Commonplace

"Conservatives should reject both denialism, which tends to disregard real harms in the name of resistance to climate alarmism, and apocalyptic politics, which subordinates human wellbeing to emissions targets and justifies sweeping mandates."

In the first edition of our new newsletter, Future Voices, six college students share their thoughts on how conservatives should address climate policy.

"France is no stranger to protests that degenerate into violence, but for years, pundits have offered a ready narrative to explain them.

"Student demonstrations are provoked by budget cuts to education, they say. Economists connect protests in the poor banlieues of France’s big cities to economic inequality and state failure. Historians draw intricate analogies to May 1968 or to the French tradition of 'Jacquerie,' the centuries-old peasant revolts against the ruling class.

"This narrative is reassuring. It roots riots in material questions, all the easier to provide prepackaged material solutions. It offers politicians a ready template during election season: vow to hire more school staff and build more glitzy community centers in the banlieues. Police are ordered to let the street protests take place, only intervening when the protesters go home and professional agitators arrive to stir up trouble, then step aside to let the politicians take the limelight with their flashy promises. Protests are just the French national hobby. There is nothing new under the sun.

"The events in France since September should shatter that narrative once and for all." @ZemmourEric and @NPinkoski explain what's really driving the riots roiling France.

What caused the GOP wipeout on Tuesday, and what should conservatives learn from it? @Chris_Griz and @oren_cass discuss on the latest episode of the @AmerCompass Podcast. mag.commonplace.org/p/an-election-…

"Give Us a Positive Vision for Climate" from @gracejplath.

"For decades, climate alarmists have spread their message of environmental apocalypse far and wide. Although these dire predictions haven’t come to pass (see Al Gore’s claims that Glacier National Park’s glaciers would disappear by the year 2021), young adults still believe climate issues are important. Surveys estimate that 80% of 16-24-year-olds worldwide suffer from 'climate anxiety.' A 2021 study by the Pew Research Center found that 69% of Gen Zers felt anxious about the future when they interacted with social media content addressing climate change.

"American conservatives have largely failed to cast a positive vision for a conservative approach to environmental stewardship. By doing so, we have ceded that space to radical voices who claim that our only hope of saving the planet lies in population reduction and extreme policy changes that will drastically lower quality of life for people around the globe.

"Today, conservatives stand at a crossroads in the climate discussion. We have an incredible opportunity to give the younger generations an alternative message of hope rather than fear. Conservatives must reframe the environmental debate in terms of a pro-life, pro-stewardship mindset. Yes, the earth is a gift that we must care for, and it is a resource that we should use to promote human flourishing. Clean air and water are important, but so is affordable energy, and the two aren’t mutually exclusive. Population growth is not a burden on the environment, but a gift that promotes innovation and enterprise.

"It’s time that climate alarmism is relegated to the landfill of history. Let’s reclaim environmental conservation for the conservative movement." From our debut Future Voices newsletter. mag.commonplace.org/p/future-voice…

"Remarkably, Carver did not ask for a tariff during his nearly two hours of demonstrations, or not directly, anyway. He was questioned on the topic by one of the congressmen and responded, 'Tariff? This is all the tariff means—to put the other fellow out of business.' The quip drew plenty of laughter, yet Carver reiterated the point in a letter he sent the committee afterward, writing, 'My appearance was not to discuss the tariff. I have nothing to sell; I will manufacture nothing. I simply came to add my little bit if possible.' He then added, tongue in cheek, 'I feel sure you gentlemen will guard and put proper restrictions upon every interest that arises in harmful competition with ours without any suggestions of mine.'” Haisten Willis explains how even in the 1920s, it was apparent to lawmakers why protecting domestic industry was important.