Green Recreation

21 Feb 2009

Subject: Green Recreation, response desired

I've discovered an amazing thing, Mr. President: it actually IS possible for us human beings to play and amuse ourselves without burning fossil fuels. Not only that, but when we exercise our bodies rather than internal combustion engines for such purposes, we are much healthier for it. And so is planet Earth.

Consider how much of our once-verdant nation we have already suffocated under pavement so we can drive virtually everywhere in our ON-ROAD motor vehicles - an area equal to 53% of my state of Wisconsin!! It is insane, it is reckless, to assault the remaining "undeveloped" portions of our country with ATVs, dirt bikes, fourwheelers, and snowmobiles. The same applies to speedboats, jetskis, and a host of other fuel-gulping wreck-Creational contraptions.

The question, Mr. President, is not how to spur Americans to crank up their spending for life sized motorized toys. Our real challenge is to create an economy where our jobs make our world greener rather than more lifeless; where our products and services meet real human needs rather than ever-more wonton excesses; where our economy serves to build and uphold our virtues rather than indulging and exploiting Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, and Pride.

And how better to fight global warming than with fossil-fuel-free fun? How better to overcome our addiction to oil than to stop playing with the damned stuff?