historycircus

Hi Peer,

I think a lot of us here have thought about this scenario. I think the immediate aftermath of dramatic and instantaneous climate change or war would be so jarring, so shocking, for most people that many of the old hatreds and "otherness" paradigms would shatter immediately. I don't think the Klansman will have much of a problem accepting fresh water from a black man immediately after such changes. It is sad to think that we might have to go through cataclysm before we learn how to be better humans. The caveat, of course, will be large urban areas. I think the urban psyche, not all but probably most, is so damaged, that these will be zones of great cruelty and desperation. I don't think I have anything constructive to offer there other than "get out." If you are single, it is relatively easy; if you have kids, it is harder to pack up on whim and leave, but they'll thank you for it in the years to come.

When one thinks about life six months to a year after such events, there is great excitement - the opportunities with a clean slate are fun to think about. However, as I and some others have discussed on my "Capitalism, Sustainability, and the Possibility of Global Collapse" thread, populations of over a few hundred can create complex problems that require organization and leadership. I think we tend to poo-poo government and economic systems because they have been so horrible for so long, but if practiced in an enlightened, "service to others" fashion, I think they could be effective tools for social organization. Then there is the issue of crime and punishment - some sort of system will have to be created for those who choose to exercise their personal sovereignty in a way that endangers the group or individuals (rape, murder, theft, etc.). Now lookit, if I had my way, we'd all be dancing naked with flowers in our hair, around the campfire, eating the products of the communal garden, and I would volunteer as hug enforcer. But, the sad reality is that we will always have to deal with the thugs and victimizers, the powermongers and perverts, and we will have to come up with a humanitarian way resolve these issues as communities of the future get larger.

There is nothing wrong with laws, so long as they are good laws. Again, I would say that we have a negative view of laws today because so many of them legalize stupidity and evil, while outlawing common sense and personal freedom. Laws, government, and economy need not be negative - I think they can be practiced equitably with humanitarianism at their core.

Good thread, and can't wait to read more (and for those of you interested in this type of discussion, please visit the thread I mentioned above, and leave your thoughts).