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Eco-Luddites New Target: Air Conditioning
The leftist critique of capitalism and all the improvements in the quality of life that it has brought remains what it has always been: the desire of intellectuals to dictate to the rest of humanity how they may live. Or even more to the point, how many of them may live at all. Thus, the latest New York Times feature about the evils of air conditioning and how the increasing demand for it in the Third World is unsustainable tells us a lot more about the left and its mindset than it does about the future of society.
The piece in the Sunday Review by Elisabeth Rosenthal at least is honest about why more air conditioning is needed. It is a major factor in productivity around the world. The economic boom in places like Singapore and other warm-weather cities was made possible in no small measure by air conditioning. As population growth and economic activity rises in other Third World cities, more AC will be needed. But for the Times, this spells environmental doom since they tell us the energy used to run the units and the emissions from the coolants will create more global warming. The answer from the left to this conundrum is typical of the sort of eco-Luddite argument we’ve been hearing for decades. People will have to learn to live without air conditioning in the same way they are told to live without the freedom that automobiles give them. Sweat more and shut up about it seems to be the mantra. But the problem with this sort of thinking is not just the arrogance of western liberals telling people to do without modern conveniences; it is that it reflects a lack of understanding of human potential.
Czar of Defenestration
August 19th, 2012
Tell that bitch to come down here to Florida – this August – and convince a single person.
BUT: NO A/C for HER!
Left Coast Dan
August 19th, 2012
Tell you what. You do for a year what you want everyone to do. Then report back. If you can give me a convincing argument after living without – whether air conditioning, heat, a car, etc. or all of the above – for a year, I will be happy to consider it. Until then, shut yer yapper.
Left Coast Dan
August 19th, 2012
Same for that ‘one square of toilet paper’ thing…
Boobie the Rocket Dog
August 19th, 2012
@ Czar – NO NO NO! Miz Rosenthal, DO NOT come to Florida. There’s too damn many of you down here already. For that I blame A/C in the first place.
Remember, I95 is not a one way street.
Also remember what Lewis Grizzard had to say on the subject of you carpetbaggers:
“DELTA is ready when you are.”
Boobie the Rocket Dog
August 19th, 2012
NYers: GTFOOF and take Lois Frankel* with you.
Drop her ass out the bomb bay over Cape Hatteras.
*Col. Wests’s RAT opponent.
Xavier
August 19th, 2012
Ironically, one of the best accounts I’ve read of how air conditioning changed the world for the better focused on New York City in the 1950s. Before AC, people in offices were forced to start work early and were sent home during the afternoon heat, only to return at night to finish their work. Heat exhaustion, stroke, and death were commonplace even then – imagine what conditions would be like there now with the urban heat island effect.
Libra
August 19th, 2012
It’s amazing how this global warming crap has morphed. From a faulty theory just a few years ago, it now determines how we will live, how much taxes we will pay, and what degree of discomfort we will suffer.
All this for something that does not exist in the first place.
vetgal1970
August 19th, 2012
BBBBut what about the old people and the children?:)
We are almost to the point where the bleeding heart liberals and the eco communists part company.
Doc
August 19th, 2012
Why doesn’t she just go to Vegas and tell the mob bosses to shut down the AC in the casinos. That bitch would end up vulture fodder post haste.
Strike-Anywhere Ukulele
August 19th, 2012
Three months of 100 degree plus days and we just got a break. Funny, it is now cool enough that I opened the door an placed a box fan there for my dog to enjoy.
No way i could live in the south without A/C at home and in the truck.
P.S. the burn ban was lifted yesterday so last night all the rednecks celebrated the 4th. of July belated.
God Bless America!
chico escuela
August 19th, 2012
I’m a Luddite, but I still like air conditioning and bombs. It’s just those damn cell phone people calling and asking me to guess where they are.
FreeMan - Sorry Sarah
August 19th, 2012
If you want to take my AC from me you will have to pry it from my icy cold dead arms.
They are sticking out of my 2nd and 3rd floor windows and I will drop them on your empty skulls.
If you want my AC, come and take it. and that goes triple for the ice maker too.
But cowards like this won’t just take it, they will set up a luxury tax and raise electrical rates while taxing more and lowering wages and job availability for us all.
Ut Oh, they already did all that and are buying bullets for the IRS. Hum.
Robert Fine
August 19th, 2012
The only ones left with with air conditioning — will be THEM!
Xavier
August 19th, 2012
@FreeMan – Sorry Sarah
They won’t actually take the AC. They want to install electrical consumption monitors on all appliances in your home and have the ability to regulate your use remotely. Like it at 72F? – tough shit, 78F for you. Ice cold beer? Nope. Trying to wash dishes during peak times? No can do. We’ll see electricity rationing within 2 years if Barry stays in office.
Stranded in Sonoma
August 19th, 2012
In 1938, air conditioning was installed in the U.S. Capital building. Before that time, Congress recessed before the late spring/early summer heat. And if you’ve every been to the DC area during that time, you know that a 90 degree temperature also means 90 percent humidity.
Since Congress recessed fairly early in the years prior to 1938, they could do less mischief. Once A/C was installed, they stayed in session longer and caused more trouble by writing more laws.
I will support Ms. Rosenthal as long as Congress is the first to give up it’s A/C and go back to a “simpler time.”
FreeMan - Sorry Sarah
August 19th, 2012
Xavier Rationing is closer than that. And it may even happen under the next prezzy too. USA signed off on UN Agenda 21 and AC is in there. Power rationing is in there. It is a meter of when regulations catches up to the law.
FreeMan - Sorry Sarah
August 19th, 2012
“matter of” – tide<
marleenna1959
August 19th, 2012
The only thing we have too many of are these “intellectuals”.
GW Bear
August 19th, 2012
What a change a little over fifty years has done. It used to be that progress and invention were done for the benefit of mankind and to make life better for all. Now it is done to save the frickin’ planet like it needs saving.
The arrogance of these asswipes to suppose that anything man can do can permanently change the planet. One volcano can spew more pollutants in the air in a matter of days than all of the cars in the world can from now until the oil runs out, if it ever does.
Friggin’ luddite, tree hugging assholes!
Omega Male
August 19th, 2012
If Obama is reelected, gosh !! – China, Thailand and Singapore will look like lands of freedom and opportunity for the capitalist Westerners…
Seriously.
Inversion of all values.
norman einstein
August 19th, 2012
What an asshole.
I suppose next she’ll propose we give up central heating because that’s even “worse” than A/C.
My reaction is the same whenever some busybody tries to tell us that we have to give up anything needed to sustain life on the planet as we know it, whether it’s salt, sugar, internal combustion engines, fat, coffee, alcohol, tobacco, etc. etc. etc.
You first!
And one more thing…GFY!
pdwalker
August 19th, 2012
Omega Male:
What makes you think it is not that way now?
FreeMan - Sorry Sarah
August 19th, 2012
I grew up without AC in the home. A 9 inch fan was all we had until dad came home one day with a 20 inch window fan. I was 5 at the time. It was like having AC at the time.
I’ll give up mine after they all give up theirs. Office, car, and home, no AC for anyone on the left first. That should last for about 1 week in the summer.
Major Mal function
August 20th, 2012
Notice it’s the New York Times, not the Atlanta or Houston Times. As a southern energy producing state resident, I’m perfectly willing to discuss the evils of chilled air – a few years after shutting off gas and oil supplies to Yankees.
Bob M.
August 20th, 2012
Eco-nuts can go back to living in the bottom of their warm, damp, ecologically sound & friendly, Port-O-Potty, and leave us HUMANS in our air-conditioned comfort.