and she said.. "how you interpret the dream is probably more important than the dream itself"

I wrote this post awhile ago and didn't remember to post it.. I had just been mulling over the pollution problem we have here on our little blue dot and it really enrages me that we are marching down the market capitalism road, covering our ears and singing "la la la la", believing all the while that this is a good solution.

Here is my take from the angle of view I have:

We need to drive renewable and sustainable energy research and innovation into those countries that, like China and India, are industrializing at a rapid pace. Use the technology where it will have the greatest impact. If Country A, population 1, could reduce their overall energy consumption by 1% by spending $10, but Country B, population 10, could reduce their overall energy consumption by 1% by spending $10, then it is clear where the money should be spent.^[1] Indeed, it would behoove Country A to spend its $10 on Country B, instead, since Country A and Country B happen to live on the same planet so receive the same benefit, relatively speaking. This is where past and current politicking on the topic is flawed - they are trying to apply a classic market economy to a problem that is anything but. Trade and cap? That is not affecting the supply of emissions, it's just moving it around. This is a Global issue that impacts everybody.^[2] We need to be thinking about this like the world's most humongous single payer system.

China cranks out two new power plants every week. If, ultimately, it is cheaper to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in China, then we need to be spending the money there. None of this per-capita discussion.

[1] In fact, this is similar to the healthcare debate, in that some people out there (backwards and confused, to be sure) insist that they don't want a single payer government run health-care system even if you tell them that it would be less expensive for them; their response: "I ain't paying for other people's shit!".

[2] Admittedly, pollution emitted closer to you will probably have a greater impact on you, especially if you're down-wind. There is a definite trade-off between spending $1 to prevent 1 ton of pollution in China versus paying $1 to prevent 1 ton of pollution in your backyard, and I accept that. However, in the grand scheme, we really want to working towards reducing pollution overall. Don't squibble on the small stuff.