Climate change is a real issue that requires complex solutions to address. However, finger wagging and protesting are not those solutions. In fact, I’d say those arguing that worldview are speaking from a place of great privilege and hypocrisy.
Let’s talk about two “solutions”: proliferating electric vehicles and instituting a carbon tax.
EVs are great, but also expensive and impractical to those of us not making over $75,000 a year. One day, EVs will cost under $3,000, will last for another 100,000 miles, and will take you across the country or up a rough jeep road. But those don’t exist today, and when they do, they certainly won’t cost anywhere near $3,000.
On the carbon tax, you always hear about “sticking it to the coal companies.” Well, who are those coal companies and who are their customers? The answer is you and me. A carbon tax would certainly make for great political fodder, but it would also create suffering among poor people whose electricity bills would increase as a result.
I am not opposed to fighting climate change, however, I do care about poor people. Which is why I reject these shortsighted ideas about fighting it.
My advice for climate activists is this: Check your privilege.
It is easy to demand that other people pay more for electricity and cars when you can afford to do it. But when you’re on the other side of the proverbial train tracks, those decisions become a little harder to make.
Tom Mudrack
Durango
