As any system is pushed near capacity its resilience and ability to recover from changes are reduced. How much of a problem with food or water supplies does it take for a city like Mexico City or Karachi to become a humanitarian disaster?

Personally, I’d rather see humanity become smart enough to limit its numbers and live a lot more efficiently before things get too bad. Education and family planning, and economic assistance that mandates ecologically responsible courses of action, are needed, IMHO.

http://www.timprosserfuturing.wordpress.com

Did he learn not
(in Sunday School)
the future is His,not his,
to rule?

Newt is a ninnie.
Twice traitor is he,
both to the South
and to liberty.
If I had the money
and it weren’t no sin
I’d buy a contract FOR America
and his name append.

What I’m saying is that it is my understanding that when it comes to national drilling rights, “international waters” doesn’t apply anywhere in the Gulf. In other words, it’s not a question of who gets there first, it’s merely a question of who wants to exploit the resources within their national province. That’s my understanding. The only thing in real question is the veracity of my understanding. Can anyone provide compelling evidence that my understanding is incorrect?

As far as whether members of one party or another are more to blame than members of the other party for the current circumstances, I think it’s pretty obvious that both are responsible. If nothing else, you have to admit that Gov Crist’s flip occurred only in the last few days. So did McCain’s, for that matter. Moreover, my recollection is that former Gov. Jeb Bush wasn’t at all fond of the idea either when he was in power. Neither was his dad when he was president. Now the question is in the hands of the FL legislature. How do you think that’s going to go? I mean really?

You single out Clinton on a completely different issue (Alaska) — an issue, by the way, which even McCain hasn’t flipped on even now. As far as I know, he’s still against drilling in ANWR. That may change. And I guess you could say that’s getting to be my fundamental problem with McCain… I’m beginning to have real trouble discerning between what he stands for and what he just says in order to garner votes. As a long-time McCain supporter I have to say that really hurts. Goddamit John, say what you mean — and keep saying it! It’s precisely because he isn’t doing that that makes Obama more attractive to me. I’m not saying I will vote for Obama, just that I’m considering it more than I otherwise would. And that’s painful.

On the other hand, I have been a long-time supporter of domestic drilling — especially in ANWR. So on that issue I guess it puts me to the right of McCain. I mean come on… look next door at the north slope. Once they figured out how to do it, it appears to me that the environmental impact was minimal. If others disagree I’d love to hear your POV.

I don’t consider myself heavily influenced by traditional ideology of any sort. If I subscribe to any ideology it would be efficiency: to me, it’s whatever works best — in the broadest terms. I’m not insensitive to environmental concerns, but I don’t consider them in a vacuum. I’m not insensitive to market concerns, but I don’t consider them in a vacuum either. That attitude tends to make me unpopular with members of both the traditional left and right. But so be it.

But if we don’t start, we’ll never get there.

Perhaps the Rev’s electric runabout isn’t the best solution. It may start someone else thinking of a better way. I rather doubt a massive “cap-n-trade” tax will have the same result.

Since this won’t happen for several thousand years, I fail to see why immediate attention is so urgent.

“runaway population growth in the undeveloped countries”

You haven’t been paying attention for decades. Even in Mexico, the birthrate is down to little more than 3 live births per woman. The UN’s last prediction was for population to peak in 2050. It is my belief that they are too pessimistic by at least 2 decades.

Try looking at the facts, you will be surprised.

By the way, my understanding is that Cuba has no problem allowing American companies to bid for drilling rights within their territorial waters. It’s the US embargo that prevents it. How do you feel about that? Also, I dispute your contention that US territorial waters extend only 9 mi into the Gulf. I believe you mean 9 mi is the limit where FL state jurisdiction supercedes federal jurisdiction. Federal jurisdiction extends further out. And as far as I know, national drilling rights anywhere in the Gulf is not being questioned by anyone — at least not at this point. So it’s not as if Cuba, or anyone else, is impinging upon any territory that is in dispute. Am I incorrect?

http://www.cityviewmag.com/stories-the-greatest-hoax-ever-perpetrated_134.html