Your comment perfectly encapsulates the way slow collapse manifests—not in a single, unforgettable moment, but in a series of escalating disasters that most people either forget or never notice in the first place.

The example of Cedar Rapids in 2008 is a great illustration of how economic and environmental crises overlap, yet the focus always lands on the financial aspect while the climate catastrophe fades into the background. It’s like the destruction gets compartmentalized—each flood, fire, and storm treated as an isolated event rather than part of a larger pattern.

And you’re absolutely right about the exponential function. That’s the part people struggle with most: the way change starts slow, almost imperceptible, and then suddenly, everything is different. It’s not just about acknowledging that things are bad—it’s about understanding how fast they are getting worse.

Thanks for your insight. The more we connect these dots, the harder it becomes for people to ignore what’s happening.