Issue #45

June 28th, 2021

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What’s really worrisome?

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I don’t know about you, but whether it is proclamations of “doomsday” by climate activists or hyper-inflation, the escalation of mental health issues in youth or the fear of missing out on the cryptocurrency runup, there seem to be a lot of things to worry about lately. Some years ago Alfred E. Neuman – who’s portrait appears in this week’s masthead, gained fame with his irreverent quote, “What, me worry?” He was considered irreverent because nothing would phase him; that was his character and that of his patron – MAD Magazine.

Today, such irreverence would be deemed passive aggressive and probably politically incorrect as we are expected to take sides on issues for which we have little personal experience. Most of these issues now fall under the heading of ESG, a collection of environmental, social and governance issues on which activists thrive, mobilizing crowds, funding, and political favour.

Now I’m certainly not irreverent, in fact I care a great deal about the welfare of people including their anxieties, the status of our environment, and ethics in governance. But for the life of me I can’t understand why we have to keep dragging up the past and holding the present accountable and why it is considered acceptable to traumatize children about climate change and mental health. Then there’s the promoting of fear, guilt, and violent measures displacing civil, social discourse. There, it’s now off my chest and I’ll get on with some otherwise real worries for those of us who are interested and sometimes concerned about the impact of emerging technologies.

Here are two worries shared with me as “Worries of the Week”. If you have a comment or worry to share please REPLY to comfort or compliment this week’s worry warts.

Worry #1. I don’t really want to die. Life expectancy has been increasing and the promise of everlasting life may simply be a matter of biological engineering.  Both are newsworthy but worrisome as researchers seek the fountain of youth and the precious gift of everlasting life. Why?

• The quality of life.  As we age we are more vulnerable to afflictions of aging. Our biology can’t cope and a host of diseases  undermine the quality of life to the point that people often beg to be left alone.
• Who is asking for everlasting life? While speaking to public audiences in the thousands, I’ve occasionally asked if anyone wants everlasting life. The answer has been always the same, none to very few. To live to a hundred appears to be a very common target. HOWEVER, if then asked, “Would you opt for another day?” The answer “Yes” is almost unanimous. Isn’t is odd that people will opt for a little but not a lot of that precious thing called “life”. 

The paradox is resolved when one considers that “life” is valued as a gathering of experiences. There appears to be an underlying acceptable limit that “enough is enough” at about 100 years.  Appreciate that and appreciate that extending life or expecting any more than 100 years is not about what people want but is rather some utopian dream of social engineers. Caution is warranted.

Worry #2. What if my EV car battery goes dead?  Perhaps there was a similar concern about running out of gas upon the introduction of the horseless carriage. But this one is more…well, relevant today. When most cars are electric what happens if I get caught in a lengthy traffic jam? During summer there are always traffic jams as we head enmasse to the beach, again back home, or heed the call to evacuate during a storm or forest fire. Of course, getting bogged down in an urban commuter traffic jam is also cause for worry when the battery runs low.

Calling AMA or 911 before the battery dies doesn’t help either since roads would be blocked. How would the 1st responders maneuver and even begin to charge the hundreds of cars in the traffic jam? 

Here in Alberta traffic jams are frequent in a snow storm and I’m concerned with there being virtually no heating in an electric vehicle. Even worse what if you get stuck on the road at night, no battery, no heating, no windshield wipers, no radio, no GPS – all need the battery? Until someone assures me that batteries have an extended life and/or that charging stations are everywhere, I will worry.