Climate change and our economic system

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere before 1960 was less than 300 parts per million. Now it is over 400 parts per million (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). This is a concentration not seen since at least three million years ago – long before human existed. This environment degradation was produced by communism, capitalism and socialism.

The scientific evidence suggests that if this continues, it will make the Earth uninhabitable to human in about 100 years. The Earth has had five mass extinction events all linked to climate change, whether caused by asteroids or natural phenomenon.

This situation was created by the philosophy of profit (maintain the system) over people. This is common in socialist, communist and capitalist economic models.

We cannot stop the global economic system because about 80 per cent of the world population depends directly on it. Before the industrial revolution of the 17th century, the situation was reverse. We cannot continue with any present economic model; we can only tame the capitalist version with government regulation and the socialist with more individual rights.

TREAT EVERYONE AS KIN

The new economic system will have to insure that all humans can live without struggle for material survival, which breeds crime and disorder.

The socialist myopia is to think that government official will not become the one per cent that oppresses the people, especially the poor. Private property is important but not owned by only the few.

All present economic system creates a Pareto distribution, where 80 per cent of the wealth is owned or controlled by 20 per cent of the population. This is not by talent alone, government support made them successful by diverting resources from the many to give to the few.

An economic system must be the kind that comes from the word kin (relative) – treat everyone as a blood relative – and not let children go hungry or talented people not realise their dream because they are not connected.

BRIAN ELLIS PLUMMER