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If we could all share in the profits of coal, oil, gas production and live a life of quasi-luxury for as long as we can before the planet kills us or our children or grandchildren, I think the vast majority of Americans would take that deal without a second thought. And probably the rest of the world, too.

Willful ignorance and a comfortable, luxurious life free of guilt go hand in hand. This will never happen, however, as the rich want to be richer and the poor want to be rich. The only way I see things turning around is if natural disasters (or malevolent AI or 100% confirmation that we do live in a simulation) do enough damage that the rich can no longer live in luxury and the poor realize they will never have the slightest chance to become rich.

Now excuse me while I go watch some stupid tv show I don’t actually enjoy on my 75’ 8K QLED tv while I keep it a comfortable 68 degrees inside on another day over 100.

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Maybe you're right. I've spent the last two nights on an island in the middle of Lake Michigan without my cats. It's a bit different for me as my cats are also my business partners.

I thought a couple of days off the mainland would be enough to clear my head and get myself refocused. But who can focus on anything when this is the world we're living in? Fuck it.

I'm going to stop worrying about it all eventually one day anyway, no matter what I do. Maybe I should just start now.

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Aug 10, 2023·edited Aug 10, 2023

That is a good friends perspective on life: why worry about the things you can’t change. As much as I try, I’ve been unable during the past few dystopian Trumpian years to actually do it. UV light and bleach poured into our bodies to kill COVID? I was as shocked as the doctors when that comment occurred.

As to dogs, all dogs are better than most people. They possess loyalty, a characteristic largely missing in humans these days. Let me paraphrase Sen. Sam Houston’s famous retort…”You have all the attributes of a dog save for loyalty” and this remark rings more true today.

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