One might understand that in a region reliant on importing the fuel that keeps us warm, it’s not a terribly good idea to try to hurt the people who bring us these fuels. Like those crazy Japanese snacks, our winter fuels come from far away places where people speak different languages - places like Texas and Louisiana. Now, New England does not supply its own oil or gas. Mostly we power and heat them by burning things (oil and gas, a tiny bit of coal) or splitting atoms. Humans survive long, cold winters by building, then powering and heating, shelters. What about the other thing that keeps us alive all winter: warmth? We can get bananas from Ecuador, bacon from North Carolina, coffee from Brazil, and crazy snack foods from Japan whenever we want. We could salt meats and store corn like our ancestors did, or fill our garages with canned goods, bottled water and ammo (you know who you are).īut thanks to global trade, we don’t have to do this. We increase our energy consumption to stay warm. Unfortunately, humans can’t get through winter by lowering our metabolism and reducing our energy consumption. Instead, they store fat for a long winter’s nap. The inevitable next step is driving to the corner store for salmon jerky and a six-pack of honey wheat ale.īut bears don’t do this yet. The idea of a place where creatures trade money for food, and then more food appears the next day, brought from all over the world, would blow their little minds.Īlthough bears are pretty smart, so they might figure this out one day. If they wandered into a supermarket, they’d think it was a place where humans stored locally gathered food for the winter. Squirrels and chipmunks, not to mention bears, think we’re idiots because they know nothing of markets. How will those tall, furless bipeds survive the winter?!! They just ate all their food! It hasn’t even snowed yet! THEY’RE ALL GOING TO DIE!!Ĭhipmunks, by the way, just hope we all die soon so they can move into the basement.
Then, suddenly, we sit down and EAT IT ALL IN ONE DAY.
They see us loading our homes full of food for days, and they feel a sense of tribal solidarity.