Lunatics Even The Lunatic Fringe Doesn't Like

There is the lunatic fringe, and then there's the lunatic fringe. I think these folks make even the 'regular' lunatic fringe uncomfortable.

These folks want us all to go back to living in caves. I'm not being rhetorical here. I mean they really want us all to go back to a hunter gatherer existence. Their aim is to destroy modern civilization and send us back 25,000 years all in an effort to “save the planet.” One in particular seems to have an idealistic vision of what it would be like.

"I want to bring down civilization. I’m interested in living in a world that has more wild salmon every year than the year before. A world that has more migratory songbirds every year than the year before; a world that has less dioxins and flame retardants in mothers’ breast milk; a world that is not being destroyed; a world where krill populations aren’t collapsing; a world where there aren’t dead zones in the oceans; a world not being systematically dismantled. I want to live in a world that is not being killed, and I will do whatever it takes to get there. It is really clear that for the past 6000 years, civilization has been killing the planet. I’m on the planet’s side."

Never mind that the success of Mr. Jensen's efforts would result in the deaths of tens (hundreds? thousands?) of millions of people (not including nonhumans) - the krill will be fine.

If those like Jensen truly want to live their utopian vision, I say let them give it a try for some period of time. Drop them off on some sufficiently deserted area and let them live off the land for a year or so. No modern implements – knives, axes, garments made from woven cloth, shoes, etc – will be allowed. Then after a year or two go back and see how they're doing. I'll bet we'd find one of two things: either they'll be dead or they'll be so happy to return to the modern civilization they so hate.

It's one thing to have a dream, a vision. It's another thing to live it.

I think these lunatics will discover something that our ancestors knew all too well. Living the type of existence that they desire will prove to be brutal, painful, and short. It won't be paradise they will experience.