The Washington Outsider

Why Modern People Can’t Solve Big Problems Like Climate Change, War, and Poverty: The Illiberal Mindset

8/13/2018

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​The human race had the best opportunity between 1979 to 1989 to avoid the era of catastrophe global warming and climate change will bring about, yet global leadership failed to act.  In "Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change,” Nathaniel Rich details the stories of those key people who tried to push governments around the world into action and the failure of leadership to lead.  As Rich highlighted, people across the political spectrum and within pollution-intense industries were willing to confront and understand the threat of greenhouse gases.  Although there are plenty of individuals to blame for inaction, and people can debate whether or not geopolitical plans to freeze and reduce carbon emissions could have been implemented, the failure to act in a way and on a scale proportionate to the threat reveals a great deal about human nature and the ability of modern people to solve modern problems.  
Global warming has been a major cause for political activists and world leaders for decades.  Their efforts to spread awareness have largely succeeded.  People know what global warming and climate change are.  They also understand much of the basic science as well as the potential impact on their communities.  There is a segment of the population that subscribes to “climategate” conspiracies, but the vast majority of people believe in climate change and believe mankind has played a major role in accelerating it.  What divides people are the solutions.  To paraphrase, many progressives and those within underdeveloped countries want the developed world to bear the burden of climate change solutions; whereas, the US and other industrialized countries want shared responsibility.  The geopolitical divide boils down to economics and competitive advantage.  At the same time, there is also the issue of how to pay for climate change solutions and whether or not they should paid for.
 
Issues like climate change inflict costs, but accepting the existence of those costs is far different than paying to avoid them.  Most people in the developed world have some kind of Insurance, which it is a way of paying less for costs that might materialize in the future.  A car accident is something most people expect to avoid, but they see it as a potential and they recognize their insurance will likely cover the costs should they be involved in an accident.  In the case of climate change, people see climate change on the horizon, but the costs to them are so indirect and so diffuse that it makes more financial sense just to deal with the consequences of climate change.  Where auto insurance is likely to payout in the event of an accident, it is very difficult to see climate change solutions working to reduce the costs of climate change.  Reaffirming this view, the December 14th, 2009 issue of Time featured an article by Bjorn Lomborg entitled "Beyond Copenhagen" that discussed how the cost of dealing with climate change would significantly be less than the cost of trying to limit global warming.  
 
The point is, of course, not to deny climate change or avoid taking action.  It is that people are, at best, only going to take action when they believe it will have a meaningful impact on their lives.  Regrettably, the simple truth is that people are actually looking for an excuse to avoid taking action on any issue that does not have an immediate impact on their lives.  A lot of people embraced minor solutions like recycling, because it was easy and made them feel good, but it was never even close to being enough to solve environmental issues like climate change.  People like solar power, because it gives them free electricity.  Many people want more fuel efficient cars to lower their fuel costs, as long as it does not impact their driving experience in a way that it is averse to them.  When it comes to serious sacrifice for climate change, however, no one wants to pay.  Quite frankly, now that climate change requires real sacrifice, few want to deal with it or pay attention to it.  
 
Climate Change impacts every living thing on the planet, yet it is no longer politically en vogue.  Given the mounting number of escalating crises around the globe, e.g. globalized terrorism, civil wars, trade wars, major world powers on the verge of war, and rising economic disparities, it is hard for average people and their political leaders to make climate change a top priority.  Unfortunately, even more pressing and imminently destructive issues are still going unaddressed.  It would seem world leaders cannot come together to solve anything.  The Peoples of the world cannot come together to force action on any of the issues that already impact their lives.  Like the failure to act on climate change, political shifts play a major role in the failure to act on others issues.  As the Rich highlighted, the leadership of the 1970’s wanted to act for the sake of patriotism and the American way of life around the world.  When the Nazis threat arose in the 1940’s, the Peoples of the developed world responded.  Today, it could easily be an insurmountable struggle to mobilize the world.  
 
The way people think has been changing and it is making it harder for the Peoples of the world to unite behind shared causes.  International trends like globalization have transformed the way the Peoples of the world live and connect, but they have also changed the way people think.  The democratization of the world’s population is one complex change.  Another is the liberalization of the world’s people.  Liberal countries and governments exist to serve the interests of their Peoples and empower them with civil liberties.  The individual is the focal point of the liberal nation.  The liberalization of the human race has made the lives of individuals matter.  The illiberalization of the human race has, however, cultivated the worst aspects of human nature.  It has inspired a “me” culture that emphases placing one’s own needs and desires over those of others and community.  It is the kind of thinking that encourages people to absentmindedly hurt their communities and those in their lives to fulfill their impulses.
 
The illiberalization of people has cultivated the selfish and egocentric nature of individuals.  For those who in power, it feeds an egoistically mindset that prevents them from seeing beyond their own ideas and preconceived notions.  It also convinces them they are indispensable as leaders, thus they grasp onto power at the expense of their constituents.  Humans are naturally selfish and egocentric, but they are also altruistic, introspective, and inquisitive.  Where liberalization encourages people to look at each other as individuals and show concern for each others’ wellbeing, illiberalization primes the worst parts of human psychology.  No longer does the welfare of the community or its members matter to the illiberal individual.  People should be allowed to do as they please and those who hurt others harshly judged, when it is unavoidablely apparent, but they have no responsibility for the social consequences of their actions.  Modern people cannot solve major issues, because they do not see their shared interests and responsibilities nor do they see themselves as members of a community.  They certainly do not act as communities.
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        • Should the Government Control Talk Radio to Make it More "balanced"?
      • How the People Are Lost in the Extremes of 'Right' and 'Left' in Politics
      • Should One's Faith Influence a Citizen's Vote?
      • Should the U.S. Government Help Fund Election Campaigns?
      • On Defunding Political Science Research
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      • Justice for All: The Case for Legal, Social, Economic, and Personal Justice
      • Why Hardliner Thinking in the NSA and CIA is Doing Damage
      • On the Baby Boomer’s Self-Centeredness
      • The Case for Personal Responsibility
      • What Modern Day Revolutionaries Need to Learn from Leader's like Mandela
      • Rising Western Acceptance of LGBT Primes Culture Clash
      • The Need for Wisdom Beyond the Numbers
      • Perceptions of the United States
      • How Honesty Relates to the Great Recession
      • Why the Middle Class and Rich Need to Support Their Long-term Interests
      • The Aristocratic Republic of the United States of America
      • Discussing the Need for Community Support
      • Why New Forms of Capitalism and Socialism Will Compliment Each Other
      • The Reason We Need to Understand What it is to Be Poor in America
      • Why the World Needs to Reinvest in America
      • Why Are We Against Terrorism?
      • Why Does Terrorism Exist?
      • US Influence: The Value of American Citizenship Around the World
      • Responding to "the Soldier as Sacrficial Victim"
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      • How comfort defines us as people >
        • Is Suicide a Cowardly Way Out?
      • Defense Against the Dark Arts of Manipulators
      • Defining Abuse >
        • On the Willing Victim of Abuse
        • How to Understand Abuse Victims
        • Recognizing Abuse
      • The Role of Substitution in Decision Making
      • Trying to Understand PTSD and Other Trauma-induced Mental Health Issues
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        • Mental Illness is Not the Cause of Anger and Violence >
          • Trying to Understand the Boston Marathon Bombing and Other Violent Crimes
          • Getting into the Twisted Mind of the Tucson Murder
      • Describing the Mind as Modes of Thought >
        • It’s Just Sex?
      • Relationships, or Arrangement
      • Understanding the Effects of Groupthink in the Workplace
      • Relating Circular, Inductive, and Deductive Reasoning to the Scientific Method and Religion
      • What is a Redneck? Understanding Different Cultures and Thinking
    • Economics >
      • The Need for Greater Economic Leverage >
        • Evaluating NAFTA and TPP
        • Undercutting Logistics with the Underpaid Independent Contractor
        • Unions: Hindrance or Essential to Free Markets
        • Eminent Domain Used Against Banks
        • Haitians Sue the UN for Failure to Help With Cholera
        • Looking at How Corn-based Ethanol and Other Alternative Energy Subsidies Stack Up
      • Empowering the Sovereign Nation-State by Rethinking Trade Policy >
        • Irish Sovereignty Lost Before Bailout
        • Why Sudan's Greatest Long-Term Hurdle is Our Lowest-bidder Economy
        • Reduce US Imports by Buying American Made Products
      • Ending the need for government support and tackling poverty
      • Income inequality: understanding the limitations and psychology of disadvantage
      • Looking at the Future of American Jobs >
        • On Questioning the Need to Address Economic Disparity
        • Minimum Wage is Not the Problem
        • Responding to the "Blip"
        • Why Education Is Not The Civil Rights Issue Of The Twenty-First Century
      • Considering the Impact of the Capital Gains Tax Deduction
      • Embracing a Capitalist Mindset >
        • Capitalism Versus Socialism
        • The Negatives of Socialism
      • Stealing Intellectual Property
      • Changing Business Models: From Enduring Entities to Cash Cows
      • Consumer and Investor Evolution in the Great Recession of 2008-09
      • Dealing with the Issues Surrounding the Patenting of Self-replicating Technologies
      • Is Technology Threatening Jobs?
    • Education >
      • The Role of Education in Creating a More Dynamic Workforce
      • Primary Education in America and the Changing Needs of Society
      • The Greatness of the American Education System
      • Ideas for Improving the United States Education System
      • Are Teachers Treated as Professionals?
      • Is Engaging Parents in Their Children's Education a Major Factor in Turning Around Low-performing Schools?
      • Should Grants Be Awarded to School Districts that Try Innovative Methods to Improve Student Achievement?
    • US Constitution >
      • On Reading the US Constitution
      • The Senate should not do more to limit the powers of the Judicial Branch
      • On the DOJ Justifying the “targeted Killings” of US Citizens
      • Corporations Do Not Have the Same Rights as US Citizens >
        • Corporate America Pleads the First
      • Discussing the Constitutionality of Per Capita Taxes
      • Was the California Supreme Court Right in Legalizing Gay Marriage?
      • Should the Bible Continue to Be Used for Swearing-in Ceremonies and in Courtrooms?
      • Should Religious Student Clubs Be Allowed in Public Schools?
      • Should the Government Control Talk Radio to Make it More "balanced"?
      • The Second Amendment: Not Outdated >
        • Are We Losing Our Second Amendment Rights
      • Eminent Domain Used Against Banks
      • Should a Woman Have the Right to Choose Abortion? >
        • Should Fathers Be Able to Opt Out of Parenthood?
      • Should Smoking Be Allowed in Public Places?
      • Is Teen Driving a Right or a Privilege?
      • Should US Companies Be Required to Provide Equal Pay to Women and Men?
      • Is eighteen too young to vote?
      • First Amendment Rights: The Priviledge of The Press
      • Do Mandatory Seat Belt Laws Violate Individual Rights?
      • Should cell phone use be banned while driving?
      • Dealing with the link between video game violence and children's behavior
      • Should police have to submit to routine drug and alcohol testing?
      • Public schools should not impose mandatory drug testing on students
      • Are High Taxes on Cigarettes Proper?
      • Should pharmacists be required to violate their religious beliefs and dispense the "Morning After Pill?"
      • Should school counselors uphold patient privacy or report students who become unstable?
  • For the record
    • Ongoing Issues >
      • Red Dawn in Ukraine: Understanding the Actions of Russia >
        • On Russia’s Coercion of Ukraine
        • The Russian Annexation of Crimea in the Eyes of the World
        • Putin Has Overplayed His Hand With Crimea
        • Ukraine in Terms of Resovereignization
        • Avoiding a Conflict Between America and Russia Over Ukraine
        • What Drives the World’s Interest in Russia’s Actions in Ukraine
      • China’s Aggressive Pursuit of Interests Demands a Global Response
      • Iran Makes a Deal: A Start to a Long-term Diplomatic Effort to Denuclearize Iran >
        • On the Future of a Nuclear Negotiations with Iran
      • America's Sphere of Influence: Retaking South-East Asia >
        • Power in Asia: Looking at the Power Shift in Japan
        • The China Paradox: Why America is Worried About China
      • Assessing US Support of Israel >
        • Tread Softly Israel for a Heavy Step May Be Your Undoing
      • Understanding the Dysfunctional Nature of the US-Pakistani Relationship
      • Recognizing the True Threat Behind the Current Unrest in the Middle East >
        • Reacting to the Escalating Crackdown in Syria
      • Assessing the Threat of North Korea >
        • Answering North Korea's Call for Food Aid: Breaking the Vicious Cycle Forced Upon Us by a Warring Nation
        • Dealing with the Restarting of the Korean War
        • North Korea Attacks South Korea
      • Dealing with the Ill-effects of Climate Change
      • Racial Inequality and Oppression Do Truly Exist in Today's Society
      • Should energy independence be a high priority in the US?
      • An overview of world wide Human Rights violations
      • Nuclear Threat from Pakistan
      • Return of The Cold War?
    • World >
      • Coverage of FIFA World Cup is a Chance to Focus on Poverty >
        • The FIFA World Cup Offers Benefits for More Than Brazilian Soccer Fans
        • FIFA Can Bring Brazilians Together as a Nation
      • Being Prepared for Any Potential Dangers at the FIFA World Cup Games
      • Treading Softly on the Politicizing of the 2014 Sochi Olympics Over Gay Rights
      • Why NATO Operations in Libya Lack a Well-defined Mission
      • China Hijacks the Web
      • Lessons from the Great Japanese Earthquake of 2011
      • A Modernizing Cuba Offers an Opportunity for Capitalists
      • The Seeds of Democracy Take Root in the Middle East
      • The Rebirth of Democracy in Tunisia
      • What May Come from the Hurt Revolution in Libya
      • Responding to the Violence of Qaddafi and Other Besieged Leaders
      • Embracing the Rise of a Democratic Egypt
      • Protests in Afghanistan Turn Deadly for Coalition Forces and UN Personnel
      • Haiti: Another Failing Humanitarian Investment
      • What Karzai Can Learn from Calderon
      • START II: A Necessary, Easy Success that Nearly Failed
      • Why Does the U.S. Government Support Independence for the Breakaway Serb Territory of Kosovo but Oppose Independence for the Breakaway Georgian Territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia?
      • Iraq's Electric Issues: When Human Wants Trump Economic Sense
      • The International Community Reacts to Wikileaks: We May Be Moving Toward a Third World War in Cyberspace
      • On Climate Gate
      • Assessing Obama's Afghanistan War strategy
      • 2009 Iranian Presidential Election: The Fallout
      • Resolving Sri Lankan Conflict through Free Media
      • What are the Global Consequences of Russia's Invasion of Georgia
      • The War in Iraq: an assessment of President Bush's surge strategy
      • Drug War: Actions of Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador in terms of Resovereignization
      • Is the Iraq Refugee Crisis America's Responsibility?
      • US support for a united Kosovo, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia: why?
      • Should the US withdraw from Iraq?
      • Setting a Timetable for Troop Withdrawal from Iraq is a Terrible Mistake
      • War on Terrorism is needed
    • Law and Order >
      • Rape in the US Military
      • Ethics of Force-feeding Guantanamo Bay Detainees
      • Reacting to the Aftermath of the Tucson Massacre
    • Economy >
      • Affordability Drives Fear of Obamacare and the Individual Mandate
      • Is the Economy Built for a Job's Recovery?
      • Gutting Healthcare Reform of the Individual Mandate
      • Arizona Budget Cuts Lead to Lethal Healthcare Rationing:
      • Shameful Collection Practices of American Banks
      • The Fed Reveals it Actually Undertook an International Bailout
      • Thoughts on French Budgetary Reforms
      • Seniors Start Businesses
      • The Case for Slimming Down the US Military to Make it Better
      • Looking at the Obama Administration's New Approach to Economic Policy
      • Should the Government Regulate the Credit Card Industry?
      • The Big Three's Big Chance
      • The Unhealthy Tone of the Healthcare Reform Debate
      • Should the federal government offer a bailout for home owners?
      • Environmentalists: Do They Do More Good Than More Harm?
      • Responding to Scott Walker's Contribution to the War on Unions
    • US Government >
      • America Needs to Focus on the Impending Fiscal Crisis
      • Reacting to the Bush Era-tax Cut Extension Deal
      • Quitting the Obama Revolution: The Fickle Nature of American Politics
      • John Boehner's Circus
      • Is the Fed Putting Itself in Jeopardy?
      • Wikileaks Goes After the US State Department
      • Discussing the Political Environment Surrounding the 2011 Budget Debate
      • What the Democrats Can Do to Ensure a GOP Year in 2012
      • What the 2010 Midterm Actually Said
      • Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper
      • Democrats Minus Nancy Pelosi Equals Opportunity
      • Terrorists Go Postal: The Terrorism Threat Reexamined
      • Victory in the 2008 Election: Reaction to Barack Obama'a Win >
        • Expectations for Barack Obama
      • President Obama's first one hundred days
      • John McCain's Negative Campaign
      • Reasons People did not Elect John Mccain
      • History judges the George W. Bush Administration
      • Should the next US President focus on domestic issues?
      • President Bush, should he resign or be impeached
      • Should the Ban on Government Sponsored Assassinations be Repealed
    • Off Topic >
      • A Face of America’s Greatest Generation
      • A Story About a Man Who Made the World a Better Place
      • Making the World a Better Place
      • The Bipolar Ethical Nature of Google
      • Learning Computer Plays Jeopardy
      • Verifying Medicine is the Real Thing
      • Taking a Practical Step Forward in Optical Computing Using Slow Light
      • Scientists Take a Closer Look at How Lithium Batteries Work
      • Remarking on the First Blizzard of the 2010-2011 Winter Season
      • Driving in the Snow: Acceleration is the Key
      • How People in Northwest PA Are Coping with the Increasing Cost of Oil
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