We’ll start to change a little when oil becomes so scarce that fuel prices start rising precipitously. Even nominal increases have changed behavior to a small degree – recent gasoline price spikes caused people to finally consider fuel economy when purchasing vehicles, to consolidate trips, etc., etc. But you’re largely right, if people can conveniently choose to do what they’ve always done, they won’t change even if dire future consequences are proven beyond a doubt. Human nature is to live for the now and be concerned solely with one’s own welfare. That’s why capitalism has thrived while communism failed – capitalism bets that we’ll all behave selfishly, while communism assumes that we can all work together for the greater good. Hmm… which theory was right?
We’ll start to change a little when oil becomes so scarce that fuel prices start rising precipitously. Even nominal increases have changed behavior to a small degree – recent gasoline price spikes caused people to finally consider fuel economy when purchasing vehicles, to consolidate trips, etc., etc. But you’re largely right, if people can conveniently choose to do what they’ve always done, they won’t change even if dire future consequences are proven beyond a doubt. Human nature is to live for the now and be concerned solely with one’s own welfare. That’s why capitalism has thrived while communism failed – capitalism bets that we’ll all behave selfishly, while communism assumes that we can all work together for the greater good. Hmm… which theory was right?