Great article. Started reading it slightly sceptical because I really do think capitalism needs reigning in. I do get your point that fixing the climate AND rewiring society is a big ask for 30 years.
I am, however, worried that existing thinking around how to guide the masses to a more sustainable way of living is fundamentally flawed - which is using taxes/prices to adjust behaviour. Because that really is just saying that any change in behaviour to save the planet falls solely on those who will feel the pinch. Rich or perhaps even just well off people will have access to the full spectrum of delights that our capitalism can conjure up. Therefore, maybe carbon rationing of some sort may be needed as part of the solution. The argument too often used is that the rich are not numerous enough that there is any point in either taxing or in any way force behavioural changes on, will not be accepted by the masses.
An even bigger problem is how the burden distributed internationally, of course.
But having the top 1% basically living as before, but with slightly better personal protection won’t work.
It is not - as ‘bad things’ are in very high demand - and taxing it just reserves it for the rich.
UBI, perhaps.
I think we need to move to a much more service based economy. We need to consume less goods and more services. Eating out, laundry services, digital entertainment, concerts.
But, sticking to the realist gist of this article - this is the capitalist way of dealing with things - if something is bad, make it scarce. A somewhat exaggerated take that is not completely wrong: If driving cars is bad, driving cars will cost a lot more in the future. The rich will drive cars, the poor will use public transport.
See also how poor people suffer much more in this pandemic (and in any other pandemic in the past) than wealthy people.
Hey, that's what I've been saying for some time. With my left left of centre views, most of my "fellow travellers" think I've gone mad. But time is of the essence and we have to work with what we have. But I'm pessimistic because I think the planet will do as it wants and we, as a species, will follow Nero's lead.
Great article. Started reading it slightly sceptical because I really do think capitalism needs reigning in. I do get your point that fixing the climate AND rewiring society is a big ask for 30 years.
I am, however, worried that existing thinking around how to guide the masses to a more sustainable way of living is fundamentally flawed - which is using taxes/prices to adjust behaviour. Because that really is just saying that any change in behaviour to save the planet falls solely on those who will feel the pinch. Rich or perhaps even just well off people will have access to the full spectrum of delights that our capitalism can conjure up. Therefore, maybe carbon rationing of some sort may be needed as part of the solution. The argument too often used is that the rich are not numerous enough that there is any point in either taxing or in any way force behavioural changes on, will not be accepted by the masses.
An even bigger problem is how the burden distributed internationally, of course.
But having the top 1% basically living as before, but with slightly better personal protection won’t work.
Tax bad things plus UBI. That’s the way innit
It is not - as ‘bad things’ are in very high demand - and taxing it just reserves it for the rich.
UBI, perhaps.
I think we need to move to a much more service based economy. We need to consume less goods and more services. Eating out, laundry services, digital entertainment, concerts.
More local food, less meat probably necessary too
But, sticking to the realist gist of this article - this is the capitalist way of dealing with things - if something is bad, make it scarce. A somewhat exaggerated take that is not completely wrong: If driving cars is bad, driving cars will cost a lot more in the future. The rich will drive cars, the poor will use public transport.
See also how poor people suffer much more in this pandemic (and in any other pandemic in the past) than wealthy people.
If we wanna be realist, that's how it goes.
For the 'poor' - It is one thing to forego something they've never had - quite another to be squeezed out of activities they've always enjoyed...
Hey, that's what I've been saying for some time. With my left left of centre views, most of my "fellow travellers" think I've gone mad. But time is of the essence and we have to work with what we have. But I'm pessimistic because I think the planet will do as it wants and we, as a species, will follow Nero's lead.