Capitalism: A Love Story
Michael Moore’s new film “Capitalism: A Love Story” will open October 2 in the U.S. This film will explore the root causes of the global economic meltdown and take a comical look at the corporate and political shenanigans that culminated in what Moore has described as “the biggest robbery in the history of this country” — the massive transfer of U.S. taxpayer money to private financial institutions.
We May Trade Away Our Future with Cap and Trade
All these methods of pricing carbon permit the creation of a carbon market that will allow us to pollute beyond a catastrophic tipping point. In other words, they require us to put a price on the final “killing” tonne of CO2 which, once emitted, tips the balance and triggers runaway global warming. How can we set such a price? It’s like saying, how much is civilisation worth?
Lower emissions the upside of downturn
An economic slowdown is an excellent way to lower greenhouse gas emissions. It’s a perverse benefit, but studies of past recessions and slowdowns show that emissions drop when the economy slows down. Obviously officials won’t dwell on that fact for fear of appearing insensitive to the many other downsides of a slowdown.
A Genuine Progress Index
A Genuine Progress Index (GPI) would allow us to measure social and environmental factors of well-being with the same authority and enthusiasm with which we measure GDP. It would show whether social and environmental factors are improving or deteriorating and would create the awareness needed to stimulate serious actions toward solving the problems. Please help [...]
