I've been pondering my reply to Onlookers original post. Damn him for making me do some deep thinking! I personally don't hold much hope for Governments to be able to solve our problems. They are bought, and we have been brainwashed to actually believe we can make a difference at the national level.
I think a consumption tax, and carbon tax, replacing other taxes is our only hope of significantly reducing FF use while promoting alternate methods. Washington State has one of the highest gasoline taxes, a tax I support. It has worked very well in reducing our gasoline consumption to the point where revenues have fallen off. I thought GREAT lets raise them some more, make up for the lost revenue and further decrease gasoline consumption in our state. But the Dims don't think that is a good idea. Instead they want to install devices to track our mileage, (can you say big brother), and tax every one on mileage driven no mater the fuel efficiency of the car. Oregon already have this tax. I just think the Dims are more focused on extracting more cash to expand the Govt than actually trying to slow FF consumption and slow down AGW.
Anyway this is how I see things playing out in the US. Due to climate change we will see more crop failures world wide, especially with crops being grown using large scale commercial mining methods. This will cause food shortages and dramatically raise the price of food causing famine in MENA further pushing the Islamic migration north. Europe will soon be overwhelmed and try to close the boarders with limited success. The US seeing this, will "temporally" close our boarders to all immigration until the situation improves (which it never will). This is actually OK for the US, it could mean our survival.
As food becomes more expensive, or unavailable, gardens will be an economically viable option to supplement not only their calories but also income. This is where I, and over ten thousand other Permaculture Designers in the US come into the picture. Working against big government, not by force, but by making government mostly redundant and not needed. We have a serious set of ethics: Care of the Earth, Care of People, and return the surplus to the first two ethics. All of our design decisions are run through these ethics and we apply them to not only growing food but energy production, shelter, income, and community.
Recently, the permaculture community has basically come to the conclusion that sustainability is not enough. Eventually something will come along and knock you off, and lead to disaster. In order to have any hope, we need to be more than sustainable, we need to become regenerative. We need to improve conditions not sustain them, we need to regenerate the lands we have raped, and provide designs that last for generations and not only protect the environment but improve it.
In addition to permaculture designers, there are hundreds of thousands of others in the US who are practicing permaculture in one form or other. For example, Jack Spirko, a Die hard Permaculturist and self proclaimed Minarchist, earns his living by podcasting. He has a daily audience of over 100,000 listeners to his hour plus shows. Interestingly, he does not believe in AGW, he does however believe we are killing ourselves in other ways. That's OK, because his actions and beliefs naturally lead to a smaller carbon footprint. Every show has a permaculture slant. He teaches preparedness by working on disasters that are most likely to affect you personally first, then take the next most likely, then the next and so on. Knowing you will never be able to cover them all but you build your independence as you progress. The podcasts are free, he makes his money by people becoming members. They pay an anuual or monthly membership fee. He in turn gets sponsors who do not pay him directly, but rather provide discounts to his members. They are worth several times the membership cost, there are also other benefits given out by guest speakers to members from time to time. Bottom line, he has set it up as a win/win situation that is completely voluntary. If you want, you can just listen to the podcasts for free.
On the other side of the spectrum, Paul Wheaton also has a large following on his web site, and is setting up a permaculture fiefdom on a large plot of land in Montana. He also puts out videos and has a podcast. His organization also sells these awesome permaculture deck of cards.
These are just two examples, there are others.
Finally, Permaculturist love to try things out and post their results (especially their failures) over the internet. Some one comes up with a design idea, announces he is going to test it, others may try also in a different climates or areas. Results are freely shared and we learn and improve.
Permies understand TSWHTF sooner, rather than later. They have a large presence of over 250,000 practitioners in the US, and are growing rapidly, as more and more Americans wake up to our destructive and toxic ecological practices, increasing distrust of the government especially the USDA and FDA, a desire to know what is in the food you eat, and the increase in the cost of heathy food.
With proper design the US can easily support our current population, vastly decrease our carbon foot print, and repair the land, and adapt to the upcoming climate extremes. The only question is will our government let us?
My personal plan:
1. Continue to try new permaculture ideas and spread my results.
2. Provide positive direction to people who are ignorant of helpful solutions (Like when I pointed out, there really are underground greenhouses on this thread).
3. I do not expect the government to fix things, keep me safe, or provide for my needs. That is my responsibility.
4. I will continue prepare the family property, to be able to quickly accommodate our extended family, for an extended time, in case of a Major disaster such as the expected 9.5 quake along the west coast, or large scale civil disturbances. Of course they will all have to work to secure a spot, and they are aware of that, (my extended family has a large and diversified range of skills).
5. Provide more attractive and less expensive alternatives than chemical pesticides and FF based fertilizers. to the local gardeners.
6. Continue to provide free tours through the County Conservation District and local Water Management District (Who provide the liability insurance) to show case Permaculture design elements I am using.
7. Make sure my 6 month grand daughter is taught the skills she will require in the coming s#it storm, to not only survive, but be a part of the solution.
8. Encourage local production for as many of our needs as possible.
9. Never sell my surpluses without making a profit, I will refuse to sell it at a lower price, instead I would give it away to my neighbors, or maybe to my local "Buy Nothing" FB page. My neighbors will probably look for something they can give to me that I need or don't have. At the very least they will get to enjoy some good produce.
10. Try and improve things for four generations beyond me.
These are all actionable actions I can personally do. Well it work? Who knows? But it certainly will not hurt.
Holy smokes! I think Sixes talent for verbose prose may be rubbing of on me.
