I have, shall we say “expansive” tastes in reading matter. That’s not a euphemism for pr0n habits (yawnsville). It means I will read almost anything. And one of the books I read, maybe forty-ish years ago, was Cyborg by Martin Caidin.
It was the source novel for the TV show The Six Million Dollar Man. It follows Steve Austin, test-pilot and all-round American guy. And where I am going with this is that in the prologue, which follows the test-flight-gone-wrong that leaves him in pieces, there’s a throwaway line that stuck with me. Things have gone wrong, but he’s still a couple of minutes from impact. And he realises that he’s clenched his toes, to keep them out of harm’s way. And he just observes that it is one of those helpless reflexes – his problems are somewhat larger.
Then there’s my thing about the brake pedal – the time to smash on the brake pedal is before the bus goes off the cliff. While the bus is off the cliff and plummeting to the rocks below, then pressing the brake pedal may feel good, but it’s not like it’s doing a whole lotta good.
Finally; years ago (2008?) we had an interloper cat coming and stealing food from t’other two (Delilah and Cassidy). We trapped him in the bathroom and left him there over night. And the following morning he didn’t try to attack or do anything, he just… sat there. Because he’d learned there was nothing else to do, that nothing would change his outcome. (1) “Learned helplessness” it’s called.
Where is all this going? Here. Have a look at this, from here. Feel yourself clenching your toes?
Footnote
(1) There was a happy ending – Mach ended up on the local allotment, being loved and cared for by me and others, and towards the end of his life realised that humans were good sources of affection as well as food.
marchudson.net 
Marc, I totally agree and all three analogies are spot on. So what do we do about it? Well until such time as we are prepared to talk GRWTH in all it’s forms, NOTHING! Because GROWTH is the root cause of all environmental degradation.