Somebody please explain to me

[GliderGuider]

how it was not psychology that derailed Copenhagen. Was there anything at play in Copenhagen besides psychology, either personal or political? Nobody disagreed with the technical issues (aka temperatures and cause), but nothing happened. We lost, they won.

Everyone who says psychology is not a principal impediment to remediating climate change needs to come up with an alternative explanation for that clusterfuck.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=115&topic_id=221466&mesg_id=221466

[OKIsItJustMe]

1. I think the problem is that “psychology” encompasses too much

Which human behavior cannot be attributed to “http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psychology">psychology?”

[GliderGuider]

4. OK, how about "power politics with a side order of herding behaviour"?

My point is that the forces that derailed Copenhagen will be at play in every venue where multi-party agreement is required. And the winners in Copenhagen will continue to be the winners until long after the crisis has manifested.

“The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in the stars but in ourselves, that we are underlings”.

[OKIsItJustMe]

5. Well, our only hope is that “power politics” will see the necessity of concerted, dramatic action…

…before it’s too late. (Whatever that means…)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=115&topic_id=223082&mesg_id=223082

[GliderGuider]

6. Let's not hold our breath, shall we?

As long as one main player can put a stick in the spokes of the process, we are and will remain screwed.

[sharesunited]

2. One would hope to see more global co-operation when Earth is on a collision course with an asteroid.

[OKIsItJustMe]

3. Naturally. There’s nothing like a common enemy

However, in this case, the common enemy is ourselves… (makes things more difficult.)

[Goldstein1984]

7. The nations of the world, like the people, are divided into

Haves and Have-Nots.

The Have-Nots (Undeveloped and developing nations) gave a standing ovation to Hugo Chavez when he condemned capitalism and imperialism and the real problems. Of course, developed nations are going to see things the other way, even if their have-not citizens are beginning to agree with Chavez.

There isn't going to be any agreement on a meaningful course of action because:
1) It isn't in the financial interests of the ruling class; and
2) The ruling class can always buy new beach-front property, wherever the beach happens to be.

Yes, I really think it is just that simple.

Although, one might add that the U.S. really can't afford the cost of controlling climate change, when so much of our resources are being spent on wars to expand the empire.

[joshcryer]

8. Money.

[GliderGuider]

9. Money is just the means to an end. Money can serve many purposes.

In this case it's an expression and manifestation of power. The sense of power and entitlement that took Copenhagen into the weeds doesn't spring from money, though. It comes from a place a little deeper than that. Money and financial advantage are merely the field on which these games are played out.

[TxRider]

10. In my mind

It's about money and nobody wanting to pay it.

Consumers (voters) don't want to cough up cash and pay more

Corporations don't want to cough up cash and pay more

Governments don't want to cough up cash and pay more

[GliderGuider]

11. So how do we make them WANT to cough it up?

That seems to be the key.

After all, "we" WANT to cough up the cash to pay for cars and houses and military machines. How do we make people see their own future with the same degree of intense need?