Thread by @homemadeguitars

Apocalypse Amish.
Over the years since I got off the renewable energy bandwagon I have mentioned the Amish, in positive ways, numerous times.
The problem with doing that is, many of the same people who acknowledge the reality of climate change also feel a powerful antipathy

2. toward religion.
And the Amish do what they do because of religion, it is impossible to deny.
So religion is why they do it.
I'm not interested in why they do it. I'm interested in what they do.
I'm not a church person myself. I choose to define myself by what I believe,

3. Rather than what I don't believe, but the reason I never tried to join the Amish myself is because I couldn't believe, and I wasn't going to lie about believing, and that's one of the rules.
So, I'm not trying to sell some religion. I never bought it and I don't have it.

4. The important thing about the Amish is not why they exist. The important thing is that they exist.
It is possible, in the United States of America today, to live down near zero CO2 emissions today, to live comfortable, reasonably prosperous lives, at low cash flow and energy.

5. It is possible, right now today in the United States, in numerous states including mine, Missouri, for an entirely horsedrawn, off grid, low energy culture to operate successfully.
Right there is the end to climate change.
Right in front of us.
I don't push their "why,"

6. I say, since we know how to stop climate change and people right in front of us are showing us it works, exactly what is our excuse?
My desire to see Earth heal is as powerful as any Amishman's Christianity. In my heart. In my being. I believe. I believe Earth is us. Proof.

7. Because of their interpretation of the Bible, Amish people believe it is immoral to try to look better than anyone else. They all dress the same because it's bad morals to put yourself above others.
I don't share their source, but I share their conclusion. Their goal.

8. Amish people believe they should be separate from "the World" meaning the growth economy which was already running Europe when Menno Simons and Jakob Amman preached. Worldly - the life Americans live.
As it turned out, that outer version of white society hasn't been that good

9. for anyone in the world except white people. And a few Asian people.

10. But it made what it always promised, more more more more bigger faster more.
Now we need to cover the green growing Earth with silicon crystal panels because WE NEED THE SUN WORSE THAN EARTH DOES and I think, maybe we need to reevaluate our position in the ecosystem.

11. The Amish did not indulge in electronic communication, but the church districts I deal with have accepted cell phones. It's almost impossible to do business with the outer world without them, and many of them make and sell products. My manure spreader is Amish made.

12. Low energy power sources - horses and donkeys - do not require the sort of highly precise, highly engineered, mass produced tools that go with John Deere tractors. Every community has a fabricator. They make what they need, make some extra to sell to English (not Amish.) Me.

13. An Amishman is making the mower I will pull with my donkeys. It's a size he designed to be pulled by one horse, and two donkeys should be plenty comfy doing it.
Their way works better than ours. Not because of their religion.

14. There is no national "The Amish." They have national newspapers, they have their own publishing, but each local church district makes their own specific decisions.
The driving force is not, "What does God want," it is, "What most strengthens our community, serves our needs,

15. There is an enforced equality, yet of course they are never equal, because they're human. My Amish friend Elmer is a rich guy. He's always had the gift of gab, the willingness to do something extra, and he's made a lot of money.
You can't tell by looking. Same buggy as all.

16. And his community about halfway laughs at him for being rich. It's like, oh, that's Elmer... He's not a big shot, he's just another guy.
The reason they stayed horsedrawn was because they said, "Those things will wreck our communities," cars and tractors.

17. And in point of fact, Amish communities are the last surviving rural communities in America.
When cars and tractors were invented, the only difference between Amish and English farmers was the dress, the second language, and where they went to church. All the same.

18. It is a historic fact that all of farming America looked similar, in population density, length of supply chain, technology, whether it was an Amish community, mixed Amish and English, or all English.
Ours is dead.
Theirs is still alive.

19. Amish people intentionally limit what they let in their heads. The intentionally avoid learning more about things they already abhor.
I follow this policy. I avoid most of the information which is on offer in America. I don't let it in. It fucks up the scenery.

20. Snuff flicks. Twitter is constantly awash with video of people getting murdered.
Y'all are crazy.
I scroll past those at blinding speed.
I have never seen the Twin Towers fall. I hope to never. Too much evil. Don't ingest it.

21. There is no thing which causes climate change which we can't get by without.
"Horses? LOL Horse poop progress fuck you," is not a well reasoned response.
It is said that Ralph Waldo Emerson went to visit Thoreau in jail over some civil disobedience,

22. and Emerson said through the bars, "Henry, what are you doing in there?"
And Thoreau replied, "Ralph, what are you doing out there?"
We know what causes this.
There are 350,000 Americans showing us we don't need to, and how to do it.
We're too proud. That's it.