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I think of myself as having a run-of-the mill childhood growing up the central part of the US in the 60's, albeit my mother was from Germany. I remember how kids would claim a certain %'s of different nationality's, but as far as they knew, their grandparents were born in the US.
Show and tell was story's of dad in Korea and grandpa in Europe or the Pacific fighting from foxholes, flying missions to defeat the Nazi's, or shooting "Nip's" from the decks of ships. I did not participate in these adventures of family since my mother's father flew a Heinkel 111-Zwilleg, a dual fuselage transport of which only 5 were built, and bearing the Swastika on its tail. My father was stationed in Europe during Korea, and this is how he met my mother. So, I would talk about places I have seen in both the US and Germany/ Austria.
The point I want to make is that the vast number people in the US is made up of immigrants, whether they be recent or have several generations of calling themselves "American's", this is the ultimate goal of most who come in search of opportunity here, and should be welcomed. Believe me after living in China for the past 4.5 years, the US still has plenty of room. Many of the jobs these newly arrived do is not labor sought out by the resident citizen.
As the 70's were ticking off their years, I started to think about what my impact was having on the planet.
At 14 I was able to convince my parents it's a mis-guided policy of the US to continue building nuclear weapons with, just how many times is it necessary to have the capability to blow the world up, and the toxic stew the environment must endure to create them.
Chernobyl and Three Mile Island are proof that nuclear power is a folly. Warren Buffet has run the numbers and concludes when factoring in all parts of the nuclear picture it just isn't worth the investment. I will take Mr. Buffet's financial advice, before a self-professed MBA-CEO of a oil company that committed insider trading and bailed out by daddy & friends, AWOL, convicted drunk driver, cocaine abuser, war criminal & profiteer.
Today, we hear how without going nuclear, the world's energy supply cannot satisfy the demand. Without regards to a truthful alternative means of analogue allowed in the discussion.
In the 80's I was living in Colorado, in a city enjoying the benefits of its outdoor surroundings, and sense of social responsibility. Many lived in adequate space the homes afforded and drove reasonable modes of transport. As peoples standard of living was improving, these homes started taking on enormous dimensions, being built further away from core communities. Former efficient 2wd vehicles that satisfied most transport was replaced with luxury SOV - SUV's.
As the 80's became the 90's this type of lifestyle was intensified with designer name brands being the norm requested by young and old alike. I moved to a small community and watched the transformation of summer cabins first having their tops and sides altered to the maximum square footage allowed. All with newly installed water intensive amenities like 2-4 bathrooms containing jacuzzi-tubs, both dish & clothes washer's, without increasing the size of their original 1 bathroom designed septic system. Now you have the scrape off and start anew, that must give way to the ego.
These places have become the bastion of hypocrisy, and felt I could participate no more when working on a 6,000 sq ft home for a family of 4 in its 3rd remodel in 5 years, listening to the home owner talk over the plans of the $15,000 hand carved teak wood door.
I have difficulty in understanding the disconnect people have for how they live and consume with its effect on the world's environment. Why does a persons worth reflect in what they possess or consume?
Some of the people I have shared my life with I have watched go from peace professing, enviro-friendly, live simply, to surrender liberty for security, tax pinching, debt delaying, those with the most toys wins mentality.
Am I missing out on something that is above my limited cognitive skills?
