Discussion of Green Roofs Spawns Larger Conversation

Here’s a short video on green roofs, a subject which, when properly implemented, can cut summer air conditioning bills by up to 75%.

Interesting, cities like San Francisco and Chicago have mandated green roofs for any construction larger than 25,000 square feet, which, though it sounds cool at first blush, opens up the subject of the proper role of government.  How much government intrusion do we want in our lives?  Alternatively put, to what degree do we believe that unbridled capitalism will take us where we want to go, especially given that our civilization is teetering on the edge of environmental devastation?

IMO, there is no right answer. Hardcore libertarians object to mandatory drivers’ licenses as a requirement to pilot your death-dealing piece of steel on our highways,  and consider the taxes they pay that fund our fire departments, roads and bridges as “theft” and “extortion.”  While such people are obviously nuts, we’ve all come across elements of government bureaucracy, or worse, corruption, that are just plain disgusting.

Here’s a suggestion: look around.  Aren’t there societies on this planet that seem to have struck a workable balance?  Can’t we identify places where people are happy to pay taxes, because they feel that the value they receive from government services more than justifies the cost to them personally?

Check out this list of the world’s countries ranked according to the happiness index, and draw your own conclusions.  Americans will note that the U.S. is 18th on that list.  That’s not terrible; we’re all glad we don’t live in North Korea–that’s for sure.  But what can we learn that may help us craft our society into one with better education, personal safety, healthcare, economic opportunity, justice, harmony, vacation time, and joie de vivre.  Hell, we don’t even have a phrase for joie de vivre in our entire language; I had to go and steal one.