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A letter posted by the Bangor Daily News on Feb. 10 analyzing why the U.S. is moving backwards on climate change focused on the problematic relationship between our economic system and our political system. It calls to mind the axiom that love of money is the root of all evil.
As the writer notes, both of our political parties are too cozy with Wall Street (how many bankers responsible for the financial crisis of 2008 went to jail?), and the Supreme Court has declared that money is “speech” (one dollar, one vote?), guaranteeing the corporate capture of democracy.
It had to happen: the endless, competitive pursuit of profit will eventually overwhelm the cooperative quest for democratic equality.
As the writer also notes, the sacrifice of our grandchildren (and all subsequent generations) on the “altar of greed” is the price we collectively seem willing to pay, rather than to overthrow our carbon-polluting energy system. Clean energy from sun, wind, tides and the earth can be harnessed now.
Doing so gives the next generations a much better chance at a stable life. The writer urged us to “wake up!” But are we asleep or are we just too self-centered and selfish to care?
Cletis Boyer
Belfast
