TalkClimateChange

Thanks for broadcasting the info!
http://lamarguerite.wordpress.com

Leadership at the top, business solutions, technology and science yes, financial incentives, individual behavioral changes, community initiatives, a new code of ethics, international diplomacy, population control measures, lots of goodwill at all levels

So the answer is socialism or even fascism?

Yes that is what we need to do! Remove all choice from people by forcing them to fit our vision of society, lead by a strong leader.

These forms of government have not had a great track record or success rate in solving anything.

Why do people always run to socialism to solve problems, it is like they feel that a capitalist and democratic system is some how repressing change.

I say this “get out there and change things, stop asking government to control everything, they are not good at it.”

Sucess in the marketplace = Change in Consumer behaviour.

That is how you effect change in a modern democratic/capitalist society.

I agree, pretty much, with your comments on socialism.

Although I think your assessment of the message maybe jumps to some conclusions in this regard? The original author is a marketer by profession, and so I think that what she is saying is that in order to encourage these changes in consumer behaviour we need a little leadership and some creative incentivisation. That doesn’t have to mean a socialistic approach?

Markets are often rather short term, and sometimes need a gentle prod in the right direction. I say this fully realising that generally when governments interfere with markets things go badly - but that is usually for different reasons.

I might look at the problem from a slightly different angle, and suggest that to make the kind of changes that may be required to achieve a tangible difference we need a Maggi Thatcher at the helm of the United Nations - then we might start seeing a bit of movement.

Hmm. I think I feel a blog post coming on…

Mark,

First Socialism and Fascism are not dirty words, they have been used incorrectly for many years and do have a stygma attached. Yet there is not any other words to replace them with.

Many people have socialist sensibilities and are unaware of them. I for one still strongly believe in Universal Health Care, which is a socialist policy. So I have socialist tendencies myself.

Had to call that one as I see it. When you stick in Strong leader + behavioral changes + community initiatives + new code of ethics + population control you get socialism and possibly fascism.

Wrap it up in goodwill ( Hugo Chavez subsidized US homeowners for heating oil). You got yourself a socialism daily double.

Now it may not been meant in that light but socialism is still around because it is popular, it talks about sharing wealth, feeding the poor, protecting children, helping the helpless, community level programs. Governments controlling industry to protect the citizens, common ownership of the country, resources and takes wealth from businesses and the rich for the common fund.

My own country is guilty of it, the NDP (New Democratic Party) is a socialist party, the Progressive Democratic movement in the US was helmed by FDR who was a socialist by any measure.

The UK has had it’s run-ins as well.

Big social programs, lots of taxes. Government regulations, licensing and control of basic services like banking and utilities.

Universal healthcare, crop sudsidies, energy subsidies are all socialist policies.

It is not meant as a blanket condemnation, it is not as bad a thing as it comes across. Some socialist policies are good but they need to be identified before they go too far.

So remember all commenters, if I call you a socialist it is not as bad as it sounds, mainly because I am one too.