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Post by jasonaustin on Jan 9, 2019 1:11:30 GMT -5
1. The Environment/ Environmental Sustainability. Without drinkable water, edible food and breathable air, we cease to exist as a species.
2. Dwindling Fossil Fuels. Some estimates say we have already hit peak oil, and that the Earth only has enough petroleum and natural gas to last for another 50-100 years at current rates of consumption. Alternative energy solutions may alleviate some of that, but you can't power jet aircraft using solar panels.
3. Threat of Nuclear War. Obviously a big one. Just because it is not imminent now does not mean it will always be so, given the volatile nature of geopolitics.
4. Non-Nuclear War. Obviously still horiffic, with or without nukes.
5. Famine and Starvation. Still occurring throughout the world. Obviously related to #'s 1 and 4.
6. Income Hyper-Inequality. Shows no signs of slowing down. Top three billionaires in U.S. (Gates, Bezos, Buffett) control more money than half the country.
7. Money in Politics. If elections are bought and sold, the needs of the common individual cease to matter to government.
8. Criminal Recidivism. U.S. jails and prisons colloquially known as "crime schools".
9. Education. Quality of public schools in U.S. (at least) varies widely based on economic demographics.
10. Religious Fundementalism. The kind that teaches people it is okay to stone others to death, push them off of buildings and so on. Opiate of the masses.
Relatively Spurious Wedge Issues: Border Wall, Abortion, War on Christmas/ Christianity, Black Lives Matter, Gender/Race/Sexuality Representation in Media, Diversity Quotas and so on. Not to say these are not somewhat important to varying degrees, but they are not nearly as vital to address as any of the above.
Your thoughts?
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Post by jasonaustin on Jan 9, 2019 1:20:32 GMT -5
Whoops, I forgot to mention Hypercapitalism and Wall Street Deregulation, but we can just say that this is related to #'s 6 & 7.
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Post by jasonaustin on Jan 9, 2019 16:42:36 GMT -5
Thought about this some more since my somewhat off-the-cuff post last night. Likely still could add the surveillance state/ big brother, racism in all its forms and manifestations, cartels and the power they exert, military and political dictatorship, military/industrial and prison/industrial complexes. Any others?
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Post by filledeplage on Jan 9, 2019 22:24:22 GMT -5
Thought about this some more since my somewhat off-the-cuff post last night. Likely still could add the surveillance state/ big brother, racism in all its forms and manifestations, cartels and the power they exert, military and political dictatorship, military/industrial and prison/industrial complexes. Any others? The best book for these times is the old 1984 by Orwell. It is all laid out there.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2019 22:34:46 GMT -5
Willfully ignorant people.
Intolerance towards other people based on attributes they can't change.
Climate Change and its deniers
Income Inequality
Overpopulation
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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2019 8:01:38 GMT -5
How about Nature fighting back? Volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, etc.
(Maybe this falls under climate change.)
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Post by filledeplage on Jan 10, 2019 9:21:34 GMT -5
How about Nature fighting back? Volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, etc. (Maybe this falls under climate change.) One of the biggest problems for me, is the lack of inquiry and reasonable skepticism for science and peer review and the ability to replicate studies independently of one other - and subject them all to the largest test of all - whether there are conflicts-of-interest with industry paying for research instead of the independence of a scientist who is free to investigate without someone from industry, putting a thumb on the scale for a result that benefits shareholders in a company whether it is big pharma and Oxycontin, or whether the world's weather has been changing. Now we know the Oxycontin certification, which said it would not be addictive - was not solid and untrue and not peer-reviewed and subject to scientific rigor. It was all about making money for an industry. That is after tens of thousands have died of overdoses. It is too late for them. The science was sloppy. No, I don't just "believe the scientists." They need to prove their work for the public to accept it and not be harmed. Over a hundred of my former beloved students are in the ground as a result of OD. Now - I'm not inclined to be a believer - I am now a skeptic. Not long ago - we had 15 feet of snow one winter. It is hard to swallow "global warming" when your snow shovel is still at your door in April or May when you should be looking at tulips and daffodils. It is hard for me, to swallow all this caution about the sun when now we have shelves of Vitamin D in every local Walgreens and CVS store to make up for not having healthy sun exposure. After "global warming" became laughed at, after 15 feet of snow - the policy-selling verbiage became "climate change" - it is a vague term. And the buzzword du jour - just like the "hole in the ozone" to make you run out and buy sunscreen. It is like Henny Penny - the "sky is falling." As things are, it is more difficult to prove a case in court - having to prove scientific independence and the ability to have work peer- reviewed and re-tested by other scientists under the 1929 Frye standard, for evidence, or 1993 Daubert standard for evidence (the cases are available online) that is acceptable in court, than it is to change policy in Congress, with legislators who are not incentivized by industry and driven by their lobbyists' money. It is frustrating to me - to look at legal standards to pass muster in a court - that are tested, defended, and peer-reviewed when some of these more recent "policy" studies have not had such rigor, either being challenged in the public domain with open public hearings or by scientists who have replicated them. IIRC the current "climate" studies were rushed and only had 4 hearings in the US in different parts of the country - some did not permit public testimony - only industry testimony - before it went to Paris - a couple of weeks after the Bataclan massacre. In my view - it was rushed and not examined. For me - that is a red flag to pay attention and to ask good questions. There has to be "general acceptance" in the scientific community - and not some random study that was industry-commissioned for a particular purpose. So - that is one of the biggest problems facing the world as I see it. And it is not just political - it is about what is true - for what we eat - if the food ingredients were genetically modified, what we wear - whether it has harmful chemicals, what medications or vaccines we take - will they harm us, what cars we drive - if they are safe in a crash. And that is what I look to science for - for informed guidance, just for everyday living. JMHO
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Post by filledeplage on Jan 10, 2019 11:30:50 GMT -5
Thought about this some more since my somewhat off-the-cuff post last night. Likely still could add the surveillance state/ big brother, racism in all its forms and manifestations, cartels and the power they exert, military and political dictatorship, military/industrial and prison/industrial complexes. Any others? The school-to-prison pipeline - driven by private prisons who want full "enrollment" and whose interest is keeping people in prison - often at a higher price tag than a year in college. And often for minor, non-violent crimes. Usually it is between $30k and $50k a year, and more. The prisons should have mandatory vocational - academic training, available, so that during release there is immediate ability for employment - the prisons should be engaged in job development as well to combat recidivism. Gainful employment after incarceration helps that happen. Education is always cheaper than incarceration.
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Post by E on Jan 10, 2019 12:07:23 GMT -5
Obesity.
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Post by The Cap'n on Jan 13, 2019 16:47:09 GMT -5
Not created by humanity: death, bad luck, suffering in general, etc.
Created by humanity: failure to abide by the concept forwarded by more thinkers and leaders than you can shake a stick at, usually (but not first) known as the Golden Rule. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Zoroastrians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, etc., all set forth variations on the principle that goes a long way toward solving almost all of the major problems.
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Post by AGD on Jan 14, 2019 6:47:08 GMT -5
Trump. This one complete, radiant f*ckwit embodies everything amiss with the world today, all its intolerances, stupidity and narcissism.
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Post by Wicked Lester on Jan 14, 2019 9:22:28 GMT -5
Overpopulation - once the planet cannot sustain the amount of mouths it needs to feed society will crumble in a matter of weeks. I doubt it will reach that point within my lifetime, but for any children being born now they are going to be fucked.
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Post by drbeachboy (Dirk) on Jan 14, 2019 15:51:08 GMT -5
Fukwits, Nitwits, Nincompoops, Assholes, Shit Weasels, Never Trumpers. Knukleheads, dimwits and halfwits too.
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Post by Mikie on Jan 14, 2019 17:38:28 GMT -5
Can you say "Trump" on this board?
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Post by drbeachboy (Dirk) on Jan 14, 2019 17:43:27 GMT -5
I just did.
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Post by Will/P.P. on Jan 14, 2019 18:06:36 GMT -5
Who will be the Eagles starting quarterback when the 2019 season rolls around?
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Post by drbeachboy (Dirk) on Jan 14, 2019 18:09:47 GMT -5
Why Carson Wentz, of course. My answer may have been different had they won last night.
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Post by Mikie on Jan 14, 2019 18:23:06 GMT -5
All I hafta say is..............beat New England.
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Post by filledeplage on Jan 15, 2019 9:12:00 GMT -5
All I hafta say is..............beat New England. Hell, no!
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Post by Mikie on Jan 15, 2019 12:30:53 GMT -5
All I hafta say is..............beat New England. Hell, no! I'm real tired of seeing Brady and Gronkowski and Belichick in the playoffs and Super Bowl all the time. Time for somebody else to get the trophy.
Like the Rams.....
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Post by kds on Jan 15, 2019 15:03:10 GMT -5
Hell, no! I'm real tired of seeing Brady and Gronkowski and Belichick in the playoffs and Super Bowl all the time. Time for somebody else to get the trophy.
Like the Rams.....
I'd be fine with the Rams, Saints, or Chiefs. As long as its not the Patriots.
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Post by filledeplage on Jan 16, 2019 9:13:29 GMT -5
I'm real tired of seeing Brady and Gronkowski and Belichick in the playoffs and Super Bowl all the time. Time for somebody else to get the trophy.
Like the Rams.....
I'd be fine with the Rams, Saints, or Chiefs. As long as its not the Patriots. We'll see...
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Post by kds on Jan 16, 2019 9:16:54 GMT -5
I'd be fine with the Rams, Saints, or Chiefs. As long as its not the Patriots. We'll see... It wouldn't shock me if the Patriots win, but I'm willing to bet most of the country will be rooting for the Chiefs on Sunday.
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Post by filledeplage on Jan 16, 2019 9:45:26 GMT -5
We'll see... It wouldn't shock me if the Patriots win, but I'm willing to bet most of the country will be rooting for the Chiefs on Sunday. And I can live with that - but, I have sons - I'd rather the Pats win - then I don't have to look at long faces. Just being selfish, I guess.
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Post by Will/P.P. on Jan 16, 2019 23:07:12 GMT -5
It's the Chiefs turn, damn it!
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