Observations From the Spectrum

Many problems today can achieve their solutions through grassroots movements and the activism of the individual.  Sometimes the problems need solutions with a heavier hand. Stop beating around the bush and call a spade a spade. It’s easier that way.  

For example, smoking.  Americans might think that this battle has been one.  I assure you it has not. The battleground has just moved so out of sight out of mind.  In regions like the Middle East, Asia, SE Asia, Africa and Central and South America the amount of smokers negates exponentially any gains made by the fight against it in America.  The reason I share this is that sometimes the issue or problem that it will take a war against it to win and the only entities able to wage war are recognized nations and governments.  Tobacco does more harm than good. The tobacco industry should be helped to adapt and change their crops from tobacco to another and be subsidized so that the employees don’t feel the burden.  

We are closing in on 8 billion people in the world, most of whom are lower to middle class looking to prosper like their rich neighbors.  The climate and the environment are not of their concerns. They care about their status in their societies and have yet to learn the negative effects of consuming.  In other words, worldwide, most people don’t care about global warming, the environment or climate change, especially in countries like China, India, and any country in the Middle East and Africa.  The leadership of the nations don’t care. How can we expect the citizens to? Especially when the biggest part of the problem is consumption.

Capitalism dictates that success is measured by the ability to satisfy your hunger for your wants.  I want a pair of jeans, shoes, coffee, purse, running sneakers, fridge. What do we do? We go out and buy it.  However, more often than not we don’t need the new thing. The one we have is either fine or repairable but that’s not profitable and profits and taxes are what move the economy and nations forward.  The problem is that as the economies move forward, the consumption takes its toll and the environment collapses.

As I said before, sometimes problems are too big for the children in the room to fix on their own.  They need the adults in the room to take the helm. The climate is one of them. It should no longer be called a crisis or change or issue.  It should be called a war. The Constitution states that the role of the government is to protect the nation from all enemies both foreign and domestic.  The Global Warming is clearly a threat against the citizens of America. Not one but all and it is the responsibility of the government to protect us from this threat and if that means action against nations or corporations that are unwilling to change, so be it.  That is why we have nations and government in the first place.