Re:Half of the Great Barrier Reef Is Dead
by graeme on Thursday August 09, 2018 @08:09AM
(#17723444)
The fact that some people consume less doesn't matter. This is a game theory situation. If one set of people reduces, another can increase.
The OP was right. We need to make using less profitable. A carbon tax would be perfect for that, and we could reduce the income tax to offset. We get less of what we tax, so we'd have more income and less carbon.
I actually think international efforts should be focussed on getting countried to agree to swap existing taxes for carbon taxes.
That's not part of human nature. There have always been people who've renounced much of the world and made a lot of sacrifices, even to the point of giving everything they own away and dedicating themselves completely to helping others. At times there were even mass social movements in that direction.
It's just that we're going through a period in history where some people are particularly selfish. Many of these people are unfortunately in control at the moment, or have undue influence on what happens. But there are others who are less self-centered and are even actively working towards constructive change, even at great cost to themselves. There always have been.
The question is how to get more people to act constructively and not passively accept what's happening. Education, discussion, and consciousness-raising are all great ways to do that. Disempowering narratives about limitless consumerism being an inevitable part of human nature are not.