| This can't be happening. Life is supposed to be good. | | | | - Greed |
| But all around us (US) the quality of life is turning | | | | - Hatred / Blame / Ridicule |
| downhill. Most of us have realized this already, | | | | - Tolerance |
| watching it from the extreme comfort of our well | | | | - Paranoia |
| manicured lifestyles once thought to be immune from | | | | - Indifference |
| all forms of contamination, bugs, terrorists, and the | | | | - Jealousy Represented by the following types of |
| neighbor next door. | | | | people: |
| Because the change is so gradual, it will only become | | | | - Escapists / Quitters / Suicidal |
| a shock to each and every one of us at some point. | | | | - Hoarders |
| We don't all get the shock at the same time. Some | | | | - Complainers |
| got it years ago, like Al Gore. To say that he was | | | | - Sentimentalists |
| 'ahead of his time' is true, but eventually the USA and | | | | - Optimists |
| the rest of the world will 'wake up' and heed the | | | | - Rationalists |
| ominous signs that have been there all along. | | | | - Religious zealots A deep schism will polarize |
| The average person doesn't like to be shaken from | | | | American society. Optimists may be severely |
| his comfort zone (security blanket/living room sofa | | | | impeded in their ability to problem solve and bring |
| two SUV garage) and they pity people like Al Gore | | | | about corrective and preventative measures by the |
| who are out in their underwear running around | | | | actions of people unwilling to contribute to the |
| icebergs. Who needs it? "Such is not for me", they | | | | common good. |
| cry. | | | | Mentality That Goes Against Society |
| But like a tsunami, those who don't see it coming are | | | | People who have a 'me-first' mentality may not able |
| not the last to know. They are only the first to be | | | | to sacrifice/share their time, energy, compassion and |
| surprised when it hits without warning, so it seems. | | | | material goods including personal property (land, |
| How to be Sane | | | | housing) for the sake of a larger group. |
| It's not easy to be wise, and waking up early can be | | | | At some point society may break down into localized |
| a curse if the world isn't ready. Be kind, rewind and | | | | communities if and when central government is |
| don't rock the boats of others. Be humble, wake | | | | unable to function efficiently. In agriculturally |
| them gently with kind words and high contrast facts. | | | | sustainable areas people will band around farming |
| Separate the wheat from the chaff, and be | | | | communities from which they will derive foodstuffs. |
| persistent. | | | | There would be an exodus away from cities where |
| Don't turn radical. The sky is falling; yes - but don't | | | | transportation and the sheer quantity of humans |
| rush out and cut off the chicken's head. There's | | | | requiring basic necessities is too dense to support |
| plenty of time. We cannot rewind, but there's a | | | | any type of trade infrastructure. |
| renaissance and sense of creative challenge to | | | | In the absence of official policy; without government |
| manage those aspects which are under our control. | | | | regulations being enforced, and lack of an organized |
| Most of the concern is about currently manifesting | | | | police presence - safe conduct becomes the |
| conditions that will play out their consequences | | | | responsibility of the individual citizen. Human rights |
| beyond our lifespan. We will suffer hardship and | | | | violations would, unfortunately equalize the balance |
| misery as one, as will our succeeding generation. As | | | | between the 'haves' and the 'have-nots' accomplished |
| John Lennon so simply proclaimed in 1970, "Give | | | | through loss of life and abuse. |
| Peace a Chance" now applies in a broader sense to | | | | In such a chaotic state of affairs many communities |
| the world's socio-economic and quality of life index | | | | will fail; focusing the rigors of daily existence on |
| regardless of race, religion, or nationalistic affiliation. | | | | hand-to-mouth survival. It would be difficult under |
| For better or worse, we're in this boat together. | | | | these circumstances to organize any type of |
| Make the most of what resources we've got at our | | | | cohesive leadership that would act responsibly. |
| disposal, and leave no stone unturned. A little Zen | | | | The Real Name Of The Game |
| philosophy can work wonders. | | | | Having painted such a scenario; can we not see |
| How the People Will React | | | | immediately that the name of the game is to create |
| When confronted with possible evidence that the | | | | a majority of optimists? |
| quality of life in the USA is undergoing irreversible | | | | Some see the approaching decline of civilization as a |
| degradation leading to personal hardship, extreme | | | | prolonged period of suffering, while others, resigned |
| inconvenience, and a forced change in lifestyle, such | | | | to the fact that it won't go away - have opted for |
| as facts, figures, and competently analyzed statistics; | | | | hope, optimism, rising up to the challenge, banding |
| there are several ways in which people will tend to | | | | together to create a new future, and emerging |
| react. | | | | eventually to a re-birth of humanity. One might say |
| These reactions are: | | | | that the deck of cards is 'about to be shuffled'. |
| - Denial | | | | |