Stasis and Change in Left-Wing Politics and the Environment
By Liz BrightStars | June 30th, 2008 | Category: BN Channel Politics | 1 Comment »
Originally Published on Dr. J and Mr. K
The discussion in my last post about how the political left
advocates change of every sort yet appears terrified of any change in
the environment – or has adopted such a pose, at any rate – left the
environmental portion for another day.
The quick and easy hit about refusing to “embrace change” in this
one important area struck me as pointing to an important idea. Why do
certain people think the environment should remain exactly as it was,
when nature continually provides evidence of its (or, as another era
would have put it, “her”) ability to produce unpredictable events and
inflict cataclysm at every turn?
one important area struck me as pointing to an important idea. Why do
certain people think the environment should remain exactly as it was,
when nature continually provides evidence of its (or, as another era
would have put it, “her”) ability to produce unpredictable events and
inflict cataclysm at every turn?
Some conservatives attempt to explain the fundamental weirdness of
so many liberal or progressive policy prescriptions – especially on the
environment – as flowing from the increasing disconnect of urban
residents from the natural world. That seems to have merit. But this
view is undermined by two things: first is the ubiquity of information
media that bring nature’s acts – tsunamis, volcanic eruptions,
earthquakes killing tens of thousands – into the home or office, second
is the burgeoning popularity of recreation out in the natural world,
made possible by the very mass prosperity and personal mobility the
left opposes. Nature’s real nature is on display before you, if you’re
willing to look. Many appear unwilling.
so many liberal or progressive policy prescriptions – especially on the
environment – as flowing from the increasing disconnect of urban
residents from the natural world. That seems to have merit. But this
view is undermined by two things: first is the ubiquity of information
media that bring nature’s acts – tsunamis, volcanic eruptions,
earthquakes killing tens of thousands – into the home or office, second
is the burgeoning popularity of recreation out in the natural world,
made possible by the very mass prosperity and personal mobility the
left opposes. Nature’s real nature is on display before you, if you’re
willing to look. Many appear unwilling.
(click title for more)
