The American way of life is unsustainable - evidence

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Our American way of life—300+ million people enjoying historically unprecedented living standards—is NOT sustainable because the ecological resources and economic resources upon which it depends will not be available going forward. As supplies associated with the ecological resources and economic resources that currently enable our way of life become increasingly scarce, we will experience escalating lifestyle disruptions, followed by societal collapse.

The following ecological and economic resources are critical to the perpetuation of our American way of life. None of these resources is sustainable; supply disruptions associated with all of them are possible at any time; and supply disruptions associated with any of them could trigger societal collapse.

I highly recommend reading through the article I've linked as the source. While a bit long, it presents some very solid and well-explained evidence to support the supposition that we are simply living in the last great party of our civilization. It's interested to note that this was written prior to the collapse of 2008, yet foreshadows it somewhat.

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I agree with this. The sad thing is people don't realize how well we've got it at this moment. I mean just 100 years ago there were many, many people in America living a pioneer lifestyle or something close to it. No indoor plumbing or electricity. No TV, no money, little free time, and very little medical care. They made it though.

We have become a spoiled society. My ONLY worry about the collapse is the direction it will take. I'm pretty wary of the possibility of not collapsing into ourselves but that someone else will be catching us in the palm of their hand when we do collapse. Who that someone is, I don't really want to speculate here.

This condition we've put ourselves in isn't a very good one. We have everything we want but we're losing our edge, slacking at our game. Give a man tons of leisure a TV remote and a box of twinkies and you will very quickly have no man.

reply to post by D.E.M.


I totally agree with this assessment.
However the last time I posted a similar
statement about our resources dwindling,
I was scolded. But you may have better luck
than I did. Best wishes

about time goddamit! I know im from russia and we NEVER had it as good as it is in america. everyone has to work their arse off, everyone has to go through education 100x times harsher then american education, hell just to get a driver license, you have to study your butt off. americans got it way too easy and its all at the expense of others. its about time they experience what living really is about. its not about food stamps, disability and welfare. its about WORKING for your survival.

Star from me...even if the message should be obvious to anyone with a brain

Think about it:

1) The Earth's resources are finite.
2) We use more than we replenish.

What happens if you use more resources than can be sustained in the long term? You either run out, have to cut down, or find a way to become 100% sustainable.

It's like someone who earns $100k per year, but spends £300k per year...in the end he runs into trouble.

Up until now we either didn't care about this, or tried to recycle...the problem is, even recycling isn't 100% sustainable in the long term. The only way we could possibly sustain it for a long time is if we suppress all the other nation when it comes to the use of resources...and I have a feeling the so-called 3rd world isn't going to take it forever.

A "new" and imo great approach is Cradle to Cradle.



William McDonough's brilliant, and some governments caught on to it...one of them is China who now develops entire cities according to the cradle to cradle (100% or better sustainability).

I also recommend people check out Ted.com! There are a lot of great videos on that site regarding society, science, and culture...and best of all, politics stay outside the doors at TED. No talk about politics or adds are allowed, just facts and analysis.



A somewhat related video about our situation compared to developing countries, and how they caught up in recent years. Well worth a watch!

Thanks for these videos. They reinforce my belief that the powers that be ei.malevolent secret governments and the NWO are in fact the hinderance of humanity and in their hubris they believe they can create a better world for humanity , when in fact in their quest for personal greed and gain they are the head destroyers of this world the claim to be trying to save. They are in fact lieing to themselves and us. They are either extremely stupid , extremely evil or both.

Here are 3 lines from the video; William McDonough: The wisdom of designing Cradle to Cradle that I found interesting.

-"It took us 5000 yrs to put wheels on our luggage."

-"The only indoor quality work at that time was sponsored by R.G reynold's tobacco company and it was to prove there was no danger from second hand smoke in the work place."

-"To use something as elegant as a tree , imagine this design assignment; design something that makes oxygen , sequesters carbon , fixes nitrogen , distills water accrues solar energy as fuel , makes complex sugars in food , creates micro-climates , changes color with the seasons , self replicates...... , why don't we knock that down and write on it."

Gadzooks man! These idiots in business and government are only good for one thing , cannon fodder and exploiting the ignorant/defenseless masses. We need to stop enabling these creeps and start doing whats right for GAIA/Earth and ourselves , without them , before it's too late. 5000 years to put wheels on our luggage ? ,

S & F

Here's a few documentaries I think every human should see...

Food Inc: Ever wonderes where our food comes from...and what's in it? I tell you something, you might not wanna know, because it's outrageous!!



Crude: If this movie doesn't make you angry, you don't have a heart. It's the perfect example how corporations # on the little man, and how the poorest often get hit the hardest.

I mean, when the Exxon Mobile spokesperson says "This has nothing to do with oil polution!", you can't help but punch the desk with your fist. That woman basically sold her soul and defends trading human lives, the lives of CHILDREN, against profit.



Fuel: Why changing to sustainable energy will allow us to sustain our lifestyle.



Thirst: Water...an economic good or basic human right?



Garbage Dreams: You think earning $5/hr at Target is bad...think again!



And my last 2 favorite documentaries for last

Sharkwater: The BEST movie about sharks, hands down!! Completely changed how I view those animals...



The Cove: A MUST SEE!! Another great example how corporations don't care about human lives, let alone aminal lives. They sell mercury poisoned dolphin meat to school children, and slaughter the most intelligent species on this planet next to us in the most brutal way imaginable.

reply to post by MrXYZ


Heh, sorry I can't enable embedding on the Food Inc trailer. But thanks for linking to my copy

(It really is a great film, recommend it)

We can't sustain the path we are on, but I'll be the first to disagree with the premise of the thread.

Tesla solved the energy crisis before politicians invented the term.

There are countless technologies that have never seen the light of day, including non-poluting "free energy" solutions. With solutions like these, and if we become good custodians of the planet, earth could support 20+ billion. In a scenario like that everyone could enjoy a better standard of living than we have now. We would also have to undergrowth spiritual growth.

Imagine if our entire society worked together, on developing interstellar travel, to find new inhabitable planets.

The real issue with the barrage of news claiming a lack of resources, (over population, global warming, peak oil) becomes purchasing your consent for population control.

Always remember "The road to hell is paved with good intentions".
you just have to think outside the box to see them.

"A man should always have two reasons for doing anything: a good reason and the real reason" - J.P. Morgan




[edit on 6-5-2010 by zzombie]