[NewMusic] More anti-carbon floop-print poopoganda

[Sarah - 21 Grand]

Mr. g:
Secondly, the lack of the ability to exist in some kind of absolute
moral state is hardly particularly American, I think it's rather an
essential nature of the human condition; there is always some systemic
evil/good paradox; doesn't matter if it's American, the Roman Empire,
fuedalism, the Khwe bushmen, or whatever.

--- I'd argue that the aspect that's modern (or post-modern) and perhaps
particularly American, is the idea that we are capable of doing so by making
the "right" choices, many of which have to do with consumption of products
and services and, for lack of a better word, entrepeneurialism. In
pre-modern times, and in many non-Capitalist societies, except for the
ruling classes (and perhaps the clergy or religious leaders) had little
choice in anything, and social mobility was fairly non-existent. Proles and
peasants will be proles and peasants and will not be kings or queens. In
European countries with social service safety nets, the differences between
"success" and "failure" are not as extreme, and there is that safety net.

We tend to see our own
modern problems as the paramount evil, but frankly I'd rather have to
deal with trying to survive in the face of corporatism run amok than
theocratic absolutism or tribal honor codes.

--- Agreed. 

sl