Even though this should be the season of cheer and celebration, it is all temporary. Santa may be around next week but he will not show his face in 2070 when the warming earth may have no snow.

After years of reckless flaring of gas in the oil fields, the Biden administration has said that “enough is enough” and is cutting back on the permissible release of methane

According to an excellent article on the subject by Forum reporter Pat Springer, the new federal standard will cut greenhouse gases by 80% of emissions of greenhouse gases in the petroleum industry.

ND’s sad song

Of course, the North Dakota oil industry did not cheer the move as a step toward saving the earth from trashing by the present generation. In chorus, they all sang a sad song about the loss of money and jobs.

Imposition of the methane standard – and the reaction of the industry – are proof that internal politics will prevent the kind of transformation that must take place in the American society to stop global warming.

The argument pits the future against the present and it is obvious that the loss of money and jobs today will not be tolerated politically for benefits in 2070.

Present vs. tomorrow

In the debate, the oil industry has the advantage because it can argue for benefits today, something more powerful than benefits 50 years from now.

Because human beings are temporary, they think only in terms of the present. Very few can comprehend the global warming time frame let alone trade present benefits for future promises.

The federal government will need the authority to force compliance to actions necessary for this earth-threatening problem. No doubt, it will be called a “police state” or a “dictatorship.”

Getting the 90%

Right now, less than 10% of the people recycle voluntarily but that will not be sufficient to stop the heat. So how will our present-oriented population react when the North Dakota government orders recycling by all businesses and households.

Ninety percent of our population are not recycling because it requires time to save and haul the cardboard, plastics and paper to a collection site. We won’t tolerate the inconvenience and our legislature will respect the cries of the inconvenienced by passing laws to outlaw recycling.

Futurists evicted

After all, if they snub the constituents on recycling, they will be evicted from the legislature at the next election. And how many legislators will do what is right when their seats are at stake? There will be no willingness to sacrifice office today for some unknown legislator in 2070.

Because every future generation will see a brutal fight between present beneficiaries and the future generations, greed will not be abated. The North Dakota political system already struggles mightily to solve easy problems. By every measure, global warming is too tough for our policy process.

Internal politics

There will be few legislators able to resist the arguments over today’s jobs and money. The state’s internal politics will not be able to stand up to the political heat that will come from proposing and enacting anti-warming legislation.

Overcoming the resistance of those who worry about jobs and profits today will become no easier as time passes. And it is only one of the barriers to saving the earth.

By 2070, Santa Claus may be delivering gifts on foot.