This statement by ecologist Garrett Hardin sums up the problems facing humanity: “Freedom in a commons brings ruin to all.” Symptoms abound, and include ocean acidification, climate change and unprecedented mass extinction of plants and animals. I fear big changes are coming soon, certainly in this century, and they will be profound, i.e. “Soylent Green.” I encourage folks to read Hardin’s 1968 thesis paper and ponder his words in light of current conditions at home and abroad, http://bit.ly/V5bONi.
I’m pretty certain we are living now at the beginning of the end, and I don’t think there is anything we can do to stop the inevitable collapse of our society from happening, especially in the good ol’ USA where religion, politics, greed, apathy and simple ignorance prevent meaningful action. This country is only a few disasters away from becoming a totalitarian state, at which point the American experiment in democratic governance will end as it did in Rome.
Like most folks, I will soldier on as if blissfully ignorant and at the same time try to encourage my children to prepare themselves for the events that will surely impact them and their families in the decades to come.
How nice to be young in this world we live in now?
Ronald A. Meyer
Camas
