Ayoob wrote:I think it's basically the peak. I think we're in the middle of artificially spurred demand destruction.
I don’t think I would call it artificial because pandemics and systematic brittleness is organic to the human system so I would call it a tipping point. Artificial would reflect conscious effort of a policy of control. It may appear this way but the reality is humans reacted and were not proactive. Pandemics are a white swan not a black one. They will happen again so humans should try not to allow this situation and could have a system in place to properly deal with it. Obviously, that is not the case today because that would mean rejecting globalism.
Ayoob wrote: The most important target to wipe out is the American driver. Commuting has to end, so somehow you're going to have to be certified virus-free to go in to an office, otherwise stay home and grind it out there until you eventually get laid off. Destroy all paychecks and people will stay home, drink, smoke weed, watch Netflix, take their UBI check.
I agree we need some changes to modern life and this crisis may be that opportunity. UBI and stay at home work seems a step in the right direction if emissions are the issue. The devil is in the detail with fairness and productivity. We still need to be fed by some kind of effort. Money and food do not get sucked up like osmosis, instead it is human effort. People will game the system. A degrowth in human discretionary wants is in order. How much human production can be separated away from traditional industry is a loaded question. Most point to automation but this is a fantasy at a point. Life can’t be automated because it cost too much. At some point cost do matter and money printing a farce.
This does not mean smoking weed is bad. If we can find some comforts that are not so energy intensive this would go a long way to making stay at home work and play smart. We would not have to work as hard if our toys were more reasonable. Stay at home is just a deceptive idea for localism. Maybe we should just call it localism but that gets in the way of growth and globalism so rejected. No politician will embrace degrowth nor will the public stomach it. Really, this idea of stay at home means growing your own food or doing an essential craft that adds value. It means home economics like being able to do basic chores humans like to outsource. Picture this like homesteading but also applied to urban life with community. A city can manage to do these things too. Our leisure needs to shrink and our work in the immediate of the local needs to increase. The modern idea of work of the job commuted to and a paycheck is likely outdated considering overshoot but so is the idea we can leave it like giving up a drug. We are stuck with some bad behavior and that is called consequences.
Ayoob wrote: My guess is there will be a certain number of animals who will stay in their cages and wait to be fed, and other animals will go on the prowl and figure shit out for themselves.
Well, in earlier times there was the bread and the circus but also civilization that collapsed. In fact, all historic once have collapsed or were absorbed so that maybe is a wakeup call? They seem to go hand and hand.
Ayoob wrote: Notice the UFO photos came out and nobody gives a shit.
I saw that. LOL. It is amazing the Navy released that!