Geez this guy must have a great time in the 1960's....sounds like he has been miserable ever since. Hey Pete try some Prozac. What a drag of an article.

Peter - an excellent article. Some wise words there indeed. In the scheme of things if we all tried to live a bit more simply with less dependence on chasing 'wants' as opposed to 'needs' we'd all be collectively better off I'm sure.

The first positive step is for people to open their eyes to what has happened to the world we grew up in.

On a micro-level action can be as simple as instead of doing over-time for that all-mighty plasma you think your family needs - just leave work on time and take the kids to the park to play...thanks Peter.

CJ Morgan,
Space travel will only be for the rich, we mere mortals will be left behind, the reason this has to be dealt with is the rich have not yet found an inhabitable planet, or way to get there.

I would like to think for the masses, that government's such as ours would do everything in their power to slow the deterioration of our planet. Howard who would not even recognise "climate change" until recently is putting $10 billion in. I'd really like to know how comprehensive plans could have been set up in the short space of time since he first recognised it. Coincidently first recognition came 24 hours after George.W.Bush recognised it in his "State of the Union" speech.

Whilst presenting a well written and, to my mind, an accurate snapshot of modern day as experienced by the relatively affluent in our society, it should be realised that overconsumption is by no means universal. Many people do not have widescreen TV's, Mc Mansions, and huge gas guzzler vehicles. Some people have barely enough to eat. It is all very well to pontificate as to what 'we' should do. It is significant to note that the now eulogised 50's and 60's were produced by the same socio-economic factors that have produced contemporary society - the 50's and 60's were not produced in isolation but were simply part of the same on-going process. The sociological pressures that have produced 2007 circumstances also produced 1907 circumstances. There is no shortcut - the individual is helpless and ineffective against the on-going sociological evolution. Hope and vote is basically all that most of us can do.

Despite presenting an accurate snapshot of modern day living as experienced by the relatively affluent in our society, Dr McMahon seems to overlook the readily observable fact that overconsumption is by no means universal. Many people do not have widescreen TV's, Mc Mansions, and ridiculously over-designed vehicles. Some people have barely enough to eat. It is all very well to pontificate as to what 'we' should do - individual involvement varies across the entire 'we' spectrum. It is significant to note that the now eulogised 50's and 60's were produced by the same socio-economic factors that have produced contemporary society - the 50's and 60's were not produced in isolation but were simply part of the same on-going process. The sociological pressures that have produced 2007 circumstances also produced 1907 circumstances. There is no shortcut - the individual is helpless and ineffective against the on-going sociological evolution that commenced in the caves. Hope and vote is basically all that most of us can do.

Does anyone recall a short story by Doris Lessing, called "Report from the threatened city"? A city is soon to be destroyed either by an asteroid or earthquake.(I forget which it is) The city remains in the throes of denial until the rise of a promise of religious salvation results in a mass evacuation to a safe place.

It was science fiction yes, but I suspect Lessing knew just what it takes to sway people.