I'm listening to a

Donal — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 16:33:33 +0000

In reply to Hypothetically, if we were to

I'm listening to a conversation between Jim Kunstler and Richard Heinberg, and one thing they mention is that even green pundits cite sustainable energy sources as a means to maintain business as usual. I think sustainable energy has to mesh with conservation and reduced demand, but people just want to swap out the V8 for the Hybrid then for the PlugIn EV. That will work for some fraction of the middles, but the rest will have to adapt a lot more, and will probably involve distress and unhappiness.

If you look at the potential of European default, Arab Spring, rising food prices worldwide, etc. it does seem that the bottom of the pyramid is falling out from under the middle class.

Hypothetically, if we were to

Verified Atheist — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 16:16:54 +0000

In reply to That damned middle class again

Hypothetically, if we were to somehow manage a switch to sustainable energy sources and halt our population growth, do you think that would be sufficient to save the middle class? Or, do you think the whole thing is inherently a pyramid scheme that requires bringing in suckers from the bottom? (Or, option "c" if I've overlooked something.) I realize that's a huge hypothetical, but it seems to me that the middle class could survive under such a scenario. Maybe I'm deluding myself, though.

dagblog - Comments for "That damned middle class again"

I'm listening to a

Hypothetically, if we were to