The beginning of the end...

First things first- YAY PHILS!!!! Knew you could do it! No stopping fate...

Read something scary this morning. Apparently the Bush administration is putting a last minute full court press on laws that would deregulate many industries that do significant environmental damage, laws that would take significant time and effort to reverse. The corporate lobbyists are going nuts trying to get everything in place and in effect before the new administration, so that nothing can be undone. These laws would allow for higher emissions, increased deforestation, increasing coal mining in protected areas, and other such actions. This weakening of environmental protections have been a goal of this White House from day one, but they have waited until people's attention has been shifted elsewhere and have touted the possible financial benefits at a time when everyone is concerned about money.

It's another prime example of short term gain trumping long term negative effects. Just because the full impact of these measures may not be felt for some time, it does not mean that it is okay to move forward. Supporters will claim that these acts are fiscally responsible, and they may be; but what about environmental responsibility and generational responsibility. People are used to nature being a renewable and bountiful resource, but even if there is a large supply, it is still finite. The human population is doubling at an astounding rate, which means that we are consuming double the resources even if we stay at the same rate. Industrialization of countries that were not consumers for these resources before is adding to the drain and taking a huge toll as well.

The earth is not a giant credit card with an unlimited spending limit, that we can take from as we wish without ever having to pay the costs. Human skin regenerates, but if you take enough off or damage it enough, it doesn't grow back. We are pulling the skin off the earth every day, digging deeper and deeper into her to pull out what we want. Eventually, we will take so much off this planet that it will not be able to grow back. In the meantime, we have created vital systems that cannot survive without these resources. What happens to our progeny when they are gone? Why do we feel we should be waiting until the last minute to deal with these issues?

Politicians have said that we need to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and that gutting the pristine forests and oceans of our nation is the way to do it. I would argue that we need to reduce our dependence on oil, period. We need to embrace a simpler life altogether. A life that will not only reduce our negative impact on this planet and sustain its resources, but that will also leave us better equipped to weather any shortfalls that may happen in the future. This means less driving, more walking, less reliance on chemicals and industrially created products, smaller homes and vehicles, reusing resources and creating products with a focus on reusability, a shift away from a consumer-based "throwaway" society.

Our lives are not any happier or fuller than our ancestors were, just arguably more comfortable. But comfort, and what it takes to be happy, is in the eye of the beholder. Ask the Amish if they lead lives that are full of basic contentment, and they'll tell you yes. Ask your neighbors the same question, and I bet you wouldn't get that answer. Maybe, just maybe, the Amish are on to something...