I’m kind of weird. You see, I’m a Libertarian environmentalist. You see, I tend to be against a lot of these environmental controls, like cap and trade that won’t actually do anything except hurt the economy and raise prices but do nothing to actually help the environment. When it comes to climate change, I’m skeptical on the causes, but it’s kind of irrelevant to me. I like having clean water and clean air.
But there’s an angle in changing people over to enviromental action without regulating them into it.
You see, it’s pretty easy for someone to write a law that makes a business or individual do something. They do it all the time. But when you force people to take the first step, they’re not going to make a second, third, or fourth step on their own despite what the left would like. People tend toward the stubborn. You may force them to be compact fluorescent bulbs, but because you made them, they’re necessarily going to take that next step.
Yet, there’s another way. Education.
You see, most environmental measures that can be taken have a pretty awesome side effect…they save money. Not outright, I’ll admit, but they will save money in the long run, and that is how you can actually sell it to the rest of us. People tend to think with their wallets, so if you can show people how it’ll save them money, they’re far more likely to willingly do something.
Using the fluorescent bulb example, I switched to those exclusively (except for a couple of lamps that didn’t have CF alternatives available) a few years ago because I saw the savings on my utility bill. So, excited, I added more insulation in my then 100 year old home. I made that next step willingly because I made the first step willingly.
Now, we are being told that we can only buy fluorescent bulbs soon. Many have no interest in taking the next step because the left has been so busy with their do-gooder mentality and bludgeoning us into doing what they want, that they forgot to talk to us and try and convince us that there’s something in it for us. They didn’t bother to tell us that not only will it help the earth, something some have no interest in, but it will help us save money as well.
They have never looked at the individualist nature of some and point out that with solar cells on our roof, we won’t be relying on the power company and will be more self sufficient. They haven’t bothered to try and encourage farmers to grow organic because of the higher prices organic crops yeild at market.
They haven’t grasped that money talks, and if you talk money even the most ardent conservative may be far more willing to listen.
Tom,
There are usually fairly robust “educational” elements in every new “save the environment” scheme and they are largely ignored by the public because they are based on half truths or out right lies. The enviro’s either lie about the need (if we don’t do so and so this will be the terrible result) or the benefit (if everyone does so and so there will be peace on earth etc.). You cite organic farming as an unsold good idea and reveal a basic lack of understanding of environmental issues in general. Best leave the environmental wackos to the trained professionals.
Wilson,
You missed the point. That was that the environmentalists would be better served by focusing on how these “green” alterantives would save folks money, and LESS on trying to force people to do it. People would be far more accomidating. Even your own comment, about me leaving the “environmental wackos to the trained professionals” illustrates the damage they’ve done. I said nothing about the validity of any arguments either. Instead, I pointed out a different approach that they’re not taking, and are pissing people off because they’re not.
Tom,
You missed the point if you think that green alternatives save money. Your reference to orgainic farming proves as much. And of course you can comment on whatever you wish but on this one you’re ill informed and it shows.