Sustainability Thoughts on the Election

Ernest Thoughts

Sustainability Thoughts on the Election

By Ernest ⋅ October 24, 2008 ⋅

Tags: colonial power, election, population, sustainability

Sustainability is the “elephant in the room”, which both candidates are afraid to mention. There are many facets to sustainability. These include water supplies and food. Global warming, largely due to the release of Carbon Dioxide from burning fossil fuels, is a long term problem. In the immediate future, the biggest national and global problem is energy. America has plenty of coal, and Chemical Engineers know how to synthesize oil from coal. But the process is expensive, and releases more green house gases, mostly carbon dioxide, than burning the coal directly.

In addition, our transportation system is almost completely dependent upon petroleum fuels. As the world’s major oil fields become drained, and the emerging industrialization of India and China provides many more people with the funds to purchase cars, the availability of petroleum will inevitably decrease, and the price will inevitably increase.

Recently, there was an article in the National Geographic about the “Golden Quadrangle”, India’s equivalent of the Interstate Highway system. But our politicians are afraid to speak the unpleasant truth: we can’t drill our way out of the energy problem. While there are many ways of generating electricity besides burning fossil fuel, unless we convert much of our transportation system to operate electrically, these won’t help. So, besides making more efficient highway vehicles, such as hybrid cars, and possibly reducing speed limits, America should invest in rebuilding our rail system for both passengers and freight. Major portions of the system can be electrified, using today’s technology. Probably one of the easiest ways to encourage a shift to rail, and electrified transportation of all kinds, is to increase transportation energy taxes on all modes. This will put economic pressure to use the most energy efficient modes: rail and water, rather than highway and air. It would also provide the funds for such projects as:

A Coast to coast auto train, which would probably be a money maker for Amtrak, and
Another tube under the Hudson River, designed for both high level passenger cars and freight, including double-decker piggy-back cars.
Research and development of railroad technology for this century, rather than restoring the rail system of 100 years ago. How can we use electronic technology, such as global positioning, for safe traffic control? What should the standard coupling between cars do, besides holding the train together? Should it automatically connect control lines for brakes, power lines for propulsion motors, and information lines?

There are many more such opportunities to improve the American low-energy transportation infrastructure, which would be quickly identified once it becomes national policy to significantly reduce our transportation petroleum consumption. The two major candidates should talk about such positive steps as these, and using electric and hybrid vehicles for such applications as mail delivery. We know Americans are not yet ready to hear that they may have to give up their cars, but they will be more cooperative if good transportation alternatives are in place.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
And Other Thoughts

These thoughts are not very closely related to sustainability, but seem appropriate anyhow. First, America should not be a colonial power. This means that the people of Puerto Rico should be given a choice: vote for either statehood, or independence. If the Puerto Ricans vote to become a state, than the odds and ends of American possessions in the Caribbean should be given a similar choice: either become part of a Caribbean state with Puerto Rico, or go your own way. The Pacific possessions, such as Guam, should be either joined with Hawaii or given independence. This would end the colonial era in America, just as most of the European colonies have now gone their own way. Since America has two states which are not contiguous to the other 48, scattered parts of America should not be a problem. Note that France has a few former possessions, such as islands in the St. Lawrence River, which are considered part of the country, even though geographically quite separate.

Another thought: A future sustainable world would probably have a significantly lower total population. Neither America nor Europe can serve as population sinks for all those third world countries that mainly export surplus people. This is a matter that should get high priority at the national level. It’s nice to get cheap labor today, partly illegal immigrants, but tomorrow their children will want the same standard of living as other Americans and Europeans. In addition, if their tradition is to have large families, this will make a graceful transition to sustainable population levels very difficult.

And, to deal with government deficits: why are we still minting pennies, which cost more than one cent each to produce? About 125 years ago, we stopped minting half-cent coins, which probably bought the equivalent of a nickel today. Would Americans really miss the one cent coin?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Violence, whether by national armies or guerrilla forces, is not sustainable. Such violence is often called “religious”, but it is really about power politics and money.

SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY ACTION PROJECT, Inc.
c/o Ernest & Elaine Cohen
525 Midvale Road
Upper Darby, PA 19082-3607 USA
610-352-2689
ernest.cohen@ieee.org

Bookmark It