JMG on Breaking Down: Collapse Podcast

[ecosophia]

For your listening pleasure, here's my latest, with Kory and Kellan on the Breaking Down: Collapse podcast. It was a good lively conversation on the cheery theme of the decline and fall of the industrial age. Click here and enjoy!

Comments

Re: Collapsed a while back to avoid the rush

[(Anonymous)]

In which case we've been in the terminal period for at least 15 years now, which strikes me as a useful reminder of how slow history unfolds when measured against the pace of daily life.

Re: Collapsed a while back to avoid the rush

[ecosophia]

We have indeed. The terminal period usually lasts a century or two.

Re: Collapsed a while back to avoid the rush

[hearthspirit]

Our civilisation did something dumber than most, though, and built most of its infrastructure at gargantuan scale all at once, and really handed over our beer on the concept of insurance.

My municipality entered the pandemic in very good fiscal shape, no tax increase over 2% in ages, stuff could be fixed at projected taxes and growth projections, and we had lots of savings. I didn't think the US infrastructure disease would hit us for a decade or more. Now, without federal aid we'd have been looking at an 11% tax increase this year. Unforeseen policing and firefighting costs skyrocketed due to insurance requirements for apartments and condos, and standardized federal safety requirements (even small town stations must be built to withstand vehicular terror assault). The fact we can't fill our vacancies doesn't make up for the staggering equipment costs - 1/3 municipal budget, and we share our forces with other small municipalities.

Still, with that federal covid aid the tax increase is considered too high by several politicians. The problem is, we cannot seem to lower it, as there are no large projects that can be deferred - everything was built around 1970-1980, so multiple large sewer mains need replacement all at once. Not a problem, until covid sapped the coffers...

Next election term, maybe even next budget cycle, we won't be able to prevent a crushing tax increase or loss of services people will notice. And already, we get letterss complaining that a curb here or there hasn't been painted yet, it was supposed to be fine in August! What have the staff been doing?? Well.. The emergency... That pandemic thing?

They have no idea the circus taking time - a lot - away from actual jobs.

It will be swift and ugly...

Re: Collapsed a while back to avoid the rush

[(Anonymous)]

That's just it: most people cannot get their minds around the fact that we need to downshift: what was doable five years ago is not today, and the sooner we get to work adjusting our expectations, the better off we'll be. But most people cannot handle that idea yet, and until that changes, we're not going to be able to do anything constructive about our situation.

Re: Collapsed a while back to avoid the rush

[ecosophia]

Depends on what you mean by "we." Collectively as an entire society, sure, but you and me and the other readers of this journal? There's an enormous amount that we can do right now, and the sooner we get to work on it, the better.

Re: Collapsed a while back to avoid the rush

[hearthspirit]

As an individual trying to influence your local town, you also still have enormous power simply by being one of the Powell's who submits comment to council and the local paper. There are about a dozen people in my popn 12k region who have outside influence simply because they submit feedback on all the public comment issues. A few people writing letters against the latest boondoggle or with sensible support for things to cut at budget time - even just mentioning words like contraction, recession, slow down, instead of (barf) 'make this the best city' or whatever - will have outside influence.