3 ms·

Not if you have access to oil money and don't give a fuck about anyone but yourself.

komali2 9y ago
I think it boils down to short term vs long term thinking, and my friends and I have thrown around all sorts of crazy theories around this. In the context of the USA, could just be that republicans (the anti-climate change prevention party) are simply speaking to their conservative values in some way and want the USA to remain coal-powered with gasoline cars. All change is bad change? Another less tenable theory is that typically conservatives/republicans cater to religious groups, and a tenant of christianity is the only thing that matters on earth is your own works - earth is irrelevant in the face of eternal paradise. I don't buy this one as much but it's fun to chew on. I do feel very strongly though that not taking climate change seriously represents a fundamental inability to comprehend the term "long term investment."
- philk10 9y ago
  EPA chief: ‘True environmentalism is using natural resources that God has blessed us with’
- WalterSear 9y ago
  I agree, the resistance is so strong, it's arguably rooted in biology. However, I'd argue that it's more wide-ranging deficit than simply long-term thinking. I'd argue that it's about empathy deficits, all around - not just with in regards to the future. https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/12/self-control-is-just-empathy-with-a-future-you/509726/ https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/12/self-con...
  - rjsw 9y ago
    I have a theory that the pushback is an example of a Cargo Cult and that studying it could help us understand cargo cults elsewhere.
- mikestew 9y ago
  As a former pastor of a main stream denomination church, and who hung around with those of much more conservative denominations, I think the second theory assumes way more thought about one’s chosen religious/philosophical framework than happens in practice. Generally speaking, those less “into it” at best would use religion as an excuse to drive their Suburban. Those that are actually amateur theologians tend to see the Earth as something God expects us to be good stewards of. In summary, people don’t give religion enough thought to let it influence their actions WRT climate change, except out of convenience.
  - woodandsteel 9y ago
    But according to Jim Inhofe, former head of the senate environmental committee, the climate can't be getting warmer because God is beneficent and would never allow that sort of harm to happen to the human race.
    - mikestew 9y ago
      Yes, you found an exception to my general statement. Congratulations. Or perhaps the senator would fall under my “convenience” clause, dunno.
- averagewall 9y ago
  I wouldn't be surprised if a bit part of it was just contrarianism to the "arrogant liberal elite". If people stopped being so forceful (even to the point of dishonesty) in their global warming demands, maybe it woudln't have become a divisive issue and people would make up their minds more independely of their political position.

I think it boils down to short term vs long term thinking, and my friends and I have thrown around all sorts of crazy theories around this. In the context of the USA, could just be that republicans (the anti-climate change prevention party) are simply speaking to their conservative values in some way and want the USA to remain coal-powered with gasoline cars. All change is bad change? Another less tenable theory is that typically conservatives/republicans cater to religious groups, and a tenant of christianity is the only thing that matters on earth is your own works - earth is irrelevant in the face of eternal paradise. I don't buy this one as much but it's fun to chew on. I do feel very strongly though that not taking climate change seriously represents a fundamental inability to comprehend the term "long term investment."

philk10 9y ago
EPA chief: ‘True environmentalism is using natural resources that God has blessed us with’
WalterSear 9y ago
I agree, the resistance is so strong, it's arguably rooted in biology. However, I'd argue that it's more wide-ranging deficit than simply long-term thinking. I'd argue that it's about empathy deficits, all around - not just with in regards to the future. https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/12/self-control-is-just-empathy-with-a-future-you/509726/ https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/12/self-con...
- rjsw 9y ago
  I have a theory that the pushback is an example of a Cargo Cult and that studying it could help us understand cargo cults elsewhere.
mikestew 9y ago
As a former pastor of a main stream denomination church, and who hung around with those of much more conservative denominations, I think the second theory assumes way more thought about one’s chosen religious/philosophical framework than happens in practice. Generally speaking, those less “into it” at best would use religion as an excuse to drive their Suburban. Those that are actually amateur theologians tend to see the Earth as something God expects us to be good stewards of. In summary, people don’t give religion enough thought to let it influence their actions WRT climate change, except out of convenience.
- woodandsteel 9y ago
  But according to Jim Inhofe, former head of the senate environmental committee, the climate can't be getting warmer because God is beneficent and would never allow that sort of harm to happen to the human race.
  - mikestew 9y ago
    Yes, you found an exception to my general statement. Congratulations. Or perhaps the senator would fall under my “convenience” clause, dunno.
averagewall 9y ago
I wouldn't be surprised if a bit part of it was just contrarianism to the "arrogant liberal elite". If people stopped being so forceful (even to the point of dishonesty) in their global warming demands, maybe it woudln't have become a divisive issue and people would make up their minds more independely of their political position.