Time to try some common sense about Kyoto
Tom Oleson comes awfully late to the discussion of the Kyoto Accord — as if everybody doesn't already agree that we'd rather not sacrifice too much to meet its targets. But there is little common sense in his framing of our choices.
The Hobson's choice is not between economic felicity and climate hell. If you accept the premises of Kyoto (if you don't, there's no argument), then the only choice is between allowing future generations to thrive in a benign world, or sitting on our asses so that we can continue our exponentially growing consumption. Stark choice: save ourselves, or save our grandchildren.
Common sense says that if the targets must be met, then we meet them. Common decency says that we do it for our progeny.
JEFF PRESSLAFF
Tom Oleson comes awfully late to the discussion of the Kyoto Accord — as if everybody doesn't already agree that we'd rather not sacrifice too much to meet its targets. But there is little common sense in his framing of our choices.
The Hobson's choice is not between economic felicity and climate hell. If you accept the premises of Kyoto (if you don't, there's no argument), then the only choice is between allowing future generations to thrive in a benign world, or sitting on our asses so that we can continue our exponentially growing consumption. Stark choice: save ourselves, or save our grandchildren.
Common sense says that if the targets must be met, then we meet them. Common decency says that we do it for our progeny.
JEFF PRESSLAFF
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