Politics & Environment

Politics and the environment. Right, so that’s what I’m covering and it’s a complicated combination. Before I go on and start my incoherent doomsday rants, you should probably get to know me a little so you know where I’m coming from. I’m Brian. 16 year old Australian male and somewhat more conservative than progressive. Pretty average really, but like everyone else at FED, see a need for the future to change for the sake of the world. Now politics is probably the most important part of this change. As the government either brings about change, or represents a change in society. A bit of both really. I’ll be talking about mostly the prospects for the future on how the government will and should interact and deal with climate change, some philosophical reasoning on why the we and the government have and do not have a duty to support sustainability, and some other mildly related topics. Enjoy reading.

So I don’t want to be another anti-establishment teen and be like “money is evil”, “capitalism is hell”, “pay for my school fees”, but… capitalism needs a little tweaking. I am not saying capitalism is not a viable way to run a country or to profit, but when it comes to social issues like communal welfare, climate change and protection of the worker, some holes begin to open up. Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations. It’s a book that basically was the foundation of all the economic systems of today’s most successful countries. It goes on to say how having a capitalist society, is good because the motivation is natural in humans. The accumulation of possession and wealth is what will power the world’s economies. He’s not wrong. But this motivation is egotistical, when it comes to others, this system is much less forgiving. His other book The Theory of Moral Sentiments highlights exactly this. That for a truly successful nation, each person must be motivated to be self-serving but simultaneously other-serving. This calls for actions like philanthropy, assistance without compensation, gifts out of sympathy. This balance of altruistic and selfish is grossly out of whack.

How does this relate to climate change then? Well, the solution for climate change isn’t really a solution, more like a long term investment. Albeit, if we choose not to invest very bad things will happen, it is still an investment. You see, when people have invested enough money, everyone’s big problem is solved. But someone has to sacrifice the money, and even if they do, there’s no guarantee that it’ll be enough. So, no one puts the money in. Thing is, there is a third body that can solve this problem. This dude has the power to say, ok everyone must put in “X” amount or you’ll be in trouble, and everyone will listen. But, this dude has a curse. And that curse is that he can only do something if the majority wants it to happen. Sadly, the majority goes, “I have to give up my money? Nah” without seeing the whole picture. Other people in the majority goes “well if we do solve this problem, I can’t make any more money! No!” and the third body does nothing. If you haven’t guessed already it’s the government.

To finish off what I’m trying to say is that the solution to climate change and other communal ordeals lies above the obvious first step, in raising awareness, advocating change. The problem isn’t that people don’t care about climate change, it is that no one is willing to sacrifice everything for the common good without being assured with some kind of compensation. Why though? I think it pins down to the way we educate the youth of today. But that’s for later. Thanks.

#Politics #Society