Daniel Quinn, well-known in the worlds of deep ecology and anarcho-primitivism, is certainly controversial, given his views that “since population growth is a function of food supply, food aid to impoverished nations merely puts off and dramatically worsens a massive population-environment crisis.”

He also believes the world is in severe crisis and that we need a shift in attitude.

From an interview in Eco-Geek

EG: Since you stress mind-change so heavily as an element of future survival, can you point to a single change that seems to you key?

DQ: One idea that survived the middle ages, the Renaissance, and the Enlightenment to flourish into the present age is this: that humans belong to an order of being that is separate from (and higher than) the rest of the living community. This is, to my mind, the most dangerous idea extant today, and it’s literally going to kill us if we don’t get rid of it. Earthworms are more important to the life of this planet than humans are, and if earthworms disappear, we humans will follow very soon after. It’s vital that we get it into our heads that we are members of a community and dependent on that community the same way every other member is. We cannot exist apart from it. We don’t “own” that community. We aren’t custodians of it (it takes care of itself and did so successfully for billions of years before our appearance). We need it, absolutely and forever; it doesn’t need us. If there are still people here in 200 years, they will know this without the slightest doubt.

All true, but how do we get to the shift in attitude? Time is not on our side.

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In the Harry Potter books, a Dementor is a “soul-sucking fiend” that destroys happiness, joy, and all that which makes life worth living. They can be banished by using the Patronus Charm, in which the wizard focuses on positive feelings, then forcefully yells “expecto patronum,” points his wand, and sends the soul-sucker back to the nether-worlds.

Well, not to put too fine a point on it, but there certainly seems to be a parallel here between Dementors and the Bush Administration, or so think many Harry Potter fans.

Rumor has it they wait in public areas with televisions; bars, airports, stores, and the like, for Bush or Cheney to appear on television. Then, in unison, they whip out their wands, and scream “expecto patronum” in hopes of expelling those two abominations back To Whence They Came.

Ok, maybe this hasn’t happened yet. But it would certainly be good for a giggle or two if it did, as well as getting a political point across.

Update: With a TV-B-Gone, a gadget that turns off any TV in the area, the results could be quite dramatic. Cast the Patronus Charm, click the gadget, then watch as the TV goes blank. Hmmm.

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Jeff Vail gives ample documentation and links to show that the nation-state of Mexico is collapsing.

John Robb echoes the idea with Just-in-time disruption begins in Mexico. A pipeline was blown up by insurgents, and 800 businesses have been shut down, in addition to the gas supply to several cities.

Then there’s the increasing power of the drug cartels, who often are better-armed and equipped than police, as well as controlling some areas (and police as well.)

What happens if Mexico starts to wobble? We may find out.

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