3/9/05

the technological fix:
if technology causes a problem, new technology can solve the problem
(use other pesticides to "restore the balance of nature" p. 173
technology can solve social problems

solutions to problem that not enough people wear seatbelts
law enforcement--policy solution
automatic seatbelts--technological fix
persuade people to wear seatbelts--social/educational solution
air bags--technological fix

after WWII Americans took the total war approach to insects
this isn't the only possible approach (alternatives: biological controls, cultural practices)
when problems arose they assumed that more technology could solve them

resistance:
insects can fairly rapidly evolve resistance to pesticides
military-funded research gave us our understanding of this
resistance will always evolve against pesticides and antibiotics
keep developing new chemicals
(specific chemicals that only affect one type of insect would help but are less profitable)
eventually you begin to run out of possibilities
if you keep developing new chemicals they may be more dangerous
because of the problem of resistance the total war approach just isn't working very well any more