Heather Smith, writing in Grist, asks:
Have you ever wished there was more talk of climate change in national politics? Have you ever sat through a dull, paint-by-numbers political debate and secretly wished for an over-the-top, maybe even kind of loopy person to show up and take the whole conversation off-script?
She then introduces Mike Beitiks, who is running for the California Senate seat being vacated by Barbara Boxer. Beitiks is running a single issue campaign on fighting climate change, and he makes Elizabeth Warren’s attacks on Wall Street seem tame and subtle by comparison
Here are just two of Beitiks’ proposals to combat climate change:
1. Take all of the rich people’s money, put it toward fighting climate change. Then, take all of the poor people’s money, put that toward fighting climate change. Basically, nobody gets money anymore until no more climate change.
2. Everyone has to breathe more shallowly.
Now I agree that climate change is a serious issue, in fact the most serious issue we face and a threat to the survival of life on earth. I also think that extreme problems do require extreme solutions. And I have to admit he adds some fun to the campaign. I think, though, that his solutions might be difficult to enforce. You really have to read Smith's
article
if only to see Beitiks' campaign poster.