Yabby,

Why do you assume that it was a universal requirement that pre-industrial or indigenous man "worked" for long hours.

No doubt they did toil at tasks pertinent to their survival and comfort, but they weren't harnessed like industrial man is - and they weren't helplessly tethered to the accoutrements supplied by entities beyond their own prowess.

Even people living an indigenous existence in the modern world would probably fall about laughing if they learned that industrial man thinks of himself as "free".

As I say, I'm pessimistic, but there are optimists out there, even females who can see past the shopping malls, like Naomi Klein:
http://www.newleftreview.org/A2323

The really funny part, the delicious irony, is that the conservative nitwits are convinced it's all a "left" wing plot! Hahahahahaha

Squeers,
It was my post you repeated. No I am not related to runner!
The CO2 tax would be better spent on installing solar power on the homes of those on welfare; and encouraging carbon polluters to start greenhouse algae farms producing biofuels.

"Ooh pelican you know you get me excited when you use words like 'incentivization'."

It was included in your honour Houlley. Alas the kudos is all for John Howard, I am merely a humble conduit.

"You're not the first to think that everything has been thought before."

LOL.

I'm with you Philo. Imagine the cost of every home getting free Solar panels on the roof. Sure it wouldn't negate the necessity of power stations, but it would go a long way towards cutting greenhouse gasses. Maybe the lifespan of the panels isn't good enough, I don't know. seems much more practicle too.

'I'm getting a little tired of your ad hominum crap, Yabby. '

I'm not, I reckon it's great!

Squeers,

You are under some strange misapprehension that me and Yabs aren't under an obligation to bring you down and rain on your parade? Sniping from the sidelines at well intentioned 'do-gooders' is a duty we take very seriously.

There is a fine line though also between morose self indulgent self flagellation (projected unto others) and a genuine yearning for an earnest pragmatic positive vision for the future

PS: I am an optimist. The enduring story of my life has been cramming for the exam after little effort and scraping through just fine. I see humanity as equally proficient. When forced into action, we'll sort something out. Heaps of time yet. This is the pontificating stage, which I find has many so-called visionaries and anti-establishment dreamers, but the solutions in life invariably come from slight tweaking of current themes that prove to be more sound.