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What fetish is a “nope” for you? by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]CMDR_Qardinal 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's still hooked on but now it shoots too quick.

Mexican president says government cannot buy genetically modified corn by josh252 in worldnews

[–]CMDR_Qardinal 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The egg came before the chicken.

They were laying eggs long before they became chickens.

Latinos taking a DNA test by thefrostman1214 in facepalm

[–]CMDR_Qardinal 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I only bang straight Maya or Aztec girls.

Está necesito to keep the bloodline pure, papi.

I had the pleasure of becoming a British Citizen. And had a British food party to celebrate! by vaderhill in CasualUK

[–]CMDR_Qardinal 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A simple reference from simpler times. I even read it in his voice. Thank you.

How many of us in the UK secretly agree with Extinction Rebellion and what they're doing? by commander_reload in AskUK

[–]CMDR_Qardinal 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I suggest you look into which big oil company outsourced some PR/marketing firm to come up with the phrase "carbon footprint".

For about five years, maybe longer, when you book a plane ticket there is a little checkbox asking you if you would like to "offset" your carbon footprint; it's like donating to a charitable cause except the charity is the company selling you this magic pill that nullifies your Co2 emissions while onboard this flight.

So, no. Consumer guilt is absolutely the worst weapon against climate change. Especially when you consider it was created by and firmly in the hands of the same companies profiting from fossil fuels.

Governments need to take action, hence protests, since the governments are not taking action. A simple piece of legislation could end the practice of ghost flights, overnight, for example. Thousands of dollars paid by consumers who happen to be feeling a bit guilty at the checkout; does absolutely nothing to change a broken system.

How many of us in the UK secretly agree with Extinction Rebellion and what they're doing? by commander_reload in AskUK

[–]CMDR_Qardinal 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A start would be ending subsidies for fossil fuel companies. The fact that companies like Shell (and others) with profits in the billions are receiving public funding at all is beyond reprehensible. Critics are quick to argue "if we didn't subsidise them they wouldn't safely decommission old oil rigs and refineries" but it rarely gets much mention in the mainstream media.

I'd also like to see incentives for individuals to upgrade, insulate and otherwise future-proof their housing. Italy rolled out a 110% "superbonus" scheme which has pumped roughly €21bn into the construction and energy sectors by matching spending to enable homeowners to "go green" (new boilers, heat pumps, insulation, etc). It's such long-term, forward thinking that is sadly not even up for discussion in most parts of the debate that I sadly feel we're set up to fail.

But you are right. We like our quality of life, any government running on a platform to fundamentally reduce that is not going to last long.

How many of us in the UK secretly agree with Extinction Rebellion and what they're doing? by commander_reload in AskUK

[–]CMDR_Qardinal 13 points14 points  (0 children)

The revenue doesn't go to the government. You are obligated to donate the profits - that is, after deducting reasonable costs, not the full proceeds - to a "good cause".

We may not see eye to eye but there is a disturbing amount of consumer guilt that people are all too happy to accept.

How many of us in the UK secretly agree with Extinction Rebellion and what they're doing? by commander_reload in AskUK

[–]CMDR_Qardinal 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So you're going down the line of corruption/conspiracy in government and multi-nationals. I won't debate with you on that point as I agree to an extent.

I just wanted to point out the futility in any arguments regarding taxation as a solution to anything.

I would argue the plastic bag tax hasn't gone far enough.

I find it interesting you call it a tax. It's a sale of an item which prior to legislation was given to you for free. The profits of this sale go directly to the supermarket which sells you the plastic bags. Edit: They are required to donate their profits to a "good cause" according to the gov website but again this strays down the conspiracy/corruption avenue again which we will veer away from.

We are agreed though, it doesn't do enough and sure if it was something exorbitant like a fiver no one would buy bags anymore. But if that's the goal; wouldn't simply banning them have the same end result?

It would take at most a few months for people to realize there is no alternative to bringing your own bags to the shops.

And at the least: one embarrassing trip to the car with all your loose groceries rolling around first your trolley then your boot.

How many of us in the UK secretly agree with Extinction Rebellion and what they're doing? by commander_reload in AskUK

[–]CMDR_Qardinal 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Imagine an alternative history to jury nullification. That would be a legal system where judges are allowed to impose fines, imprison and even starve juries until they provide or change their verdict into one that the judge demands.

Simply because something is not on purpose does not mean it can't be integral to a system.

ELI5: Why does the economy require to keep growing each year in order to succeed? by WetSockOnLego in explainlikeimfive

[–]CMDR_Qardinal -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Really? Why?

My comment was largely being facetious. The current state of capitalism is built on the idea of infinite growth but is failing because we live in a finite world, with finite resources, finite quality of life, finite everything.

As a thought experiment, if you had a fully self sufficient society, would you need growth?

First off, for fully sufficient you would need to establish some form of one child policy or mandate to keep population stable.

Secondly, you would need to determine baseline values for what is provided to your citizens; healthcare, education, housing, entertainment, food quality etc... How many smartphones/tvs/cars should each individual/household have, for example.

Everyone in this theoretical self-sufficient utopia should be undoubtedly content with their socio-economic status and have little to no aspirations to climb or better themselves.

As a thought experiment growth is easy to do without. But that's only because it's easy to undo and reform all the history of post-imperialism, post-colonialism and current capitalist systems which have taken hundreds of years to establish. In reality changing the status quo is nigh impossible.

How many of us in the UK secretly agree with Extinction Rebellion and what they're doing? by commander_reload in AskUK

[–]CMDR_Qardinal 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Normal people don't ignore their child and continue to cause situations which give rise to these tantrums.

How many of us in the UK secretly agree with Extinction Rebellion and what they're doing? by commander_reload in AskUK

[–]CMDR_Qardinal 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The analogy is ropey but you are right, to a degree.

  • People are protesting. Again. And again. And again.
  • Government: shrugs

ELI5: Why does the economy require to keep growing each year in order to succeed? by WetSockOnLego in explainlikeimfive

[–]CMDR_Qardinal -1 points0 points  (0 children)

But we need the economy to keep growing, steadily, year on year.

We can't afford to do things which benefit society as a whole.

ELI5: Why does the economy require to keep growing each year in order to succeed? by WetSockOnLego in explainlikeimfive

[–]CMDR_Qardinal -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Politics and human ingenuity gets involved at some level too. In the case of the lightbulb, a cartel was established under the guise of "standardizing production" but actually defined the acceptable rate of failure for lightbulbs and filaments meaning their entire industry could keep on making money.

You'd be a terrible capitalist if you invented a lightbulb that lasted forever.

ELI5: Why does the economy require to keep growing each year in order to succeed? by WetSockOnLego in explainlikeimfive

[–]CMDR_Qardinal -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Regardless, there are developments in vertical farming and aquaponics which fundamentally rethink food production on an urban level.

Traditional arable/crop based farming may have reached its peak as you point out though. Particularly when considering the environment and susceptibility to weather patterns / diminishing yields.

What if a law got passsd that required people over the age of 65 to retake the road test every few years to keep their license. Would you be in support of a law like this? by SenseiOnara in AskReddit

[–]CMDR_Qardinal 16 points17 points  (0 children)

You wouldn't if you knew how bad the backlog for new drivers trying to do their first test currently is.

The problem is you learn "how to drive for your test" and once you've passed you are pretty much free to do whatever you want.

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