As I write this, I see between two and three feet of snow piled up on a deck table. Has this snow had an effect on me? On my lifestyle? Of course, because I cannot enjoy a meal outside due to the snow. This is one specific example of how the majestic powder that is snow can have profound implications for the entirety of the human race.
The most obvious effect of copious amounts of snow is road conditions. With so much of modern society dependent on using automobiles to get from point A to point B, any phenomenon that impedes the progress of automobiles will have profound implications.. People will become late for jobs or appointments, which can lead to the loss of a job. However, if people learn to leave their house a little bit earlier to account for reduced mobility, the phrase “time is money” only becomes more apparent, as people have less time for things such as spending time with children, eating, or doing household chores. Thus we can realize that the unbelievably large amounts of time spent driving due to the slowness of roads can have adverse economic consequences.
One of the other more profound effects of snow on a capitalist economy is the economic stimulus it provides. Every year in industrialized nations like Canada and the United States, hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars are spent on blowers, icebreakers, and industrial snow plows. In addition to all of this government spending, even more money is spent on residential snow removal, taking snow off of individual driveways while people go on vacation for the winter holidays, r simply stay warm inside while someone else is paid to shovel the snow.
Last but not least, snow has an important biological effect, as it keeps certain species in check. For example, the pine beetle in western Canada is responsible for thousands of dead trees during the winter months, and it is only killed by large amounts of snow and the cold environment that accompanies it.
Snow is one of the most misunderstood forces of nature in our known universe. Its presence (or lack thereof) can have enormous social, biological and economic consequences. These must be identified and understood by every member of society during the winter months, in order to mitigate the negative effects of the frozen powder. Next time when you see those small crystals fall from the snow, realize that theya re not as innocent as they might seem.
