Every few years in this country we go through a song and dance show to elect our leaders and representatives. We hear from each of them about their plans to do this or do that, carefully trying not to offend anyone while simultaneously appealing to everyone. From education to taxes to the deficit to foreign policy, the candidates tell us what we want to hear only to constantly change positions throughout their elected tenure. No topic is seemingly off-limits for discussion except possibly the single most important one that should be of the up most concern for all of humanity:
The health of our environment.
The environment encompasses all that we have been, currently are, and hope to be in the future. Without it, we have nothing. It makes up our homes, where we work, where our families travel to, and how we enjoy the time we are allotted here on Earth. If our environment is not healthy, we have no chance of being healthy or of having a future.
Regardless of your political affiliation, it is important to see the health of our environment as the single most important issue of our time. On a daily basis, we assault it with all that we have to offer as a modern society: pollution from cars, airplanes, and power plants, toxic chemicals leeching into the ground, “fracking” near our underground aquifers in order to access natural gas, and the wholesale destruction of our food supply with genetically-modified organisms and pesticides. At times, it seems as though we are hell-bent on seeing just how much damage our world can sustain before it stops sustaining us. And that’s why the environment should be at the top of every politician’s (and human citizen’s) list of concerns, way above and beyond things like education, taxes, deficits, and foreign policy. Here’s why…
Education
Yes, education is a top priority. But what good is an education if the children and young adults getting one don’t have a healthy planet to use it on?
Taxes
Ah, taxes. Everyone’s favorite scapegoat is the price of living in a civilized society, isn’t it? Whether too high or too low, taxes won’t matter one bit on a planet that is beyond saving or habitation.
Deficits
Another favorite of politicians that truly – if we’re being honest with ourselves – has no effect on the general population. We have had high deficits and low deficits, but have you ever noticed it help or hurt you? I haven’t. And that will continue on a planet being painstakingly destroyed by our own ambivalence and denial.
Foreign Policy
While important for the safety of our home planet, a good foreign policy plan can also make or break a nation. But when water supplies dwindle, air turns toxic, and the effects of climate change are felt around the globe, good foreign policy isn’t going to stop humans from fighting each other over the last drops of gasoline, clean drinking water, and scraps of food.
When over 99 percent of climate scientists believe that humans are causing climate change and that the effects we are feeling from it today is only the beginning, one would think it would behoove our elected officials to aim at least a small amount of their rhetoric towards the well-being of the environment. Sure, they throw us a bone once in a while in order to appease the “green” voting bloc, but in the grand scheme the environment is thoroughly ignored so that the focus can be on all the extracurricular topics that will be irrelevant if we don’t have a clean planet to live on. It’s up to us to impress upon them the importance of this topic and to vote out of office the ones who choose to ignore environmental issues.
Without a healthy environment, we don’t have anything.
What’s your take? Do you believe the environment should take center stage in our political discourse above other topics or do you believe we should stick with the status quo and stick with the same old same old? Would love to read your thoughts on the subject?
I would not agree that it’s the single most important issue out there. It’s definitely important, and I know other things can be done to help improve the environment. However, I think there are many issues which are important and need to be discussed and dealt with. That said, I am so glad it will be over next week. I personally think thy all need to be voted out and start over with people who’re actually willing to work on the issues and not just sit there doing nothing but playing the blame game.
Isn’t that what politics is – blaming people. You are right – they don’t seem to ever get anywhere. I do think though that the root of our survival is based on our planet’s health and if we don’t protect it we will die and none of the other issues will matter.
I know. It sucks. They have destroyed the federal parks programs. People won’t be able to enjoy them anymore because they won’t be maintained. We need a change in leadership for sure.
Among the big social policy issues, I look at the environment in the same way I look at my health among the many ‘personal policy’ issues I face: If it goes sour, you suddenly realize little else matters. Environmental policy may not feel so important today because most of us have a sense that our environment is pretty good. But when that changes, most everyone will become an environmentalist.
We just watched a documentary about melting global ice sheets last night. It was truly terrifying. Weird that you post this today, because this morning we were talking about that documentary…and how nothing really matters to people except for convenience and money.
I love our beautiful planet. I hope that we all figure it out before it’s too late to make any signicant changes. I’m worried about the planet we are leaving our children.
I have the same concerns as you. We don’t have kids yet but I worry what kind of home they will have to live in. We definitely need to shift our priorities as a society. We are spending our energies on things that don’t matter.
True, most government and people are so focused on other issues when in fact, having a home to live in should be one of our utmost concern because the earth is slowly dying and though, we have yet to experience all the terrible effects it could bring on our lives, we have to be realistic for the sake of our children who will inherit the world that our society has forsaken.
Every few years in this country we go through a song and dance show to elect our leaders and representatives. We hear from each of them about their plans to do this or do that, carefully trying not to offend anyone while simultaneously appealing to everyone. From education to taxes to the deficit to foreign policy, the candidates tell us what we want to hear only to constantly change positions throughout their elected tenure. No topic is seemingly off-limits for discussion except possibly the single most important one that should be of the up most concern for all of humanity:
I couldn’t agree with you more. If we don’t have a place where it is possible for us to live, none of the other silliness really matters does it?
Ditto. We won’t be able to survive.
I would not agree that it’s the single most important issue out there. It’s definitely important, and I know other things can be done to help improve the environment. However, I think there are many issues which are important and need to be discussed and dealt with. That said, I am so glad it will be over next week. I personally think thy all need to be voted out and start over with people who’re actually willing to work on the issues and not just sit there doing nothing but playing the blame game.
Isn’t that what politics is – blaming people. You are right – they don’t seem to ever get anywhere. I do think though that the root of our survival is based on our planet’s health and if we don’t protect it we will die and none of the other issues will matter.
I agree – but the track record in Canada is pretty sad. Our current political party in charge doesn’t seem to give a crap about the environment.
I know. It sucks. They have destroyed the federal parks programs. People won’t be able to enjoy them anymore because they won’t be maintained. We need a change in leadership for sure.
Among the big social policy issues, I look at the environment in the same way I look at my health among the many ‘personal policy’ issues I face: If it goes sour, you suddenly realize little else matters. Environmental policy may not feel so important today because most of us have a sense that our environment is pretty good. But when that changes, most everyone will become an environmentalist.
Very well said. I couldn’t have said it better myself. The issue is that by the time the majority comes on board, it might be too late.
We just watched a documentary about melting global ice sheets last night. It was truly terrifying. Weird that you post this today, because this morning we were talking about that documentary…and how nothing really matters to people except for convenience and money.
I love our beautiful planet. I hope that we all figure it out before it’s too late to make any signicant changes. I’m worried about the planet we are leaving our children.
I have the same concerns as you. We don’t have kids yet but I worry what kind of home they will have to live in. We definitely need to shift our priorities as a society. We are spending our energies on things that don’t matter.
True, most government and people are so focused on other issues when in fact, having a home to live in should be one of our utmost concern because the earth is slowly dying and though, we have yet to experience all the terrible effects it could bring on our lives, we have to be realistic for the sake of our children who will inherit the world that our society has forsaken.
Perfectly said. I feel exactly the same way and I can’t help but get frustrated when others don’t see this.