I still don't get what this is all about
Most of us lead comfortable lives, and we aren't really for want of anything in our immediate future or surroundings. There are others around the world who are, and there are, I believe, problems around the world which exist now and will exist in the future, but a great majority of those problems do not, and probably will not affect any of us in a directly tangible way. As a consequence, to solve these problems and help improve the lot of others, people will need to act in a manner not conducive to their direct individual benefit.
This is not how society is presently structured, and that is largely because of tradition and cultural norms. Ours is one way of living, but it is not the only way, nor is it necessarily the best way, and I would wager it is not the best way to ensure our development as a species. Thus, my task is to get a stronger idea of what exactly it is that determines how we act as we do, and how much of it is malleable, and how individuals might be persuaded to voluntarily direct their energies and ideas away from an individual focus to a species focus when they a) have no biological imperative to do so and b) have a cultural imperative not to do so.
So ed, to respond to your claim:
The jist is everyone in this country believes they DESERVE to have everything they dream of, regardless of their education, wealth, position in society and usefullness to their community.
So these people go out, with little to no education, work for a few years.... earn enough to take out a home loan... a wife and two children... a car or two... holiday every year up the coast. Why? Beause they earned it with hard work... dedication etc.
What makes you think, that these people... who are hopelessly dependent on the system that supports them... where the cost of fuel is enough to strangle their tight budgets - 4c a litre makes the difference between making the car payment... what makes you think that something like "climate change" is going to make them change the way they have been raised their whole life?
I am trying to figure out just that. Using your examples, I want to know how to change peoples dreams, and how to alter the impact of the way they have been raised. How can we make people less dependent on the system of which they comprise but a small part?
I am a risk averse person, and I think others should be as well, because it leaves the most doors open for the future. I want to change how others perceive the world and their role in it. I am asking you people about how you draw your lines and what motivates your actions and what shapes your understandings so that I can add that information to what I know about this, so I am better equipped to answer the questions I want to answer.
So I'm not saying people are selfish for having their hobbies, I'm asking people to consider the use of their resources, and their perceptions of the goals of that resource use.
Narxysus what do you do in your spare time? Just out of curiosity?
Read books and browse the web and write threads like this.