[DEBATE] : Re: DEBATE Digest, Vol 222, Issue 17

[Mandi Smallhorne]

No, you're just arrogant enough to put thoughts in my head, I am of course
well aware of the social roots of so many issues, although now climate
change, which you seem to dismiss, is beyond that - and I also never talk or
think of the masses, since I am more than well acquainted with the kind of
person you undoubtedly qualify as the masses (yes! some of them are even my
dear friends!) - and dear Russell, I have no concept of these so-called
masses unhealthily consuming (unless you think the tiny proportion of the
world that is the middle and upper classes are 'the masses'?) since all of
the 'masses' I know have no option but austerity. I would like to see a bit
of equity on the distribution side.
On the score of the human capacity to miraculously pull some rabbit out of
the hat, well, we'll see, won't we?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Russell Grinker" <grinker at mweb.co.za>
To: "'debate: SA discussion list '" <debate at lists.kabissa.org>
Sent: Friday, July 13, 2007 12:13 PM
Subject: RE: Re: [DEBATE] : Re: DEBATE Digest, Vol 222, Issue 17


> Well unless progressives consciously oppose it and mobilise, I suppose
yes,
> the South will be made to pay disproportionately for the developed world's
> climate change obsessions. It seems that Mandi regards human arrogance
(the
> notion that we can have big ideas and act in terms of them to change the
> world) and the unhealthy consumption habits of the greedy masses, as the
> cause of problems which actually have social roots. I'm, on the contrary,
> arrogant enough to believe that human beings still have the capability to
> deal with difficult situations, including climate change, without
demanding
> mass sacrifices.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> bounces at lists.kabissa.org] On Behalf Of Mandi Smallhorne
>
> Oh well. Seems Russell Grinker thinks we have a choice in the matter.
> Austerity will come, willy nilly. The question is whether we take charge
and
> make it happen in a way which is not too destructive, or do we just leave
it
> up to inevitable processes. What's happening to our planet is not
> susceptible to your preferred political ideology (although political and
> econoic ideology has a lot to do with how we got there). So you may mock
my
> 'moralistic scorn'; when the fynbos virtually disappears along with the
last
> of our underground water, and the mielie fields dry up and blow away, I'll
> have the last, sad little laugh.
> M
>
>
>