Please. Your argument centers around "we shouldn't have to sacrifice or change a damn thing in exchange for, say, breathable air, clean water, and a planet that won't overheat and cause our grandchildren to REALLY experience lifestyle change."First, I'm greatly flattered that someone from Finland is reading my blog - thanks!
Energy efficient lightbulbs make you suffer? What brands have you been using? My whole house is lit by these bulbs, and I live in Finland, where we have next to no light in winter. There honestly isn't much of a difference. Also, LED based lights are on their way.
Can't live without your car? Try improving public transport. Cheaper for the poor that you care so deeply about, and much better for the environment. I have a car here in Helsinki, but since the trams, buses, trains and metro all run like clockwork, I barely have a need for it and am considering selling it. Even transport to the countryside is a piece of cake.
To call the issues you raise a problem of humanity vs. the environment is the kind of hyperbole that can only come from someone who's lived the most coddled, self-indulgent and spoilt existence on the planet. Time to grow up and realize life may sometimes require a little compromise, and it isn't ruined by not getting your massive incandescent-lightbulb-lit manor by the sea and the Humvee you need to drive there with.
Now, to address the content...
Veltis, your opening statement completely misses my point with that blog post. If there was actually some real evidence that doing any of the standard 'green' stuff would actually make a difference in the breathability of the air, the cleanliness of the water, or anything of the sort, I'd certainly be open to it.
Here's the point: the evidence shows none of these things will make one bit of difference.
I thought I'd been pretty clear in my purpose with that post:
The stories below really illustrate the fundamental flaw of environmentalism - it always infringes upon humanity in a harmful way. As you read this, keep in mind the fact that the global warming fad is fading, with no real consensus in the scientific community, countless examples of hypocrisy from global warming's biggest proponents, and mounting factual evidence that global warming is not caused by humanity.That's the point: all of these things infringe upon humanity without any recognizable benefit.
If we were capable of changing the Earth's climate, we would certainly do so, but we have so little influence on the planet's ecosphere that it's laughable. I think I read somewhere a few months ago (and I sincerely wish I could remember where I read it) that even if all of the nations in the world complied 100% with all of the provisions of the Kyoto Protocol, it would at most modify the amount of greenhouse gases around the Earth by less than 1%.
My point, then, is to say: is it really worth it to subject ourselves to enormous taxes (and this is something that definitely hits the U.S. far more than anyone else in the world - click here for details) and oppressive regulation that will stifle businesses, technological development, and innovation for less than 1% of an effect?
The answer is, unequivocally, NO.
The fact is that the U.S. -- without being a member of Kyoto -- has experienced emissions increases less than almost everyone else in the world since Kyoto was signed in the 90s. How? Through superior technology and the free market dictating helpful innovations. Not through government regulation. By contrast, most of the Kyoto nations have been hammered with exorbitant taxes because they didn't meet compliance standards.
I've blogged about environmentalism many times before, but some especially appropriate posts you might want to look at are here, here, here, and here.
I don't use 'green' light bulbs, and I don't plan to (at least not until the new law that was recently passed by Congress forces normal light bulbs off the market). Green bulbs are chemically hazardous, have worse light, and are about five times as expensive as incandescent lights (see here and here). Again, it comes down to a common sense cost-benefit choice: why would I pay more for worse light and more chemical danger when there is essentially no positive benefit? It makes no sense.
I understand your point about public transportation, but that is not an option where I live. I've never been to Finland, but I have been to England a couple times, and the public transportation system there is far better than here. I'm not certain why -- maybe because of the higher amount of open land here in America, or possibly because a higher percentage of our development has happened after the advent of automobiles, thus allowing more horizontal spread -- but that's just the way it is. For whatever the reason, we have been free to spread our cities outward rather than being forced to pack them more tightly, as in London. Public transportation is simply not a realistic option in many U.S. cities, certainly not in Kansas City. I'm glad you have that option - you can save the world by riding once or twice on my behalf.
I also understand how you might be a little bitter toward us over here, but I don't think there's any call for insults! I won't argue that Americans today are the most blessed nation on the planet - I've said that many times myself, and it's one of the things I most cherish about living here! I can even overlook your slap in the face about Americans being self-indulgent and spoiled, since your little tantrum amuses me more than angers me. But, I will draw the line at your suggestion that it's time to 'grow up' and compromise.
With all due respect, Veltis, I am very well aware of the blessings of America, and I am very well aware that sacrifices are sometimes needed. Do you know my history? Do you know what sacrifices I have made to get to where I am in life? Do you know how much I've compromised to make this world a better place?
No. You don't have a clue. You don't know me.
It sounds to me like you're stuffing me into a box that fits your conception of a spoiled brat American whining about being dragged into 'civilized' society like what you've got in Europe. Well, guess what? That 'civilized' European society is dying, and it's largely due to your 'civilized' version of socialism, a big part of which now is environmentalism. There's a reason that America is the most wealthy, powerful nation on Earth, and it's not socialism - it's freedom.
Freedom is the key that has unlocked the potential of normal, every day, hard-working people here in America. The only limitations that American freedom imposes is what we put on ourselves. Where else in the world can a poor minority raise himself up to join the highest court in the land? Where else can a poor immigrant find global success on film and become Governor of one of the largest states (with a larger economy than most countries around the world)? There are millions of success stories like this here. How do these people do these things? Freedom. Listen carefully, Veltis, because this is the part you don't seem to get:
Environmentalism kills freedom.
Kyoto is a perfect example - look at the links I've included above. It promises utopia (except for a few of the worst offenders, which are hypocritically exempted for political reasons) and instead delivers oppressive taxes. Those taxes take money out of the pockets of citizens and redistribute it to social causes that have no basis in fact. It imposes rules and regulations that prevent the free market selection of goods and services for no reason other than to limit citizens' choices. It restricts the freedom of people to choose their way as they see fit.
Robbing Peter to pay Paul works out well for Paul, but Peter's going to be pretty ticked off about it. In this case, America is Peter, and Europe (and much of the rest of the world) is Paul. Sorry to be blunt, but that's the reality of it. That's why I vehemently oppose environmentalism, Veltis: because it opposes the core principles that have made America great, and its logical conclusion would be disastrous for this country, dragging it into the same hole that Europe is now in, struggling with radical Islam, exorbitant tax rates, awful health care, and stagnant economies.
If you want to talk about growing up, how about Europe growing up and acknowledging the fact that America has bailed them out of hopeless wars twice over the past century? If you want to talk about being coddled, how about the fact that we fight -- and win -- all of Europe's wars, allowing Europe to sit around sipping wine and looking down your collective noses at us primitive barbarians across the pond? If you want to talk about sacrifice, how about all of the American blood that has died to shield you from aggression, and all the American money that has propped up your entire continent for decades?
If anyone needs to grow up, Veltis, it is you.
There's my two cents.
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