Cheeseburgers and Guns.  Climate change and pricing carbon 
– By Darin Sullivan

Like most people, I’ve looked at both sides of the climate change argument for a long time. I don’t believe the skeptics. I don’t believe those that use politics to take the easy, hysterical, popular road. At time of writing this, the right wing politics of Australia (and arguably the Western world) are dominating this debate, and the science of climate change is still being disputed. I hope that in the future one day we’ll read this and things will have changed.

I believe that climate change threatens the future of my country and the world I live in. I believe that the science is in – clearly showing that we are the process ruining this planet. I believe that climate change threatens our working lives and living conditions. After looking at both sides of the argument, this is my view.

It’s easy to ignore our effects on this planet, to believe that we are having a serious negative impact is scary. To do nothing is much easier. To make change is difficult.

Like anything that is hard and requiring change, we can only take responsibility for ourselves. Even if by doing the right thing makes no difference until others around the world make the necessary changes, doing nothing is not an option.

I respect people in this world that step up and have a go, and do what they think is right, even if it is unpopular and difficult. In Australia, the ALP could not have been any more open about the fact that they want, and indeed intended to have, a carbon trading scheme. The current scheme in Australia (2012) is a step towards that. The fact that the Australian Government have to deal with the minor parties in a hung parliament is a reality, and the fact that they need to make concessions to do that is also a necessity. Is that going back on a promise? – I don’t care. I want them to do the right thing, and I am hoping this is the road to get there.

Will paying more for electricity, and paying more for the energy I use hurt me financially? Yes it will, but that doesn’t make it wrong. It will change my behavior and I probably need that. Australians are the biggest polluters per capita in the developed world. What gives us that right?  If I need to pay my way to do the right thing, I’m happy with that.

We are a rich country by comparison to our neighbors. I think we need to start acting like mature members of the community, instead of whining like sooks every time our Government makes decisions which threaten our TV and computer use.

When petrol goes up, we all cry foul because we really need our car to drive on the freeway, right next to that other person in the car alone on the same freeway, going to the same place.

We need to keep standing up and calling out the freak shows that let their own politics and power threaten working people and families. Enough of the Trumpist calls for civil uprisings, screaming at those commie socialists daring to threaten their right to cheeseburgers and guns.

I’m all for fighting to improve the wages and conditions for firefighters and all Australians, but sometimes we need to stop complaining about taking responsibility as citizens of this planet.

The science is in, it is obvious we must change and do what’s needed to reduce the impact of climate change.