Why do we speak in euphemisms when speaking honestly would serve us better?
Fossil-fuel “subsidies” sounds almost benign, similar to calling a lie an “untruth.”
Why soften it and go easy? Climate change is not going to go easy on us. Speaking more bluntly: Fossil-fuel subsidies are helping to destroy our planet, and our social safety net as well. Would our tax dollars not be better spent on our citizens, whether that be on the social safety net, infrastructure, or anything else for the common good?
Our tax dollars are making fossil fuels competitive with alternative forms of energy, which would not be the case without our tax dollars. In addition, if our pension funds, retirement or investment accounts are invested in stocks or mutual funds, we may also be helping to prop up fossil fuels
Do we vote for politicians who do not take seriously or deny climate change? Perhaps said politician agrees with us on an issue important to us. How important will that issue be in a climate disaster?
It is easy to say fossil fuels are the bad guy, though it seems more difficult to look at where we may be complicit.
