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People causing climate change, otherwise known as Everybody. I’m a conservative, and vegan. I relate to most Democrats on issues of conservation, yet most of

People causing climate change, otherwise known as Everybody. I’m a conservative, and vegan. I relate to most Democrats on issues of conservation, yet most of them won’t go vegan or ride public transit, etc. Democrats don’t have a moral high ground simply because they believe in climate change. I want them to make it the biggest priority of our generation through their actions.

guelo 8y ago
That's the problem with anti-government ideology. We are not going to fix this via personal responsibility and individual action. The only solution is through collective action and that probably means the government because "the market" doesn't care about negative externalities like pollution.
orf 8y ago
I'd start improving my personal moral high ground by stopping supporting the largest and most powerful group of climate deniers on the planet, funded by the companies and interests that have an interest in keeping their voters ignorant of the real issues. It's no coincidence that 69% of conservatives think climate change is not real, whereas only 5% of democrats do. But hey, that's just me.
- devmunchies 8y ago
  You proved my point. Democrats think they are doing something by voting, and the politicians make the voters feel good by tossing them a bone once in a while (banning straws lol) but nothing is changing. Btw I’m not a republican and don’t vote republican. I’m a cherry picking voter.
  - orf 8y ago
    > but nothing is changing Since 1995 Republicans have controlled both the house and senate almost exclusively[1]. Could this have something to do with it? Also I'm not saying be a democrat, but exercise your vote for the party that doesn't encourage climate denial at all levels. And I think some of the democrat policies on climate change went above and beyond 'banning straws lol'. 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_power_in_the_United_States_over_time#Senate_Control_by_Party_Past_100_Years https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_power_in_the_United_...
philipkglass 8y ago
I appreciate that you care about stabilizing the climate and have personally taken actions that contribute to that goal. I also appreciate that you're politically conservative but consider climate an important issue. I lament that the partisan polarization around this issue means we're missing ideas for solutions from half the country's population. Not every good idea about slowing/countering climate change is going to align with pre-existing strains of thought among left-leaning voters and politicians. I wish that there were more conservative politicians and voters pushing ideas for solutions that align with their backgrounds. That said, I don't think that it's necessary or sufficient to deal with climate change by making individual lifestyle changes, without prompting from legislation. The problem of emissions is a collective action problem. Trying to fix it one person at a time is like trying to fix 20th century air quality in the Los Angeles Basin without legislation. If residents of LA supported mandatory catalytic converters on new cars, but didn't individually retrofit their own cars (or stop driving), that's not because they were un-serious about the problem. It's because they recognized that one-person-at-a-time solutions weren't going to work.
- devmunchies 8y ago
  Yes but the more that people make personal changes and influence those around them so it’s on the front of our minds, the more likely we are to normalize it and get legislation passed.

guelo 8y ago

That's the problem with anti-government ideology. We are not going to fix this via personal responsibility and individual action. The only solution is through collective action and that probably means the government because "the market" doesn't care about negative externalities like pollution.

orf 8y ago

I'd start improving my personal moral high ground by stopping supporting the largest and most powerful group of climate deniers on the planet, funded by the companies and interests that have an interest in keeping their voters ignorant of the real issues. It's no coincidence that 69% of conservatives think climate change is not real, whereas only 5% of democrats do. But hey, that's just me.

devmunchies 8y ago
You proved my point. Democrats think they are doing something by voting, and the politicians make the voters feel good by tossing them a bone once in a while (banning straws lol) but nothing is changing. Btw I’m not a republican and don’t vote republican. I’m a cherry picking voter.
- orf 8y ago
  > but nothing is changing Since 1995 Republicans have controlled both the house and senate almost exclusively[1]. Could this have something to do with it? Also I'm not saying be a democrat, but exercise your vote for the party that doesn't encourage climate denial at all levels. And I think some of the democrat policies on climate change went above and beyond 'banning straws lol'. 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_power_in_the_United_States_over_time#Senate_Control_by_Party_Past_100_Years https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_power_in_the_United_...

philipkglass 8y ago

I appreciate that you care about stabilizing the climate and have personally taken actions that contribute to that goal. I also appreciate that you're politically conservative but consider climate an important issue. I lament that the partisan polarization around this issue means we're missing ideas for solutions from half the country's population. Not every good idea about slowing/countering climate change is going to align with pre-existing strains of thought among left-leaning voters and politicians. I wish that there were more conservative politicians and voters pushing ideas for solutions that align with their backgrounds. That said, I don't think that it's necessary or sufficient to deal with climate change by making individual lifestyle changes, without prompting from legislation. The problem of emissions is a collective action problem. Trying to fix it one person at a time is like trying to fix 20th century air quality in the Los Angeles Basin without legislation. If residents of LA supported mandatory catalytic converters on new cars, but didn't individually retrofit their own cars (or stop driving), that's not because they were un-serious about the problem. It's because they recognized that one-person-at-a-time solutions weren't going to work.

devmunchies 8y ago
Yes but the more that people make personal changes and influence those around them so it’s on the front of our minds, the more likely we are to normalize it and get legislation passed.