Orson Scott Card: Obama's Real Religion [Environmentalism]

ornery.org ^ | May 25, 2008 | Orson Scott Card

[palmer]

Some conservatives, including many here on FR, think that if you don't let your HumVee idle in the driveway an extra 3 hours a day, then you're some sort of Tree Hugging Communist.

It's an interesting solution, proposing abject waste as the antidote to scarcity. The problem with arguing against carbon limits is that you are arguing for the most inefficient, dirty, smelly, obnoxious alternative possible.

[ctdonath2]

George W. Bush, in his personal life, in the home he lives in when he's not at the White House, is easily the most environmentally conscious president we've ever had.

A point that needs to be shouted loud & clear.

Most "environmentalists" think they're "doing something for the environment" when they live on bulldozed concrete-slabbed land, live on products shipped halfway 'round the world, and use enormous amounts of power. GWB, demonized as anti-environmental, preserves hundreds of natural and near-natural ranch land, has a small house heated/cooled by passive means, and largely uses locally-produced products. If "environmentalists" would live like GWB, much of the economy would collapse from simple disuse - ironically, their goal.

[wbill]

It's an interesting solution, proposing abject waste as the antidote to scarcity ..Take a look at the "Carbon Belch" nonsense that was in the post just above mine.

The problem with arguing against carbon limits is that you are arguing for the most inefficient, dirty, smelly, obnoxious alternative possible. ...BUT - if I'm understanding your post correctly - this actually ties in with exactly what I was saying about a "Black / White" mentality.

It's possible to conserve without putting carbon limits in. In fact, that's exactly what's happening right now...Gasoline prices have gone up, so Americans are buying less gas. Eletricity prices are up, so people are using CFL's.

The entire process is more-or-less self regulating, IMO, and the best thing that gov't can do is stay out of the way.

[MarkL]

What I find most interesting about how the communists and other hard leftists have found a home with the environmentalists, was host the greatest environmentalist disasters have occurred in leftist and communist countries. Look at Eastern Europe immediately after the fall of the Iron Curtain, just as one example.

Mark

[neverdem]

I think I missed this one. Thanks again.

[WoofDog123]

I have not read anything recent from Card, but my impression of his earlier work is that Ender’s Game (originally a short story which he expanded for a novel), was a one-hit wonder. The genius that wrote ender’s short story simply missed the meeting for books 2 and 3.

[ModelBreaker]

I have not read anything recent from Card, but my impression of his earlier work is that Ender’s Game (originally a short story which he expanded for a novel), was a one-hit wonder. The genius that wrote ender’s short story simply missed the meeting for books 2 and 3. Some of his more recent stuff has regained it's zip. But he went real Oprah for several novels. But Enders Game was, imho, one of the best SF novels ever written.

[Natchez Hawk]

Hey, I love Ender as much as the next guy, but Scott Card is getting a little strange. He seems to be one of those guys who is going throwth a political evolution (he was a Democrat 6 years ago remember) and is going through a glitches in the transformation—it’s o.k. Orson, you can change your opinions without repudiating yourself. No need for the construction of elaborate chimeras for liberalism. It’s intellectual bankruptcy is apparent already.

[Fudd Fan]

“Useless eaters” *PING*

[Thunder90]

DOOMAGE!!!

[patriciaruth]

My organic chemistry professor long ago said that oil was such a special and precious commodity (because of all the things that could be made with it) that it was totally irrational to simply burn it up for energy.

I am for nuclear power plants ASAP, and a Manhatten project or an international consortium like built the Alaska pipeline to plan how to build solar power satellites in orbit.

Meanwhile we need more drilling until those alternative energies are on line. The caribou and the beaches will be fine as long as we keep the process under scrutiny and accountability to prevent accidents.

Best OSC reads: Ender’s Game, Enchantment, PastWatch: Christopher Columbus

[patriciaruth]

The sequels to Ender’s Game don’t hold up to the nitty gritty of the first. And for most of us, it was the nitty gritty and the heroism of the loner that fascinated us.

If you want an exciting and pertinent read, I suggest you get The Last Lion by William Manchester. The first volume of this biography of Winston Churchill is Visions of Glory 1974-1932, the second volume is Alone 1932-1940.

You’ll be surprised how it grabs you right from the start, and how the second volume gives you great insight into what is happening today. Don’t be intimidated by the thickness of the book.