Letter: Depressing U.S. lifestyle complicit in global warming

embarrassed-smiley-faceDear Editor: In Germany, President Obama announced he’s making global warming a priority in his second term. He’d almost be believable if he didn’t have a track record of big talk and no follow-through. So forget Obama. Since it is you who are complicit in creating global warming, get off your butt and do something about it yourself.

There’s so little self-reflection these days. I have to make the connection between depression and global warming. Thomas Jefferson never wanted America to industrialize because he saw the horrible working conditions of factories in Europe and believed people would be happier in their cottage industries on their family farms. That lifestyle was not only mentally healthy, giving a sense of purpose and meaning, but also physically healthy — as we now know, modest exercise throughout the day maintains a healthy endocrine system and brain chemical production.

What we settled for is an extremely perverted lifestyle, devoid of meaning and purpose, dependent on strangers who only want to make a quick buck off you, and devices that you don’t understand and couldn’t repair. Studies have shown that people are “addicted” to their texting, email, whatever Internet crappola, because it produces a shot of dopamine in your brain — same reason people get addicted to shopping or gambling. When the brain can’t get enough happiness hormone naturally, it seeks it out artificially. We are the richest country in the world but among the lowest in happiness. You’re drowning in a sea of unhappiness and it’s driving you to destroy the environment — the only thing that can sustainably make you happy.
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3 Responses to Letter: Depressing U.S. lifestyle complicit in global warming

  1. Rob N. Hood July 19, 2013 at 4:16 pm #

    Methane may be the bigger menace. Via fracking, etc…. it seeps out until it’s gone- into the atmosphere-caps fail eventually 100% and even if they didn’t all the seepage points cannot be dealt with. Even if you avoid the global warming aspect of all this, we will run out of affordable fossil fuels eventually. And other types of damage to the environment will and is occurring, outside of the CO2/methane debate. Alternatives needs serious support, now not later when it may actually be too late.

  2. Dave TH September 3, 2013 at 5:02 pm #

    What the heck does Methane have to do with an article on Lifestyle and happiness? Does it trigger dopamine or serotonin? What the C to the 4 to the H are you ranting about? ( Read “the Deep, Hot Biosphere” by Tom Gold to actually learn alittle about “fossil” fuels and hydrocarbons…)

  3. Dominic Rico September 9, 2013 at 3:19 pm #

    Guys, he’s right, but my generation is on shut down mode: we’re getting beck to our roots so don’t worry about it. Lord be with you.

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