Arch Enemy

1) Why is it better? You have no argument other than "Because I said so".

2) I do hope you apply that same logic of "purpose" to all else.

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"I do not underestimate the ability of fanatical groups of terrorists to kill and destroy, but they do not threaten the life of the nation. Whether we would survive Hitler hung in the balance, but there is no doubt that we shall survive al-Qa'ida." -- Lord Hoffmann

Oftencold

If we decide that we wish to leave the Earth in a particular state for our descendants, it will again be to serve us, as a species in this case.

Part of my stern outlook is to try to communicate to the delicate Environmentalists that the best way to achieve their more laudable goals is to connect them, not detach them from Human Interest. Sadly though, I believe the the more passionate among them are motivated not by a concern for the Natural World but by simple misanthropy.

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Oftencold

And with that, you fall neatly into the trap of reason.

A thing is better or worse, precisely because someone decides the case. No animal or tree does this on a level much above "better to eat," "worse to meet."

Indeed, use of the Earth is "better" because as the only species on stage to make the call, "we say so."

Indeed I do, in almost every value judgment save those involving the Davine, before whose judgment I defer.

For instance, should I show mercy to my enemies? Yes, because I higher mentality has made that judgment and instructed me so.

Does an old tree in my yard have intrinsic worth? If I assign it so, yes. The tree doesn't speak for itself.

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RightinNYC

I come to DP in order to avoid blog comments from those with IQs in the mid-double digits.

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People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.

MrVicchio

SOME Warning labels make sense, most are tehre to save companies from the idiocy of juries.

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Both of our PC's died. I am using a 2004-5 era Mac. It's SLOW. So if you see a TYPO in my posts, forgive it.
Cause this stupid POS sux.

Gill

No, warning labels are there to protect the companies that make the band saws from lawsuits. Morons don't bother to read the warning labels and even if they did, they're not smart enough to follow the directions.

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There is so much unforced variability in the system which we can’t predict — the chaotic component of the climate system — which is not predictable beyond two weeks, even theoretically.
Gavin Schmidt, NASA GISS

Councilman

I'm pretty sure that man has had a negative impact on the earth's environment and all the creatures that walk, crawl, swim, fly or, dig holes in the ground as long as we have been around. But the same argument could be said for just about every living creature or thing on the plant. There is the Yin & Yang, give & take, and it works it's way up to kill or be killed to survive at some point for all life. We have not yet learned to deal with our cultural and scientific advancements in ways that have little or no negative impact that are acceptable because of the adverse effect doing the right thing has on the economy in many possibly most minds. But it seems to me that when reasonable steps are taken to make improvements they often outweigh the those negatives as long as extremists are left out of the picture on both sides. For example building a huge solar power plant in the desert east of San Diego is being met with the opposition of those who say the power lines will create a threat of fire and the EMF the lines give off could cause cancer. A balance needs to be reached a by considering all f the positives and negatives on not only the environment but the economy, future growth, living standards, and jobs. There are no simple solutions to the myriad of questions that come up and fighting over them will get nothing done and add to future problems and in some cases compound them by delay.
To accomplish what is needed we need better leadership that either party has produced up to now. Someone with the greater good at heart and not an extremist point of view clouded by partisan politics or driven by Corporate greed. A Statesman with the logical mind to see a need and search for the best answer rather than the one that fits some artificial mold created out of fear and or bad science. It will never be free to do the right thing but it could if done correctly be both environmentally and fiscally beneficial.

Scarecrow Akhbar

The only reason the earth exists is for it to be consumed by us until we develop the technology to expand first into the solar system then into the larger galaxy to consume those resources.

That's it.

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Treat your Congressman like your underwear. Change often.

UtahBill

Odds are we will consume those resources long before we develop the technology to expand into the solar system....

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Education is expensive, ignorance is costly.

Each generation should have more opportunities than the last, but not at the expense of the next.

Scarecrow Akhbar

Socailism sucks.

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Treat your Congressman like your underwear. Change often.