Armageddon?

Perhaps that’s too strong a term? Maybe. Maybe not. You be the judge.


First, Earth Day was shadowed by the release of a new documentary by Michael Moore, Planet of the Humans. It is a frank and honest presentation of alternative energy sources and renewable energy projects. Neither accomplish the aim to remove America from the oil standard, or fossil fuel energy addiction. If anything, the addiction is fed and funded by the oil industry itself. Even the Green Energy scions are failing us, according to the documentary. This includes the Sierra Club and many of its scientists. The conclusion is disappointing; hell, it is damning. See it for yourself and share your thoughts here. I hope it isn't true.


Second, the decision makers in our nation are no longer its people but its influencers. Mostly these are wealthy capitalists who continue to invest in what makes them money, not what makes America whole and healthy in the long term. It is not about America; it is about them and their greed. And you will be surprised who is included in this coterie of ‘good people’, generous contributors to Green Energy nonprofits.


Third, elections are skewed by the Electoral College, a grossly out of date discriminatory public policy designed by our founding fathers. They were wrong then; they are wrong now. It is time to eliminate the EC. Democracy needs to be in the hands of you and I and every single person in this land. It is we, the people, who should have the power via the ballot box. And that is people, only. No corporations. They are not citizens. The travesty that has allowed corporations to own and influence elections and public policy must be overturned once and for all.


Fourth, COVID-19 is a serious modern day plague. We are learning more about it and how to manage its damage. We may be lucky and find a vaccine to save countless millions of potential victims in the near future, but that future is not tomorrow. It is perhaps a year or more away. Meanwhile, we will have to change how we live to survive. Reopening the nation’s economy en masse is wrong. Let the healthcare experts and scientists inform us on how to do this safely and intelligently. Dead citizens by the hundreds of thousands is too high a price to pay for what some simple minded folk call ‘liberty.’ It isn’t liberty if you are lying in a casket.


Fifth, living standards are at an unsustainable level throughout much of America. It is time we downsized our tastes and our expectations. Live within our means. Focus on what is important. Get in touch with the real you and your family. Then, give the planet a break and reduce growth in consumption of our natural resources. Our greed is spoiling our planet’s soil, water, air and climate. Soon the planet could be uninhabitable. I don’t have to worry about that; you younger people do. I’m just sorry that I couldn’t do a better job at handing over a healthier planet and social order to you. This will always be a great source of sorrow to me.


If we let any of these five issues continue unabated, the end is near. That is the Armageddon. There is, however, a bright side. If we are aware of the above five issues, and take them seriously, we have the chance to turn things around. But half measures will not work. At all.


We must be committed to changing things or Armageddon is certainly ours to face.


April 24, 2020