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Comment by spaceseaman | Hacker News Reader

We wouldn't want to waste our time and do something productive like encourage renewable forms of fuel would we? (via things like taxation which could account for the real external costs of fossil fuels). That would be ridiculous. Let's just keep using these things that will run out and are clearly bad for our environment. There's just no point to making the world a little better if it's going to hurt those oil and gas companies!

(sarcasm of course)

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What should we do? What should I do? When I look through my window, nobody cares. I do waste sorting while none my neightbors care, what should I do? I don't throw waste on the street and nature while most of my compatriot don't care, what should I do? I try to use "clean" and expensive resources like eletric cars while "bad" resources are cheaper because my government keep promising to make taxes on these but don't do anything, what should I do?

Why should I waste my time trying to change the world, thinking about it when I'm just a randon civilian that have barely enough to donate to an ONG? Why should I waste my life for other people that don't care at all and enjoy theirs?

You collectively organize to make changes at a government level rather than a local one? That's why governments exist - You can't do anything mate. You must organize.

> Why should I waste my life for other people that don't care at all and enjoy theirs?

You are legit asking the question every single public servant has ever asked ever. How much do you actually care? If it's enough, then do something about it and get in government. If it's not, then so be it: you'll have to deal or try and elect politicians who show they actually recognize that our current methods are atrocious.

> my government keep promising to make taxes on these but don't do anything, what should I do?

Elect different politicians. If they can't get enough votes, try and convince people around you. If that doesn't work, run yourself.

I know this may sound condescending - not my intention at all. I've just had the same thought process and my only real conclusion was:

1.) I could be apathetic and not care. This is what most people do. This works fine - I can be happy. 2.) I can work my self to death to try and improve things. If it doesn't work, at least I know I tried. If it does work, then I have succeeded.

Just depends where your priorities are mate. Some people don't have option (2) at all. It's your call now.

Personally I think that governments have been irresponsible and shifted these policies onto the people because they're unpopular. No one wants to be the guy instituting a carbon tax because there's plenty of anti-carbon tax rhetoric out there ready to annihilate you. Something you can do right now is start getting rid of that rhetoric. Informing yourself so you can take on those arguments with people might be another option

The most efficient things you can do are 1) vote, 2) contact your elected representatives 3) donate money, say 3% of your income. These steps will have minimal impact on your personal quality of life compared to their impact on the world. Personal lifestyle changes like using an electric car are secondary - as you mention, it's better to change the incentives.

Re. vote, too often people forget (in the US) to vote in the primaries of the dominant political party in their area. Given how gerrymandering ensures that a given political party nearly always wins a given region, voting in the primary is your best option to vote out the crazies.

Read Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood. It has a few high-impact suggestions that you or someone you know might be able to put into action.

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