Bread & Circuses

One of the biggest threats to human existence is simply the crippling, exponential increase in human population. The have-nots will eventually wage war on the haves over limited natural resources. (It’s happened before)

Simply put, more people will be scrambling for a finite number of resources. This age-old battle is what resulted in colonization of yesteryear. It’s why indigenous people were slaughtered, and their land taken from them.

It is happening today in Africa, throughout Europe and in South America. The haves are equipped with the better military. But the have nots are equipped with an increasing, and never-ending supply of troops.

Sure. Of course, climate change is also a threat to our survival, impacting crops and other environmental resources.

It is important to remember, however, that climate change has been one of the few constants over the last 4.53 billion years of Earth’s existence. (Science)

Climate Change was here long before us; its impacts already wiped out several species and changed the very face of our planet over the past few billion years. (Science)

Relax. If you’re one of the “haves,” (and you are, since you are reading this on your own computer) you’ll be fine. The ‘haves’ are equipped with military might to defend themselves and to keep the “have nots” at bay.

The “haves” generally talk a good game about natural resources but will be the only ones able to afford “carbon credits,” when push comes to shove.

Of course, there a millions and millions of people who truly believe that the government (or governments) can solve the very real climate situation. They will accomplish these goals by punitive means. Governments will grow and create new agencies to address the problem. Taxes will increase in order to “fight” the climate.

People like John Kerry, the special Presidential envoy designated to tackle climate change, will talk a good game about fossil fuels. But he will continue to fly on private planes. Apparently, the climate is not bad enough for special people like former Senator Kerry to use mass transit or fly commercial.

Meanwhile, our population will continue to grow at unsustainable rates, especially in places that are already strapped for natural resources.

The “have nots” will soon realize that the late comedian Sam Kinison was right. “They don’t need money. Food doesn’t grow in deserts. They need luggage, not our prayers. They will go where the food is” . . . eventually.

Historically, the “haves” are not too keen on the idea of global sharing. Sure, they talk a good game while sipping a Capaccino and surfing the web at their favorite cafe. They will tell you that you need to use less for the good of our planet.

In fact, a recent editorial in the Washington Post advised, that Americans should start getting used to taking cold showers and baths because hot water heaters contribute to carbon emissions.

In California, politicians call upon people to limit their use of air conditioning, but push electric vehicles. The hypocrisy is stunning.

While we are at each other’s throats, screaming about preferred pronouns and other very important things, the crisis we don’t want to talk about will keep growing. And growing.

No one ever said that humans would be a permanent species on Earth. That’s just our collective arrogance. We have only been part of the ecosystem for 2 million years (Science).

Two million years may certainly seem like a long time, but compared to our planet’s life span of 4.5 billion years, it’s basically a drop in the bucket. Do the math.

The massive ice sheet that once covered Canada melted away about 1.5 million years before the invention of the combustion-engine. The Earth is gonna do what the Earth is gonna do.

Yes, climate change is real. And I see nothing wrong with pursuing renewable energy sources. But at the end of the day, all of our best efforts are not going to amount to much.

Climate change is real. It is a threat to our existence. But I wonder why we ignore the much larger and significant threat. You know? The one we can actually do something about.

We have seen the enemy, and it is us. The rest of it is just feel-good, self-righteous bullshit. It’s about the haves and the have nots. It always has been, and always will be that way.

The rest of it is basically bread and circuses.

Never miss another installment of Lessons in Mediocrity! Subscribe for free today