Australia is literally on fire but, I suspect, it will still move at glacial pace on climate change. We hope people "wake up" but many won't.
Why? Because I think most campaigners speak with leftist language than to/with middle-of-the-road voters.
So they ignore us.
Why? Because I think most campaigners speak with leftist language than to/with middle-of-the-road voters.
So they ignore us.
The right can say they'll invest to ensure Australians will be protected from climate change.
If they don't trust us or connect with us, they will buy that message over a 'radical' left wing message.
And the fires will continue and climate change will get worse.
If they don't trust us or connect with us, they will buy that message over a 'radical' left wing message.
And the fires will continue and climate change will get worse.
I'll be blunt. We can tackle climate change without socialism.
There are tons of market based solutions (transport electrification infrastructure, renewable energy investment, carbon trading).
But politicians rarely debate them because it's either 'eco socialism' or denial.
There are tons of market based solutions (transport electrification infrastructure, renewable energy investment, carbon trading).
But politicians rarely debate them because it's either 'eco socialism' or denial.
We're not long off from leftists saying 'Australians deserve it' because they won't listen. I probably thought this too.
But maybe they don't listen because we're so bad at talking with them?
But maybe they don't listen because we're so bad at talking with them?
Until recently, mainstream socialism was largely unconcerned with environmentalism.
Socialists championed coal miners, factory workers, car factory workers.
In other words, socialism doesn't automatically mean lower emissions.
Socialists championed coal miners, factory workers, car factory workers.
In other words, socialism doesn't automatically mean lower emissions.
But my argument isn't with socialists.
It's with climate change campaigners who have adopted socialist language, and then complain that right-wingers won't listen.
We need a focus on centre and centre-right voters too. The left can't reach them.
It's with climate change campaigners who have adopted socialist language, and then complain that right-wingers won't listen.
We need a focus on centre and centre-right voters too. The left can't reach them.
To put it more succinctly, the Green New Deal is an eco-socialist project. It will do fine in getting the left mobilised. But the left isn't winning elections.
So how do we convince the wider public of other ways to tackle climate change faster?
So how do we convince the wider public of other ways to tackle climate change faster?
People on the left have become so afraid of reaching out to centre right people that this seems bizarre to them.
But I know centre right people who consider themselves 'green' and would do more if given sensible solutions/ ideas. They love conservation. They're not the enemy.
But I know centre right people who consider themselves 'green' and would do more if given sensible solutions/ ideas. They love conservation. They're not the enemy.
"Why are you blaming the left?"
I'm blaming the left for losing elections. For being unable to build wide coalitions. For not having a language that makes non-socialists want them in power.
Our difficulty in getting action on climate change is part of this problem
I'm blaming the left for losing elections. For being unable to build wide coalitions. For not having a language that makes non-socialists want them in power.
Our difficulty in getting action on climate change is part of this problem
