It Ain't Easy Bein' Green

Michael Maniates makes several excellent points in his article "Going Green? Easy Doesn't Do It." There is no way that recycling, turning off the lights, and taking shorter showers can stop the damage that is being caused to our planet.

So why aren't Americans pushed (hard!) to reduce our carbon footprints? I see two huge road blocks in the way.

1. People still don't believe that something is happening to the earth. It is kind of amazing that in 2010, well-educated people can still deny the existence of global warming and climate change. Or that they can believe that our actions are what causes climate change. One of the most successful, well-educated men I know is a cynic when it comes to this debate. He believes that it is impossible for us to know that the changes we see happening to the earth aren't part of a natural cycle. How much can our recorded histories really tell us?

And who knows... he (and the other critics of climate change) may very well be right. But by the time we discover who is right and who is wrong, it might be too late.

2. Politics, politics, politics! Ethanol isn't the answer, but it's certainly a step in the right direction. So what's the problem, right? The problem is that we could be using a better kind of ethanol. The United States is good at producing corn, but sugar cane, that is mostly produced in Brazil, can give us a more effective type of ethanol. On top of that, sugar cane is easier and less expensive to grow than corn. But the United States wouldn't make any money off of using and producing sugar cane ethanol. So we restrict trade with Brazil to make a couple bucks and give work and profit to our farmers.

Just like everything (genocide, presidential elections) it is probably going to be too late for change by the time we realize the mistakes we've made. We might even be dead when the consequences of our actions come to pass...