“It is the sign of a weak mind to be unable to bear wealth.” - Seneca
Pop quiz, hot-shot, who’s the least relevant: Michael Dukakis and Al Gore? Hah! Trick question! No one takes either of these jokers seriously anymore.
Despite this obvious fact, Al Gore is trying to make his comeback into the hearts of the American citizens (again) by producing a documentary on global warming. I forgot the actual name of his newest venture, but suffice to say that “Fear Planet” or “Death of Truth” or “Fear the Real Truth of Global Death” could all be legitimate titles. But what if Mr. Gore is correct and global warming is real (despite growing evidence to the contrary)?
If Mr. Gore is correct, and “Heat waves will be more frequent and more intense,” then the market will simply determine whether anti-heat goods and services are necessary. The market will always innovate; this is a guarantee of a capitalist economic model. Demand will eventually be met with supply. It is the yin and yang of not only the economy but also the universe.
Mr. Gore claims that, “More than a million species worldwide could be driven to extinction by 2050.” If the animal is unable to adapt to its environment, it will perish. Does this imply that Mr. Gore propose a welfare state for animals as well? Are political candidates going to discuss the merits of Walrus Social Security reform? Pigeon abortion rights? But I digress.
The dinosaurs were not able to adapt to their environment some millions of years ago. A portion of them evolved to become the fauna we are familiar with today, while others died out completely. Does Mr. Gore suggest this world would be a better place if we had Tyrannosaurii roaming the streets of downtown San Diego? Not every single animal can, or should, adapt to its surrounding environment.
So Greenland is becoming apart of the mighty Atlantic. Unfortunate, indeed. In the next 25 to 50 years residents of the great island of Greenland will be forced to move from their homes and find an address in a locale that isn’t 50 feet under water. In short, they will *gasp* be required to adapt or die. This is the harsh fundamental reality socialists like Mr. Gore can never wrap their minds around. Human beings are not helpless sheep. They have the ability to change and adapt to their surroundings. There is a natural cycle of life and death, health and sickness, and wealth and poverty that cannot be prevented. In order for some to be rich, some need to be poor. These aren’t permanent labels, however. Not in the least. In fact, these arbitrary conditions are in a state of constant flux.
Case-in-point: J. K. Rowlling was a poor, single mother who came up with the idea for a children’s book while sitting in a cafe because the heat in her flat was shut off due to non-payment. She rose from a welfare recipient scribbling book ideas on napkins to undoubtedly the most famous author of this young 21st century. Poor is just another word for ‘not wealthy yet.’
Mr. Gore, the upper-class son of a prominent US Senator, may believe that citizens who are not as privileged as he are in need of constant assistance and attention from the government. While this thinking is somewhat noble, it is a fallacy. The American people are not in need of a babysitter.
When, and only when, the demand for renewable energy becomes so great that the market takes notice and begins to manufacture non-carbon producing energy sources will there be a real change in the behavior of most citizens. “Joining the virtual march” will not yield the kind of global policy changes Mr. Gore wants to force-feed down to the taxpayer. “Encourag(ing) your school or business to reduce emissions” won’t get it done either, sorry AA(rnold)G.
The only way to change the business model of America is to invent a more cost-effective one, period. If Mr. Gore were to invent such a model of cost-effective renewable energy, the market would adapt (and if it's the American market, adapt quickly) and begin producing. Until that day, Mr. Gore’s greatest legacy to bettering the country will be a slew of failed environmental policies and the coining of the term “information superhighway.”
The above work is the opinion of the author,
and not necessarily that of the Prometheus Institute.
