Climate Change Agreement Does Not Mean “One World Government” – It Means Think Globally, Act Locally is Enforced

Some people opposed to an agreement on limiting greenhouse gas emissions claim that such an agreement is a thinly veiled attempt to impose a world government that takes away their “freedoms.” I don’t know how many people take these people or this argument seriously, but it does seem to be a theme among far-right-wingers. I also don’t know how many of these conspiracy addicts are sincere; this may simply be a position they retreat from when pressed, and that  serves mainly to conceal something socially unacceptable, like racism or the desire that the American empire continue unimpeded.

Polluters should not be allowed to pollute, because that harms us all and there is no way to compensate for non-financial harm. If someone steals from you and is forced to pay restitution, you have your money back. If someone pollutes the water upstream and your child dies of leukemia…. Worse, someone who dumps carcinogens into the water is unlikely to have a functioning conscience and will fight in every way possible to avoid paying even financial restitution, never mind being sent to prison. From burying you with a multi-million-dollar court battle to paying senators to change laws to make the immoral legal, they will not pay willingly.

The most recent attempt to make the most money for the least effort means ‘outsourcing’ to countries with lower pollution standards and rulers who can be more easily influenced to keep them that way – and ‘free trade’ to ensure that local businesses with higher standards cannot compete.

Globally agreed-upon and enforced pollution regulations, worker safety laws, and a greenhouse gas tax are necessary when dealing with global capitalism. Otherwise, conscienceless business owners will seek ways to influence local governments and gain an unfair advantage. ‘Free trade’ has been simply a way to allow the conscienceless to seek the lowest price, regardless of the cost to all of us.

Ironically, these global laws result in a more local economy, and rebuild manufacturing in the United States and Canada. Why? Because when polluters must pay for the greenhouse gases they add to the atmosphere, suddenly it makes sense to make things locally again. The ‘competitive advantage’ of being able to pollute at will or run sweatshops is eliminated, and of course, shipping costs will go up.

Unfortunately, we have allowed polluters to pollute rather than coming up with clean processes right from the start. That would have been the best way, but it’s a bit late. Next best is to tax pollution while phasing it out. That’s what government is supposed to do: protect the people, not the corporations.