this post was submitted on 03 Aug 2023
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The memes of the climate
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The climate of the memes of the climate!
Planet is on fire!
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Honest question, what economic or political system exists out there that would be better for climate change?
Or is the assumption that system doesn’t exist yet?
If you want to avoid saying socialism, communism, or true communism (anarchism) then try library economy or gift economy. Some nice examples I've heard.
Except that some of the absolute worst ecological tragedies in the modern world were done in socialist systems, largely because they were inefficient, central planning made it more effective, and people couldn't say no or mitigate it. I honestly think that people use socialism as a catch-all to be a system where they can force through the changes they would prefer to see in the world.
Meanwhile, some of the most effective ecological mitigations of the modern world were done through legislation and regulation of a capitalist system. Example: the banning of CFCs and water management.
It's largely our growth as a population that's caused the issues and it requires drastic action at all levels to live within our means. We can live more sustainably and we are getting there but it does require an efficient system and an educated populous. That results in better regulations on markets that can account for externalities.
Poisoning the waterhole hurts everyone regardless of the system. There needs to be consequences put in place for doing so, and by the international nature of the problem, it requires treaties to get all systems aligned. That takes time and effort and we are getting there.
It is absolutely not our growth as a population that has affected climate change. That's capitalist doomer propaganda. Those actually responsible for it are the few at the top of capitalist hierarchies. Politicians, billionaires, oil and coal barons. Right now we van feed up to 11 billion people, yet there is still mass starvation and poverty. Capitalists require poverty so that people are desperate enough to work the shitty jobs the capitalists "create".
As for the rest of what you said, I briefly touched upon this, but even CCP and USSR admitt(ed) they weren't really communist, and whether they're socialist is extremely debatable. They're not communist because by their own admission they're preparing for a communist world, but they keep saying that and it never comes about. These regimes lie constantly, but even if they lied rarely I'd still not believe they want actual communism because it'd involve giving up their power. What these states actually are is state capitalist.
They're communist in the same way the Nazis were socialist, or the DPRK is a democratic republic: they're not.
That's the thing, you can never reach a full socialist system in the anarchist sense. Anything short is authoritarianism and that is what you propose we move towards. I am not disagreeing with you but you are missing the fact that those examples were absolutely trying and did try to get there.
Anarchism is fundamentally anti authoritarian so I don't see how you think I'm proposing that.
The existence of a state and communism are an oxymoron. How can there be equality when there's still a hierarchy? These nations were also nationalist, which is also at odds with communism. I get how it appears they tried and failed, as did other countries, but there attempts were just for show and don't indicate that communism is impossible. In fact, humans have lived under what Marx called (though I don't like the term) "primitive communism" since we first started walking on two feet.
But that being said, I have no idea how anarchism would work on a large scale like with the population of a city.
This is where I get really doomer and say my expectation is that as global warming and wars and famine and disease and authoritarian governments get worse the only places left that you can be free will be anarcho communes. Such a thing is possible in our modern day. Zapatista in Mexico and Rojava in Syria have achieved it as far as I can tell, but I have yet to look into how those communities are run. Rojava I know its situation is far from ideal with them having to make deals with devils, like to give America oil rights. Living in Canada myself I can find a comnune on ic.org to join. Though admittedly I haven't looked into that past skimming their website.
Well, I've been to one of the ones you mention and it's largely corporate. I'm not sure what you're expecting out of geopolitics. Social science says that trust breaks down inherently with organizations larger than about 300 people. You can argue against pretty structures all you want but all you end up is at the whim of those that prepare for them. Go be in a commune. See what it's like. I mean that wholeheartedly. There's nothing sustainable about it but it is an interesting experience.