Naomi Reskies and David Gellis talk about the role of market fundamentalism in climate chaos. They argue that it's not capitalism itself that is to blame, but market fundamentalism. The world we live in today is very different than the world Adam Smith was talking about in 1776,. Different countries that all identify as essentially market based economies manage their economies in quite different ways.
Many on the left say that the growing climate crisis is the inevitable result of unbridled capitalism – industries seeking profits above all else. In “The Big Myth,” Naomi Oreskes (who brought us “Merchants of Doubt”) points to a concerted effort from American business groups to propagate the myth that only markets free of government regulation can generate prosperity and protect political freedom.
“If we actually had appropriate regulations, appropriate rules of the road, we wouldn't be in this position of having to beg corporate leaders not to destroy the planet,” Oreskes says.
This myth has grown so pervasive that American citizens now put more faith in CEOs than in religious leaders, according to David Gelles, author of “The Man Who Broke Capitalism.” What should be done to change the narrative?
Guests:
Naomi Oreskes, Professor of the History of Science, Harvard
David Gelles, Reporter, The New York Times
Kate Khatib, Co-Director, Seed Commons
For show notes and related links, visit https://www.climateone.org/watch-and-listen/podcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices