Posted by
Mac on Saturday, March 31, 2007 1:46:52 PM
Wonderful Yahoo has eliminated the ability to post comments/blogs of their stories so I've been reduced to posting my comments here. Not that this is an overly important retort but concerning Mr. Buckley's
recent article (around 3/30/07) titled NATURALISM: As always, Will here has a 'unique' perspective.
The article he criticizes does not invite us to assume that anyone who works in ANY business that generates greenhouse gases is complicit ( in environmental degredation), etc. - just the oil business. Eerily religious in feel? Alright, I can let that pass as opinion... My main objection is to his proffering the question that if the USA were to eliminate the use of oil or gas for power would that constitute a devastating cost to our economy.
Yes - given our current circumstances - which by the way have worsened in the last thirty years. We are more reliant on foreign oil, we show no signs of intelligence whatsoever concerning conservation or getting off the teat of oil and thanks to people like Mr. Buckley who philosophize about our God given individual freedom to get as much as you can and damn the other guy, we live in a society where collective behaviorial adjustment for the betterment of our fellow man is considered laughable by the majority, at least concerning the environment. I would furthermore argue that tolerance of illegal behavior of any sort is lessened by many of
the attitudes he espouses. When we live in a world the Right recently created you can see why standards of behavior grow lax and the common good diminishes.
Should I venture down the road of ways the US could diversify energy sources, thus diminishing the costs to our economy? How business, that great engine of our nation could improve by such actions? I'll leave that to
others. As far as global warming and the continued skepticism of idealogue who influence debate, we can of course make fun of Gore. Never miss an ad hominen opportunity while throwing statistics about.
But of course! I see clearly now. Possibly the greatest change in human history can be reduced from the broad view to HOW MANY inches the seas may rise and an equation of deaths attributable to heat vs. cold.
Why, all things considered, things may yet even out. All will be right in the world.