Collapse of complex societies « The HabitableZone

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Collapse of complex societies June 29, 2011 2:00 pm Jody

Dr. Joesph Tainter

(while I was reading, I decide to embed the vid. Hope you don’t mind- pod)

Thank you for bringing that to our attention, Jody, it was excellent. I listened to the entire lecture, all ... by ER 2011-06-29 19:41:21
- It was good..I, too listened to the whole lecture...now I will ponder. by Jody 2011-06-30 10:52:41
- Not to seem like a smartass, or a jackass, or any kind of ass for that matter, but this seems ... by VelociraptorBlade 2011-06-29 22:14:24
  - We like to point out Rome as the example of things falling apart. But remember, the Romans kept it ... by ER 2011-06-30 07:57:54
    - Rome sort of proves my first point. When the Roman Empire collapsed (Which was a VERY gradual thing), people ... by VelociraptorBlade 2011-06-30 11:23:05
    - The Amish will have the last laugh. by Jody 2011-06-30 10:50:41
      - Only until someone finds oil under their land. Ask the redskins. by ER 2011-06-30 11:06:47
        
        Or until the EPA wipes them out. by TB 2011-06-30 11:26:43
    - In the first episode of "Connections," James Burke wanders out from a blacked-out city, searching for something to help him. ... by TB 2011-06-30 08:32:10
      - OK. Can you guess who said this? ***Begin Quote*** The conservatives are fools: They whine about the decay of traditional ... by ER 2011-06-30 11:12:32
  - The path through all this is decentralization. I like the new focus on small, local nuclear power systems (their ... by TB 2011-06-29 22:18:27
- I didn't listen to all of them, so let me know if I've missed something key. It seems to ... by TB 2011-06-29 21:05:13
  - Yeah, but Pournelle's observation is somewhat akin to saying "We wouldn't have these problems if we just had enough money." ... by ER 2011-06-30 06:39:15
    - Actually, while energy is needed in growing amounts, technological progress also allows you to do more with less. While ... by TB 2011-06-30 08:19:42
  - Um...we aren't working with patterns of history here, are we? :) by TB 2011-06-29 21:08:49
    - Wouldn't surprise me. I have, at times, spouted some of the most ridiculous crap ever spouted. No one here actually has to ... by mcfly 2011-06-30 11:48:29
    - I catch your drift, O clever one, but we are picking up on general patterns, insights, clues. We are ... by ER 2011-06-30 06:18:47
This is one of the main reasons why I oppose multi-cultural/multi-ethnic societies. It adds unneeded complexity and conflict into ... by Lee 2011-06-29 16:25:38
- "multi-cultural" and "multi-ethnic" are not synonyms. We have made Americans out of many, many backgrounds. That anyone from anywhere can ... by TB 2011-06-29 18:15:39
  - Well said. by mcfly 2011-06-30 11:34:50
- So much for the melting-pot that has made America great. by podrock 2011-06-29 16:35:11
  - So instead of the knee jerk party line, why don't you debate an opposing view? Is your own worldview ... by Lee 2011-06-29 17:23:43
    - Knee-jerk? by podrock 2011-06-29 17:45:33
      - The Asians built the railroads? Did they now? Hmm, then I guess the old pictures I have of ... by Lee 2011-06-29 18:03:15