Whistling through the torrent

In his headline, Wonkblog's Brad Plumer answers a curiously little-asked question as Mother Nature swamps the East Coast: "Yes, Hurricane Sandy is a good reason to worry about climate change."

But heaven forfend we should worry about it at the federal level, let alone on a global plane. Let's first send such worries--if indeed there's even cause for worry--back to the states. Yes, that’s the right direction. And if we can go even further and send it back to the private sector, that’s even better.

Meanwhile,

In the mid-Atlantic region, the coastal seas have risen about eight inches since 1900....

What’s more, sea-level rise is expected to accelerate in the decades ahead--an additional two to seven feet by 2100.... [I]t is "very likely" that extreme coastal flooding during storms will become far more common in the future as a result. And that’s a big problem for cities such as New York.

Yeah, so what? The moral thing to do, in my view, is for us to continue to rack up higher and higher seas and pass them on to our kids, knowing full well that we’ll all be dead and gone before the rising tides are stemmed. It makes perfect sense.

Comments

[japa21]

I fully expect the next Obama administration to make climate change action a priority. Much as I hate to say it, as an election issue it would probably be a loser and if he made it one we woudl see a President Romney and nothing would be done except for policies that would make it worse.

[AnneJ]

Japa, I agree with you 100%.

[priscianus jr]

"And if we can go even further and send it back to the private sector, that’s even better."
And if we can go still yet even more further, and send it back to the individuals that make up this land of rugges individualism, that will be the bestest of all. I'm talking about you, you and you! Take some personal responsibility! That's the spirit that makes this country great! And as you stand there watching your home, family, and dog floating out to sea,

Nothing's impossible, I have found
For when my chin is on the ground.
I pick myself up,
Dust myself off
And start all over again.

Don't lose your confidence
If you slip
Be grateful for a pleasant trip
And pick yourself up,
Dust yourself off
And start all over again.