Sharon asks…
Would a policy where everyone is guaranteed a “living wage” be sustainable in the long run?
The Expert answers:
No it would not and i will tell u why – (there’s a name for that and it’s called socialism)
Guaranteing illiterate and incapable people a living wage becomes a detrement to the rest of the society. It might sound like a great idea on paper though.
Do you think anyone will be motivated to go to college or grad school? NO, why would they, theres no motivation…there are only so many high paid jobs…they would spend tons of money for a higher education and be working along side with a high school drop out.
It simple wouldnt be sustainable…the market determines the wages. If you think that sounds like a good idea then look at some of the communist countries – not one of which is more prosperous than the U.S,
Robert asks…
done w undrgrad.want to strt grad(masters sustainable livnig/agriculture abroad cheap any ideas? no luck yet?
I have just finished my communications degree and want to go for sustainable living or sustainable agriculture Masteres degree ( graduate). I have tried searching online but only come up with Maharishi University in Iowa, nothing else. any one has an idea or knows where to find a cheap college to study this program outside of the United States?
The Expert answers:
There are about 30 universities which offer a Master’s degree in Sustainable Development/Agriculture… Too much to list here. The best search engine for graduate programs is www.petersons.com. When you get to the search engine, check both Agriculture and Social Sciences, and then choose Sustainable Development as the specialization. Then you can see the list of schools. As for inexpensive, you can research which schools offer financial aid too.
Laura asks…
How about a better, more sustainable life without the illegals to clean your house and mow your lawn?
The pro-illegals kept saying that without the work of these illegals, the U.S. would not be able to function.
Any one with a brain could see how untrue it is, but if we look at the way many American citizens live and work today, it’s not too hard to see that the dependency on cheap illegal labor is also the excuses for companies, communities, even the states to not take on the inevitabble transition to a more sustainable way of living. Take a closer look at the spending/consumption patterns of the majority of people, you can see how wasteful and unnecessary people spend their money(likely on things they can live without). What the need for cheap illegal household help(landscape, maids, nannies) really shows, is not how much we need the illegals to clean our houses or mow our lawns, it really shows how far away many are from a normal, wholesome, balanced family life.
whoever voted down Turtle is legal, is, like many of the chest-pounding, lie-spewing, arrogant, illegal Mexicans on this site, a certifieble MORON!!!
Spazz,
one doesn’t have to be “rich, stuckup, white” to not want to do a lawn mowing job for $2 an hour. It has nothing to do with what color or race you are. It simply is because $2 an hour is not a livable wage for any self respecting citizen.
The Expert answers:
Who were doing these jobs and still are before the illegals? Yes, Americans! Cheap labor is for the cheap people. Both should be terminated!
Susan asks…
what steps can we make in our lives to help move forward towards living a sustainable life?
The Expert answers:
First, support those advocacy groups that are calling for government to take serious and priority action against global warming and climate change. Currently the government is allocating $3 billion on energy R&D (of which only $416 million is for new renewable technologies) and $78 billion on military R&D.
In your personal life, make a conscience effort to use less non renewable natural resources. This can range from recycling to using energy saving means of transport to improved insulation in your home to planting trees. In short, try to leave less of a footprint on this earth that we depend upon.
Paul asks…
how can rural living become sustainable?
The Expert answers:
Rural living can be more sustainable than it is, but it is only sustainable if there is not too much population increase.
The same as anywhere else, to improve sustainability, lighten the carbon footprint.
Rural living can use more carbon as there are greater transportation distances required, properties tend to be bigger, there’s less likelihood of mains gas, etc.
With generally bigger gardens, there is more opportunity to grow your own food and compost waste.
With few/no smokeless zones, heating can be by biomass – eg wood – this may be locally produced.
With enough space and wind there may be the opportunity for a wind turbine.
Farm steadings could use agricultural waste in an anaerobic digester to produce biogas for fuel (and this can be converted to electricity).
Some properties have suitable water courses nearby for producing hydro-power.
With greater spacing between properties, more will be unshaded and suitable for solar power.
Insulation in homes should be improved because it is typically poor in older rural properties.
Transportation is a problem but is not unresolvable.
There are more opportunities for a more hunter-gatherer type lifestyle – fishing for your dinner.
Good use can be made of using local foods from nearby farms, but not if people are travelling loads of miles in a gas guzzler for a couple of small items.
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