| >If the government wants something to happen, surely they should pay for it? If an industry is profiting by pushing the cost of their pollution onto society, surely the polluting industry should pay for it? These (heavily subsidized) profits are not "owed," in reality it's the polluters who are the debtors here. Here's a friendly reminder, since companies are constantly trying to flip this script around: Companies serve at the whims of civil society, not the other way around. Society generously allows these companies to exist, not the other way around. It's not our job to come to these car companies, hat in hand, and bargain for them to please mister please sir please don't destroy our planet! Instead, it's their obligation to not destroy the planet. If companies prefer not to invest having a future business, they're welcome to cease existing in that future. We call this creative destruction, and it's essential to make room for newer and better companies to take their place. |