Via Gord, here’s the question:
During my last trip back to North America, I was somewhat surprised about how this whole fuss about terrorism has come to be one of the focal points for North American anxieties of instability and insecurity. Me, I’m not convinced. I wonder if you could enlighten me as to what are your top five picks for the title of “the biggest threats to our future”.
Religious extremism is nothing new, but the bombing of the World Trade Center and its eventual demise on September 11 put a whole new face on it for Americans. It makes it easier to ignore the religious extremists already in our midst.
One positive side effect of high oil prices is to make us (Americans and others) think of ways to reduce our oil consumption and to look for and use viable alternative energy sources. The country who manages their energy needs best wins. Americans, at least, aren’t pulling out in front, and I don’t know that the rest of North America is doing any better.
It’s almost too easy to name George W. Bush as a threat to our future. He’s already done so much damage to our present, but hey, he’s not finished yet.
Potato chips. Lack of exercise. Smoking. Pop, diet or otherwise. We’re all going to die some day, but we’d be better off improving our quality of life until we do. Eat well, get off the couch, and break the addictions.
The ability to do more in the 24/7 available to us leaves many people stressed, frazzled, depressed, and burned out. Can a government encourage productivity while launching a public health initiative encouraging people to do less? It’s an oxymoronic suggestion to a simplified description of the problem, but it could work.
Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on Friday, September 16, 2005 at 6:52 AM
Friday Five •
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