LogFAQs > #958160073

Clench281 posted...

In almost every case, people could add roommates or housemates/apartmentmates and save a significant amount of money (not even accounting for the energy efficiency) but choose not to. Whether that's multi generational living with your own family, or with friends. I have no idea why communal living is so detested in the USA.

This is already happening to some extent though. Due to the astronomical increase in housing and rent costs, more and more people are living with family, friends, or roommates now.

Clench281 posted...

UBI would also go a long way towards untethering people from a specific job and living situation, opening up the possibility of taking time to find a job and living situation that is more feasible without reliance on a car.

You are correct, but how can I take personal responsibility for something I have very little control over? What else can I do besides voting and spreading awareness? And how can someone of middle, working, and even lower class status make as big of an impact as wealthy corporations and politicians that actively lobby against UBI? Which brings us to the next point:

Clench281 posted...

A large problem exists with zoning laws that prevent efficient multi-unit dwellings from being built because wealthy individuals don't want them near single family homes out of fear of reducing property values.

Again, wealthy individuals are more to blame than the average joe. And these same wealthy individuals who whine about multi-unit dwellings lowering their property values are also responsible for the current spike of property values rising due to buying so many properties. Not to mention some of those zoning laws you are referring to exist because of wealthy individuals investing money into creating those laws.

LeetCheet posted...

Didn't a bunch of corporations just sue governments all around the world because they're introducing new legislations to combat the global warming and that they hurt their incomes?

Exactly. It's extremely easy to say that the average person should take more personal responsibility when certain corporations are responsible for actively lobbying against mitigating climate change and intentionally spread misinformation about climate change. Heck, I would even go as far as to say that these corporations and wealthy individuals want you to put the blame the average person instead of focusing on their own exploits. I'm not saying the average person should take no responsibility, but they definitely are not the only ones responsible.

I mean, look at it this way. Who owns multiple large properties? And who spends more time using boats and planes as transportation for recreational and business use? Lower classes do use cars as transportation, but only because they do not have access to any alternatives. And the people of lower classes currently have to use vehicles to get to their jobs so that they can afford to feed their families and keep a roof over their head.
Too many people in this world can only focus on how they are going to get their next meal or shelter. Sadly, they don't have the luxury to do what they can to combat climate change.

Not to mention, how many items do you currently own or use that were created by practices that harm the planet and contribute to climate change? Would you be willing to give up phones, computers, televisions, etc? Would you be willing to also give up luxuries such as foreign food and certain national foods? Because transporting food and other items from around the world by using planes, trucks, and cargo ships definitely isn't good for the environment.

Oh, and when it comes to recycling... Please reduce and reuse before you recycle. Most plastic can not be recycled iirc.

So I guess that while a huge portion of the population are uneducated, the vast majority are just unwilling to change. Either because they don't have the luxury to, or because they don't want to give up all of the luxuries of the modern world.