Well, It's Good to Have That Settled
In “Capitalism vs. the Climate“, [Naomi] Klein rants against “the deniers” but makes this admission:
The deniers did not decide that climate change is a left-wing conspiracy by uncovering some covert socialist plot. They arrived at this analysis by taking a hard look at what it would take to lower global emissions as drastically and as rapidly as climate science demands. They have concluded that this can be done only by radically reordering our economic and political systems in ways antithetical to their “free market” belief system. As British blogger and Heartland regular James Delingpole has pointed out, “Modern environmentalism successfully advances many of the causes dear to the left: redistribution of wealth, higher taxes, greater government intervention, regulation.” Heartland’s Bast puts it even more bluntly: For the left, “Climate change is the perfect thing…. It’s the reason why we should do everything [the left] wanted to do anyway.”
Here’s my inconvenient truth: they aren’t wrong. [Emphasis added]
Mick Heins:
This is an unbelievable article. Is "The Nation" really this delusional? I thought it was at least somewhere in the political ballpark. The writer is seriously delusional about economics to the point of appearing to be Communist.
November 16, 2011, 2:54 pmcaseyboy:
Global warming, just another way to advance the progressive, one world utopian vision. They should relax. It is going their way in any event. It is prophesized in Revelation that a global financial system will be installed and that a charismatic world leader will ascent to lead all nations to peace. He'll promise to take care of that global warming problem except I think this guy likes it hot. You'll get a good 3 1/2 years and then watch out. Can you say "Tribulation"? I hope to be watching from above as that plays out.
November 16, 2011, 3:00 pmTed Rado:
It seema that almost all the controversies floating around these days center on one thing: should or should not the government control EVERYTHING.
To those who are underachievers, lazy, or have a follower's instinct, it sounds like a good idea. I don't have to do squat or think for myself. Big Daddy will look after me.
To most Americans, the idea that the USG looks over one's shoulder all day is horrible. Most want the opportunity to better thamselves by study, hard work, and enterprise. They also want to be free from USG meddling in their lives.
Virtually all the left and right schemes are proxies for these two points of view. Personally, what amounts to an elected dictatorship sounds terrible. I am willing to take my chances on my own abilities. Further, I would not stoop to steal from my fellow citizens (via USG social engineering programs).
November 16, 2011, 3:02 pmGil:
It's really about Libertarians don't like being told to engage in decent behaviour when it's not private property. In other words, it's a case of the Walter Block's defending the litterer - the atmosphere is owned by no one therefore no one should be able to tell anyone else what they can and can't dump in the atmosphere.
November 16, 2011, 6:12 pmXmas:
Gil,
It's more about the Carbon Tax in the US being used as a hammer to hurt some businesses and favor others. If carbon dioxide was really the problem, we could simply push for more nuclear plants in the US. Sure, nuclear power is a bit more expensive, but it is completely carbon free.
November 17, 2011, 3:36 amDave Boz:
Indeed. If it weren't for the opportunities for graft, rent-seeking and political and economic control, nobody on the Left would give a shit about Global Warming.
November 17, 2011, 6:07 amJohn David Galt:
Anyone who denies that the real goal of the greens is to destroy our comfortable civilization has all the quotes on http://www.green-agenda.com to explain away.
November 17, 2011, 11:36 pmTed Rado:
Gil:
There ara certain common sense things that require working together. For example, we keep to the right to avoid accidents. We don't pollute to avoid cholera. Nobody is suggesting that we have a right to have target practice in Times Square.
There is a huge difference between a set of common sense regulations and unnecessary dictatorial intrusion into our private lives. The country got where it is because of unfettered individual enterprise. This should be encouraged rather than making every business effort like dragging an elephant through a knothole.
November 18, 2011, 7:26 pmJoseph Hertzlinger:
It looks like bait and switch. First they tell us we don't need nuclear, that negawatts and solar can do the job, and then they tell us that solar etc. isn't enough and we must rethink industrial civilization.
November 19, 2011, 7:59 pm