May 19, 2019
That is the logic of a major article on the idea of a Green New Deal which equates measures to stem global warming with big government and socialism. If we recognize the emission of greenhouse gases as an externality that is doing serious harm to others, then it is equivalent to massive dumping of sewage on other people’s lawns.
Most of us would not think that government action to prevent this sort of massive sewage dump was “big government” or socialism. It is government that is taking the action necessary to protect people’s rights.
This is effectively the story that we are looking at with a Green New Deal. It is understandable that opponents of actions to stop global warming would describe a Green New Deal as big government, but it is not clear why the Post would choose to do so.
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