Comments for TripleCrisis http://triplecrisis.com Global Perspectives on Finance, Development, and Environment Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:04:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on The inconvenient truth by Garrett Connely http://triplecrisis.com/the-inconvenient-truth/comment-page-1/#comment-734807 Garrett Connely Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:04:29 +0000 http://triplecrisis.com/?p=5267#comment-734807 The right to develop into what? A voracious consumer of corporate throughput that wrings money out of resources between the extraction and overburdened disposal or, worse, pollution? Or do we want development of human potential through health, happiness and education? With a direct result of gently declining population? Resurgent natural bounty from reduced ecological stress available to less people, who still reach for the stars? Yes, it is time to drop pretenses and use science instead of propaganda. There are human rights to education, shelter, food, good health, sanitation, and freedom to be happy with friends. All these directions of development lead can to a gentle decline in population and reduced ecological stress. Transformation of civilization to fully commercial is not on the list of development rights. The right to develop into what? A voracious consumer of corporate throughput that wrings money out of resources between the extraction and overburdened disposal or, worse, pollution?

Or do we want development of human potential through health, happiness and education? With a direct result of gently declining population? Resurgent natural bounty from reduced ecological stress available to less people, who still reach for the stars?

Yes, it is time to drop pretenses and use science instead of propaganda. There are human rights to education, shelter, food, good health, sanitation, and freedom to be happy with friends. All these directions of development lead can to a gentle decline in population and reduced ecological stress. Transformation of civilization to fully commercial is not on the list of development rights.

]]> Comment on Defending the Indefensible: Behind the Alleged Financial Fraud at Goldman Sachs by Mark http://triplecrisis.com/defending-the-indefensible-behind-the-financial-fraud-at-goldman-sachs/comment-page-1/#comment-734629 Mark Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:44:06 +0000 http://triplecrisis.com/?p=583#comment-734629 Hi Triplecrisis, Speaking of which, Here is a great idea. Cheaper Insurance For Those Who Drive Less! Some insurance companies offer a basic discount for this but I don't think its enough. Clearly someone who drives 30,000 miles a year has more risk then someone driving 5000 miles a year. So why isn't there a tiered system of discounts (or increases) based upon the actual miles you drive per year? If everyone who reads this would just send a quick email to their state department of Insurance I would bet that this could get traction and put the cost of insurance where it belongs, with higher costs on those who drive more and lower costs on those who drive less!! Thanks! All the Best Mark Hi Triplecrisis,
Speaking of which, Here is a great idea. Cheaper Insurance For Those Who Drive Less! Some insurance companies offer a basic discount for this but I don’t think its enough.
Clearly someone who drives 30,000 miles a year has more risk then someone driving 5000 miles a year. So why isn’t there a tiered system of discounts (or increases) based upon the actual miles you drive per year?
If everyone who reads this would just send a quick email to their state department of Insurance I would bet that this could get traction and put the cost of insurance where it belongs, with higher costs on those who drive more and lower costs on those who drive less!!
Thanks!
All the Best
Mark

]]> Comment on U.S. Elections vs. the Environment: The stigma of successful regulation by U.S. Elections vs. the Environment: The Stigma of Successful Regulation | GPACE http://triplecrisis.com/us-elections-vs-the-environment/comment-page-1/#comment-734484 U.S. Elections vs. the Environment: The Stigma of Successful Regulation | GPACE Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:25:23 +0000 http://triplecrisis.com/?p=5257#comment-734484 [...] By Frank Ackerman for TripleCrisis [...] [...] By Frank Ackerman for TripleCrisis [...]

]]> Comment on U.S. Elections vs. the Environment: The stigma of successful regulation by Henry S. Cole, Ph.D. http://triplecrisis.com/us-elections-vs-the-environment/comment-page-1/#comment-732473 Henry S. Cole, Ph.D. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:21:17 +0000 http://triplecrisis.com/?p=5257#comment-732473 Lest we forget, EPA's new regulations limits air emission of mercury and other toxic substances from power plants. This means that these contaminants will make the ash even more hazardous. However, it is likely that some power companies will shut down many problematic units and replace coal with natural gas power -- given the cheap price of gas. Less ash? But more toxic. Lest we forget, EPA’s new regulations limits air emission of mercury and other toxic substances from power plants. This means that these contaminants will make the ash even more hazardous.

However, it is likely that some power companies will shut down many problematic units and replace coal with natural gas power — given the cheap price of gas. Less ash? But more toxic.

]]> Comment on Jobs, and Clean Air Too by Geodesic greenhouse http://triplecrisis.com/jobs-and-clean-air-too/comment-page-1/#comment-730627 Geodesic greenhouse Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:01:00 +0000 http://triplecrisis.com/?p=4047#comment-730627 I think this is good to look at, but being too extreme can allow things to pass. Bills get passed that really have no business but are toted as this or that. Plus, the science studies often times contradict themselves, so until we know more, I have a hard time with just freely throwing around policies. I think this is good to look at, but being too extreme can allow things to pass. Bills get passed that really have no business but are toted as this or that. Plus, the science studies often times contradict themselves, so until we know more, I have a hard time with just freely throwing around policies.

]]> Comment on The culture of debt by Bartosz B. http://triplecrisis.com/the-culture-of-debt/comment-page-1/#comment-726576 Bartosz B. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:10:12 +0000 http://triplecrisis.com/?p=5242#comment-726576 On the one hand you are rightly bemoaning the culture of debt and, especially, ecological debt. On the other hand, you write this: <blockquote>A highly skilled workforce is valuable to the US economy and its prospects for <i>growth</i>.</blockquote> Emphasis mine. This is a contradiction, don't you think? Continued economic growth is only possible through more ecological debt. Although the term "continued" should be handled with care, since this pattern of "development" cannot really be sustained for long. On the one hand you are rightly bemoaning the culture of debt and, especially, ecological debt. On the other hand, you write this:

A highly skilled workforce is valuable to the US economy and its prospects for growth.

Emphasis mine. This is a contradiction, don’t you think? Continued economic growth is only possible through more ecological debt. Although the term “continued” should be handled with care, since this pattern of “development” cannot really be sustained for long.

]]> Comment on Spotlight Durban: Taking Development and Emission Reduction Seriously by David Skidmore http://triplecrisis.com/taking-development-and-emission-reduction-seriously/comment-page-1/#comment-724831 David Skidmore Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:04:40 +0000 http://triplecrisis.com/?p=4656#comment-724831 I just don't see how it will be possible to add 2 billion more people at constantly rising income levels over the next 40 years while at the same time bringing about the radical reductions in carbon emissions that would be required simply to prevent temperatures from rising more than 2 degree celsius above pre-industrial levels. Especially when we have even begun making progress despite a quarter century of warnings and debate (in absolute terms, 2011 brought the greatest single-year increase in carbon emissions in recorded history). Our political institutions are just not designed to respond to signals of environmental limits. It would be nice to believe that we can have it all - development and sustainability. But the evidence to support such a conclusion is sorely lacking. Most likely, we will far overshoot the 2 degree target, rich countries will cope by diverting funds to adaptation while poor countries in the most geographically vulnerable positions will enter a period of devolution. I just don’t see how it will be possible to add 2 billion more people at constantly rising income levels over the next 40 years while at the same time bringing about the radical reductions in carbon emissions that would be required simply to prevent temperatures from rising more than 2 degree celsius above pre-industrial levels. Especially when we have even begun making progress despite a quarter century of warnings and debate (in absolute terms, 2011 brought the greatest single-year increase in carbon emissions in recorded history). Our political institutions are just not designed to respond to signals of environmental limits. It would be nice to believe that we can have it all – development and sustainability. But the evidence to support such a conclusion is sorely lacking. Most likely, we will far overshoot the 2 degree target, rich countries will cope by diverting funds to adaptation while poor countries in the most geographically vulnerable positions will enter a period of devolution.

]]> Comment on Competitiveness and Development: Myth and Realities by Shafaeddin http://triplecrisis.com/competitiveness-and-development-myth-and-realities/comment-page-1/#comment-719267 Shafaeddin Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:36:21 +0000 http://triplecrisis.com/?p=5121#comment-719267 It will be out in June It will be out in June

]]> Comment on A three-step programme to re-civilise capitalism by John http://triplecrisis.com/a-three-step-programme-to-re-civilise-capitalism/comment-page-1/#comment-718631 John Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:21:03 +0000 http://triplecrisis.com/?p=5214#comment-718631 I have to agree with the author, our economic system has become fundamentally unfair and taxation could be an important tool for rectifying this inequality. Why should the middle-class pay more taxes than the rich? Why does the government advocates further tax cuts for the very rich even as they warn about deficits and demand drastic cuts in social insurance programs? A few days ago I found myself driving through Lawrence Park neighborhood, one of <a href="http://jamiesarner.com/toronto-real-estate/2012/01/the-richest-neighbourhoods/" rel="nofollow">top ten richest neighbourhoods in Canada</a>. I could see luxurious properties and expensive cars. I guess most of those people wouldn't even notice higher taxes. I have to agree with the author, our economic system has become fundamentally unfair and taxation could be an important tool for rectifying this inequality. Why should the middle-class pay more taxes than the rich? Why does the government advocates further tax cuts for the very rich even as they warn about deficits and demand drastic cuts in social insurance programs? A few days ago I found myself driving through Lawrence Park neighborhood, one of top ten richest neighbourhoods in Canada. I could see luxurious properties and expensive cars. I guess most of those people wouldn’t even notice higher taxes.

]]> Comment on Competitiveness and Development: Myth and Realities by Nathan Tankus http://triplecrisis.com/competitiveness-and-development-myth-and-realities/comment-page-1/#comment-717981 Nathan Tankus Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:01:50 +0000 http://triplecrisis.com/?p=5121#comment-717981 I can't wait for this book. I can’t wait for this book.

]]>