User:Tokamak85

Hi, Chris Karnes here. I live in Tacoma, Washington on the city's North Slope. I was born in Tacoma and have lived here more or less ever since. I presently attend the University of Washington Tacoma as an Urban Studies major.

Originally my intention was to study physics at UC Berkeley, with the ambition of determining a way to produce a sustained nuclear fusion reaction in magnetic containment “Tokamak” reactors. My reason for pursuing this line of research was to eventually provide a means for humanity to transition to an energy source beyond that of polluting fossil fuels. However, upon reading various books regarding sustainability and our civilization’s present oil dependence (see James Howard Kunstler) I determined that a transition to a hydrogen-based economy fueled by nuclear fusion would not be feasible in the short window of time between now and projected worldwide peak oil production. I also determined that unchecked environmental damage was being wrought with the present economic system. I have thus shifted my attention towards sustainability at the local level. One of my recent papers has been on the history of the Tacoma Streetcars (1888-1938).

My present efforts to this end have been to lobby elected officials to expand mass transit and to redevelop land surrounding transit lines to correspond with conceptions of Traditional Neighborhood Development, Transit Oriented Development, or New Urbanism. Such development has been shown to require less energy and resources to construct and maintain and may theoretically serve as a better medium from which to support democracy due to its emphasis on shared public spaces and casual interpersonal contact (another topic of one of my recent papers).

My thinking has been heavily influenced by John Stuart Mill's On Liberty, Franklin Roosevelt's Second Bill of Rights, Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Social Contract theory, as well as bits and pieces of socialist theory coupled with Einstein's thoughts on the relation between science and the future of humanity.

I have been heavily politically involved over the last few years. In 2002 I participated in the Tacoma United For Fairness (TUFF) campaign, which succeeded in protecting a law banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. In that year I also spearheaded a student movement at Henry Foss High School to ensure the availability of a traditional mathematics program consisting of algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus. In 2003 I joined the Dennis Kucinich campaign for U.S. President, eventually becoming a national delegate to the DNC in Boston in 2004. I ran for the Pierce County Charter Review Committee in 2005, but fell short of the necessary votes to proceed on to the general election. I also have served on the board of the Tacoma-Pierce County League of Women Voters. I currently serve on the New Tacoma Neighborhood Council and I am a supporter of Tacoma Streetcar.

I'm available for casual conversation or discussion of anything from philosophy to sustainablity to politics.

AIM: Locutus815