We should all be lamenting the loss of dependable sources of information, of anyone who can give us a straight answer on anything. Besides AI, there are too many wordsmiths who can generate smart-sounding rebuffs and bytes, words that cover asses without really saying anything but are supposed to suffice as expert opinions and rational explanations.
Money is power. Vested interests find a way to get their way and their voices heard, and there is no such thing as common sense. Values are compromised for a song, people are discounted and stepped on. Getting one’s way and maintenance of lifestyle seem to be all that matter.
Then again, I suppose it will always be difficult to accept answers that don’t feed our expectations and assumptions. But anyone worth their salt will be able to sift through the convoluted, contrived responses and recognize the bullshit when they hear it.
I watched a recent TED talk featuring Al Gore talking about his pet topic—the environment—and I was at once impressed by his level of preparedness, with all the charts and graphs and the body of knowledge he has at his disposal, but was also a bit turned off by his loud gravelly voice and breathless, sing-song delivery that had me wishing he would stop and take a breath, change the cadence.
I suppose the passion takes over, facilitates the delivery. The topic stands on its own as timely and relevant and of first order concern, and Gore has been on this mission for a long time now.
What I’m trying to say is people on both sides of the environmental crisis come to the table with their own ammunition, arguments and counter-arguments. I prefer Gore’s take on things. I discount the arguments of the petrol giants as mere self-interest and alarming ignorance. They should know better. They should adapt or die. They have always had the means to see the writing on the wall and retool, and they’ve chosen not to. They could be leaders in a vast new sea of opportunity, and they’ve chosen to drag their feet.
Given the chance, the rest of us will have to show them the way.
3 Cents' 