Why are so many of the crazy environmentalists are on the far left?
Isn't that the end of the political spectrum that keeps telling us that we shouldn't legislate belief and morality?
The far left holds the political view that says it is ultimately an individual's choice whether or not living conditions in the future will be suitable for a child, and thus the individual can determine whether or not to exterminate an unborn human life form. But those who hold this view are telling us that the average person does not have the right to make choices regarding what kind of fuel to put in a car or what kind of light bulb to use. The rabid environmentalists want to pass legislation that will force and compel people to behave in certain ways against their belief. Indeed, the only reason to pass environmental legislation is because environmentalists have failed to convince citizens to take action voluntarily. If people will not make the "right" choice on their own, environmentalists will punish them.
Some people have compared carbon offset credits to papal indulgences ("Did you sin against, Gaia? That's okay, just offer a monetary sacrifice to her and you'll spend less time in a scorching enviro-purgatory"), but it seems to me that punishing citizens who do not take part in environmental efforts is far more akin to Protestant England setting fines on recusant Catholics who refused to attend services for a faith which they did not believe.
Obviously, I'm not advocating that we should be reckless with the Earth. I think establishing fair and reasonable environmental protocols is necessary...but difficult. Still, I value my political freedom far more than I value any habitat. I'd much rather live free in a poisonous wasteland than enslaved in a world with clean air. Of course, the ideal situation would be to live free in a clean world...but environmentalists don't seem particularly interested in talking about that option.
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