In a great article entitled, No “footprint”, No Life, Keith Lockitch of the Ayn Rand Institute points out the futility of trying to live by the environmentalists’ rules.
It seems that no matter what we do to make our everyday lives greener it is simply never enough. No matter how much we recycle or how much we save, our carbon footprint on this earth will never be small enough. This environmentalist philosophy tells us that by the sheer fact of our existence we are guilty and are negatively impacting the earth. With a radical philosophy such as this, which seeks to tremendously limit our lives on this planet, we need to ask ourselves, “Is reducing our carbon footprint really a good thing”?
Almost everything we do has some impact on the environment, from the act of breathing to that of manufacturing clothing. So as long as we are living we will leave a footprint behind us. Based on the rhetoric of those in the “green movement”, it seems that the only way we can avoid leaving a footprint would be to die.
We must recognize that the only way for us to survive is to shape the earth and its resources for our survival and benefit. The more we use the earth’s resources the more prosperous and fulfilled we as humans can be. In a country like China or India, living better, happier lives will ultimately mean a bigger “footprint” – but who doesn’t want the Chinese and Indians to be better off?
So instead of trying to please every last “greenie” or feeling guilty for your so-called footprint, enjoy it – as it shows that you are alive and well.
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