Overreaction to global warming is the same tactics of exploitative fear as was the carried on, and still is, in the rush to Iraq. These piecemeal inconvenient truths do not forge a systemic strategy—on the contrary, it generates greater negatives. Who among the poor would not resent a lecture on the good graces of organic foods originated from the elite holier-than-thou image-seekers who can afford them? No one of moderate means would pay triple the price for a head of cabbage. Who among us shaving would not feel patronized when told to stop continuously running the hot water under a foamy razor? That’s nothing but common sense conservation yet not a solution to saving the world.

Many years ago unleaded gas was scarce and unwanted, anyway. I think only one oil company even bothered to offer it. The pump was virtually ignored not because it was more expensive—it was actually cheaper—but that it reduced engine power despite its cleaning effect. That was in the days of leaded high octane and maximum V8 power. However when catalytic converters and unleaded became law, the price jumped under the guise of costly conversion. Having no other choice consumers resigned to the benefits of cleaner air, though shafted by big oil passing its expense onto the guzzlers that continued to exceed the speed limits, spewing lower emissions but more of it as the two-car family escalated. Then came the love affair with pickup trucks, SUVs and luxury cars: clean air dwindled and foul emissions continued its devastation. Even the current attraction of hi-tech bulbs will have little effect because the off switch will be used even less. What good is dragging out the fire hoses to combat horrendous forest fires in trying to protect our tall leafy carbon fighters while our Airforce sits on its ass shaking its collective head over the devastation? What use electric and hydro cars while we tour America in our Chevy trucks and China goes on building dirty coal plants. Still grant the visionaries some credit. Imagine what the ocean level would be today if in the ’30s and ’40s coal fueled homes had not been converted to oil and/or gas.

The only solution to global warming is a Marshall Plan to clean up our polluted minds of the world’s population that continue to spit in the face of a planet that needs to be held hostage by universal conservation. Even then how many of us will reasonably adjust our thermostats, turn off the computer, show restraint in charging up the iPod and cell phone, divorce bigger cars, terminate old traditional coal plants, exploiting cornfields as fuel in lieu of strategically using farm fields for air turbines here and there? Nor can one imagine frequent travelers staying home and the commuter car-pooling or utilizing public transportation.

How ironic that we sometimes use more energy to save energy. Or for those who consume too much are granted absolution through a carbon tax. Aye, we are victims unto ourselves, stampeding toward futility.