Survey: Are We Hurting Yet?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto 
on 11.13.08
A year ago when George Monbiot said "Bring on the recession," others, including TreeHugger, said "be careful what you wish for." Now Warren asks, "Are we hurting yet?", and
Could this recession/depression we are teetering on the edge of, be the best thing that could’ve happened to reduce unchecked growth and limit greenhouse gas emissions?
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I see the green industry as something rising from the ashes of the old industry. As a fiscal conservative I think the green industry and only thrive by avoiding government interference. We need to cut as much red tape as possible regarding renewable energy. We need to make it easy for industry to thrive as it is our future. I can see the green industry being the new driving force of the economy as businesses will want to save energy and appeal to more consumers.
seriously what human being in good conscience say that a person losing their job, struggling to put food on the table, etc. etc. etc. is a good thing since now we will reduce out CO2 emissions and so forth?
Yeah it's great that people are driving slower, getting fuel efficient cars and what not, but that is not out of choice in any way. They do these things because they are desperately trying to get their dollar to stretch a little bit farther than it did the day before. You could easily make the argument that a person going on a murderous rampage through a heavily populated area is 'good for the environment' because now those people will never use a car. It's good for the environment on some level, but what of the social cost?
People should make the educated choice to help the environment, not be forced into it through no available alternative. The last thing they need is a band of hippies telling them that their grumbling stomachs and sputtering gas hungry cars are a good thing all because of their empty wallets.
In the midst of social unrest and insecurity no one is going to let you grow your salad peacefully...