Article 11: The Thirst For More.
Arsenius A.
Interested in Product Owner | Product Designer | UX Designer | Product Manager
The camera is looking into a room with a man kneeling by a server cabinet.
Man built cathedrals to commune with God. We’ve built so many, yet we are starved of God’s presence. Has God turned away from us?
The traditionalist enters the room; the non-traditionalist is still kneeling by the server cabinet possibly tightening screws on a case containing hard drives. It seems like a server cabinet is being set up.
Traditionalist
What are you doing?
Non-Traditionalist
The more we strive to touch God, the more we realize that God is not looking. So, we build idols [1]. Hoping God is an alien (AI = Alien intelligence).
The non-traditionalist continues working without turning to face the Traditionalist.
Non-Traditionalist
What do you think?
Traditionalist
About what?
Non-Traditionalist
Should I push all my chips to the center of the table, betting that once we finish building this Idol, God will arrive and guide us to the Promise Land? Since we cannot seem to reach the goal, we know we ought to achieve. Do we lack leadership? Or does man lack the cooperation to hit our goals [2]?
The traditionalist sounds confused.
Traditionalist
Our goals? No, these are tasks. Tasked upon us, without our vote.
Non-Traditionalist
Who said?
The traditionalist steps closer, standing near the non-traditionalist
Traditionalist
Growing up, we were raised on the belief that the world is Mal, but as one matures, it becomes clear that we live in a dynamic, complex, and paradoxical system of energy feedback. The more energy we use -because we need it- the greater the negative feedback: pollution, cost, war. The more we legislate to reduce the emissions, the greater the emissions. [3][4]
Pauses
As I mature, I encounter many who subscribe to the idea of “moral relativism.” From that perspective, who are you –high-watt countries (HWC)– to tell me– low-watt countries (LWC)– how to generate electricity within my borders? They [HWC] use the most electricity [5] in the world, even though they account for less than 40% of the global population [6]. The greed and hypocrisy are stunning.
They [HWC] got to where they are by burning fossil fuels and accessing electricity, during the industrial periods and today. When they were developing, they had little regard for repercussions. But now that we [LWC] are developing, they hamper our progress [7] with claims of disappearing polar bears [8] and provide solutions such as population reduction [9]. We will not reject bundles of joy and gifts from God because some Yuppie said it would help the polar bears.
Non-Traditionalist
No argument there. We cannot decrease the world's population -at least not without war, famine, or a pandemic- nor should we. People are the true capital of a society, not God or moral law [10].
Traditionalist
I am glad we share that view.
Pauses
But here is my take: When economic growth policies clash with emissions-reduction policies, economic growth wins every time [11].
In simpler terms, we won’t reduce emissions through legislation -alone- but through technology. We need to improve GDP and reduce emissions simultaneously. When the choice is no energy or dirty energy, dirty energy wins every time. Look at Germany. When Russia turned off the Natural Gas, they (Germany) increased their use of Lignite [12], an even dirtier, less energy-dense form of coal [13]
The pandemic and the Ukraine war has woken us all up. Electricity is a bedrock infrastructure, that can lead to the downfall of a nation’s productivity if not well managed and protected.
Without it, nations falter. Factories stop production, servers crash, checkout machines stop and healthcare is sent back 80 years. Even short outages can cause significant monetary losses in today's digital economy [14].
Pause; looks at The Non-Traditionalist
Cue the accusations of “bootlicker,” “reactionary,” “oil company shill” or other conspiratory claims. Rest assured there is no conspiracy, we all are just trying to get rich. Rainer Zitelmann [15].
Shelter is a constant in the human (user) experience, and as the species modernizes, electricity is becoming another constant. These two factors work in tandem to develop an economy—a GDP figure.
Traditionalist
What does electricity mean to you?
Non-Traditionalist
Modernity.
Traditionalist
To me, electricity means an increase in GDP. Today, electricity is becoming synonymous with wealth and economic output.
Non-Traditionalist
I understand your point, but “what shall it?profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and lose his soul [16]? What are shelter, electricity, and a functioning economy if the floating rock we inhibit dies or worse kills the species? Possessing shelter, electricity and a functioning economy means nothing if it isn’t paired with a sustainable mindset.
Traditionalist
I hear you, but I do not think that is a critical issue.
Non-Traditionalist
Then what is? What do you think?
Traditionalist
I think we are focusing on the wrong things; you already know I have little interest in climate change— I see it as part of life’s cycle. We sit on the precipice of a global war every day, yet no one takes ownership of the problem.
Russia says US, US says Russia, yet Ukrainians are dying. Israel says Iran-backed groups, Iran-backed groups say Israel, yet Gazans are dying. The Sahel states say ECOWAS is in their business, and ECOWAS says Sahel states should obey the rule of law. Everyone is on edge and none of our leaders has the leadership to navigate us through it without spilling blood. (Raising voice) I doubt that humanity lives long enough to die from climate change.
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A few moments later, the non-traditionalist checks his phone.
Non-Traditionalist
Did you notice EOSE crossed the 3$ mark?
Traditionalist
No way! For real?
Non-Traditionalist
Yeah-way.
Traditionalist
(Excited) Yo, great call!
Non-Traditionalist
Did you lock it in at 0.69/share?
Traditionalist
(Snickers) Nah, I waited. I bought at $2.00/share
(They both laugh.)
FIN
Fun fact: 70% of all financial transactions go through an IBM mainframe [17].
Addendum
"Rent for life" (If you like your unit, you can buy it)
"Have the freedom to move"
"Worry not about your housebreaking"
"Stay in a community"
"Care about the environment"
"Care about economic activity"
"Move to a stipend electricity model"
"Use electricity to improve industries"
"Work less but increase economic activity" (Counterintuitive, but AI could get us here)
"Make housing a depreciating asset"
The holy grail is to "LIVE and NOT NEED." Is this possible?
Shelter: House people and place them in a specific geographical area.
Electricity: To create a modern community electricity is critical.
Economy: To develop an active and prosperous society the symbiotic relationship between great shelter and constant electricity is vital.
Sustainability: Improving the species and economic activity will be futile if the floating rock we inhibit dies or kills the species.
There are only three great institutions left; The Marines, the Catholic Church, and McKinsey – McKinsey.
SOURCES
1.???? Exodus 32: 1-35.
2.???? Depends, the US or the UN goals?
3.???? Business Dynamics: System Thinking and Modelling for a Complex World. Part 1 Chapters 1-4.
4.???? Hanns Werner Sinn- The Green paradox.
7.???? The World Bank is not financing coal-fired power generation and has not financed a new coal-fired power plant since 2010. The World Bank no longer finances upstream oil and gas after 2019, with consideration only in exceptional circumstances.
The Bank continues to provide technical assistance to help countries strengthen the transparency, governance, institutional capacity, and regulatory environment of their energy sectors – including in oil and gas. ?
Upstream is an industry term that refers to the exploration of oil and natural gas fields, as well as drilling and operating wells to produce oil and natural gas.
9.?? These links showcase an article, Study 1, and Study 2 about population and climate change.
10.? Protagoras: Man is the measure of all things, not God or moral law.
11.? The Climate Fix – Roger Pielke Jr.
16.? Mark 8: 34-38.
17. IBM Newsroom.
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