When 'What Will You Be?' Becomes 'What Will We Be?

i almost dove into the topic of emotions, but that felt too intense. i even considered tackling love, but then remembered other commitments.

we often hear, 'think about your future, what are you going to be when you grow up?' i believe that's precisely the problem. because i am thinking about the future, it's unimaginable to meaningfully participate in the current madness. we should be asking, 'think about our future,' not just your personal one, but the future of everyone, your children, your grandchildren. yet, the future of my immediate family feels more pressing. so, let's address the immediate concerns first.

however, the future of an individual is ultimately insignificant if the future of humanity is at stake. who cares how jakob made a living if the world is crumbling? except for jakob, who can say, 'i did my part.' good on you, jakob.

it's often argued that we ignore climate change because its effects aren't tangible or directly impactful. so, shouldn't we make them tangible? take bottle deposits, for example: €0.25 in germany per bottle, placing us near the top globally. with a 98% recycling rate, we lead the pack. sure, we're also major producers, but my point is we've made an intangible problem tangible and understandable.

taxes could be another tool. it's baffling that flying to London is cheaper than taking the train to Berlin. something is fundamentally wrong. consider the costs: €33 million for an ice train (bulk discount) versus €340 million for a plane (also bulk). the rail network must cost a fortune, and it's so complex it'll take until 2070 to implement a regular timetable. perhaps data centers are running 24/7 to calculate train schedules. either the train operators should learn from the airlines, or vice versa.

where was i? right, taxes. the tobacco tax is straightforward, but i keep thinking of it as a 'health tax.' you pay more to damage your health, then the healthcare system covers the consequences. to me, this suggests we should put lead back in gasoline. it's cheaper, and we can tax it heavily.

macro of tobacco

people always complain about gas taxes, but tobacco tax increases are barely mentioned. speaking of gas, is the alcohol tax fixed? if not, why? are producers absorbing the increases? why are they so accommodating compared to tobacco companies? perhaps alcoholics generate more revenue than smokers? i've seen few detox patients for nicotine addiction, but alcohol is a major issue.

yes, smoking is a choice, but so is driving. so, taxes are a useful tool, but the priorities are perplexing.

i don't want to engage with climate deniers, so i'll conclude with a great statement about them i heard once:

if you don't trust scientists on thermodynamics, then put down your phone or turn off your computer. the technology within is pure witchcraft.