It seems that biofuels are a really big thing up here in Illinois. You can actually purchase biodiesel at Flying J. Lots of the farm fields have signs promoting ethanol fuel. What is driving all of this? I guess that everyone wants to feel like they’re doing something good for the environment. Really, I think “big business” and government are behind it. All these fuels sound great on the surface, but none of them are actually viable. Most are a net loss of energy. See this study by Cornell University. In reality, using these fuels puts us further behind. What’s the answer? Who knows. Starting with conservation would make the biggest dent. But, here I am travelling around the country guzzling up fuel myself.
I have been enjoying listening to talk radio on my XM while I cruise the countryside. It’s funny to here people that are so against the war in Iraq saying that they are also against drilling for oil in AK, wind farms off Nantucket, etc. etc. We can’t have it all. If you want energy, you better be ready to fight for it in distant lands, or find it locally. I am against the war because it has been lie after lie. Couldn’t the administration just come out and say, hey, we American’s love oil, and to stay on top, we’ll go out and get it?
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Banjo Hangout
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I loved reading that book, it spoke to me and encouraged me to be ME, not to be Scott Nearing or socialistic, but to feel the freedom to think for myself… I agree with what you say… Most of the people in the world listen to the media to find out what they think, and they’re easily swayed by every new trend and every news story… Much better to get out of the mainstream, and find a way to do just what you’re doing… Getting away and thinking for yourself…
I don’t take offense to any comments. I leave this as an open forum, and welcome discussion from either side. Driving around and not having to think about work, all these other thoughts are streaming through my head, and I try to write them down as they come. I guess this is what happens to old people who are retired. You have time to listen and become critical of things (I’ve always been critical!). Is that a good thing or bad thing for our society? Most people are in these mundane, boring jobs, waiting for retirement, and not thinking for themselves. They get home, watch Faux news for their world updates, absorb it all as truth, and go to bed. That is what’s “safe” for our government and society. Anyone else better submit to being an outsider, or radical (I’m reading Scott Nearings “The making of a Radical btw). The more I read of his book, the more I feel like a societal radical. Definately not a socialist, but someone who thinks differently of government and other matters than the mainstream. -bcb
Mmm, no. No accusations, being more critical of myself than anyone else out there. Gotta keep myself humble and honest.
I’m acquainted with the term. The confusion was whether you were accusing him of being one.
Brief explanation of soapbox oratories. There are those who loudly claim to be pro-environmental, whether they are retailers, organizations or individuals. My comment only suggested that individuals decide for themselves, and then act quietly, deliberately, and responsibly as role models rather than to do one or two ‘socially acceptable & cool’ acts of conservation in order to apply peer pressure or shame tactics to get attention. That being said, anything that anyone does to get people talking about conservation can’t be all bad, as long as the dialogue continues, options and their impact are carefully considered, and action takes place. What will you do today to reduce the size of your footprint on our planet?
O yeah, and I like the little schoolbus snowflakes! 🙂 Very you.
What a strange comment by “Anonymous”! I agree, B, I’m still not sure what they meant by the soapbox comment. Strange postings aside, though, he has written some outstanding poetry and several thought-provoking letters to the editor.
amen, brother!
I agree with you that Americans, each and every one of us individually, and all of us collectively, need to look at our lifestyle(s) and see what we are accountable for using, and then determine how we WANT to be living… and then figure out how to make that shift responsibly and without judgment on the person next to us who is also making personal choices… That might elimintate a lot of war mentality, and it might also help us to actually stop and look to see what our neighbor is doing, and take some hints… and then become role models rather than soap box orators…
I’m ready to become more accountable, I recognize that it means changing the way I do some things, and that it will take a little bit of time to incorporate those changes… But, it all starts one step at a time, and only starts when we take the first step…