We be Mega-3T; we are entering a Mega-4T.

[David Horn]

(07-28-2020, 02:08 PM)Einzige Wrote: I deny that the "Blue Agenda", even in it's most forceful form as Sanders-style social democracy, can or will address the ongoing systematic crisis of capitalism, of which ecological crisis is simply the most outwardly visible sign.

Even the Green New Deal would simply retrofit the old engines of American capitalism with "Green" pistons: photovoltaic cars (which themselves have a very high carbon cost to produce), solar panels (Ibid) etc. The assumption behind the GND is that environmental catastrophe is a barrier to future growth, but that we can use the implements of growth to mitigate it. Nothing needs to change in terms of our relationship to production itself - only the way we produce need change. I think this assumption will prove very misguided in the future.

The carbon cost is only applicable if the energy used produces it.  For example, other than the energy needed, nothing about building a car is particularly carbon intense.  You might argue for tires made of natural materials, but that's it.  What's far more likely: we'll overpopulate the planet at some point, because we can.