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• Monday, June 30, 2008 07:08 AM

  Here is the solution

  First of all: Stop putting up with things that are just plain wrong and calling them matters of opinion. Not everything is a matter of opinion.

  Which is better, rice or pasta? That is opinion. You can go somewhere in the middle with rice noodles.

  Global warming? Agree or disagree you are arguing over facts. It is either right or wrong, yes or no.

  Second: If your dog is sick would you take your dog to your banker or your vet? No? So why do you go to economists when you want to know about climate science?

  Third: Truth isn't relative. Nobody gives a shit if something is true to you, what we give a shit about is is it actually true? The relativity of truth is the preserve of psuedo intellectual liars, and is an extension of existentialism - which itself got bankrupted the second you were surprised by something. The universe is a practical place, it isn't going to bend itself to suit your perceptions of it.

  Fourth: Look around at what is really happening in the world. America's main automotive companies are failing badly while still paying for lobbyists to keep fuel standards down - because the rest of the world is taking this problem seriously. If you want to sell cars, you need to cater to your market. The same goes for any other product.

  Right now, America's automotive industry can try as it might, the laws on the books aren't making it look good to a world that is looking appraisingly at a Prius. America's legal standards tell people about where America is, they tell people what you are going to do about pollution, and if the world doesn't like what it sees America's brands will suffer.

  Fifth: Recognise that America's government is of the people by the people. When you pay taxes, you are contributing to your own welfare, when the government makes rules, it is by America's collective will that those rules are made. You can disagree with the rules but it is on you to change the minds of your fellow citizen, not simply to bitch about how the "elites" are ruling the country.

  And yes, this does mean that if you are a liberal and you voted for the other guy, you get to share in America's responsibility for Bush and the invasion of Iraq. Welcome to why so many liberals are hopping mad about the issue.

  Sixth: Take this recognition and vote accordingly. It is not simply the government's responsibility to fix itself up and give you a better life, it is your responsibility to fix your government up and give yourself a better life.

  You can't blame the past for your decisions, and you can't blame the media for your stuff-ups at work. Stop letting politicians do that with how they run the country. During the reign of Bush I don't give a stuff what Clinton did, if Clinton did wrong it was for Bush to fix it. During the reign of Obama or all fates forbid it, McCain, Bush will be similarly irrelevent save as historic information.

  Seventh: Go and read up on the issues yourself. Don't just read talking points and Fox spin, go and actually read the IPCC, and then read some of the source material. Recognise that nobody is "out to get you" because frankly you aren't that interesting, just look at the facts. There is no worldwide conspiracy.

  Eighth: Now consider what there is that can be done. It won't reduce your quality of life to get an energy saving lightbulb, to recycle and to drive a smaller car around town.

  Try to live closer to where you work - and walking might just save you something on gym fees. If your local factory is spewing out noxious gasses - it wasn't designed to do that and should be fixed. Pollution is all too often a matter of poor maintanance - not actually poor design.

  Ninth: Demand excellence. Your car guzzles gas? Why the hell should you pay for someone designing a gas guzzler? That it costs you an arm and a leg to keep it on the street is not a design feature - its a flaw. Buy the better designed car that doesn't guzzle gas, along with the better designed washing machine that doesn't drive up your electric bill. You deserve better than second rate ineffecient products.

  Tenth: Maintain excellence. A good car can become a gas guzzler if you don't maintain it right, that good washing machine can be a major energy drain if it isn't maintained. You deserve the best, keep the best.

  —Taliesan Read Taliesan's other letters
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