Readers who follow forumNordic will know that we, the Nordics, hold dear many important human values and virtues that appear to be lost to the current American leaders. There are however clear and clever voices that shout from the pews to the rest of the world – one who is always worth a read id Professor Paul Krugman. He has recently created a substack that has a few free available articles and many others that are behind a paywall. Here is a summary of his latest which can be found on this link. He in fact asks the media to publish this story, which we are pleased to do!
In “Is This the Year We Doom Civilization?”, Paul Krugman issues a stark warning about the Republican Party’s proposed policies that threaten both social welfare and climate progress. The GOP’s latest tax and budget bill proposes unprecedented cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, harming millions, particularly children, while offering massive tax breaks to the wealthy. Yet, Krugman argues that an even greater danger lies in their planned rollback of clean energy initiatives.
Republicans aim to eliminate subsidies for renewable energy and electric vehicles, while bolstering support for fossil fuels—a reversal of recent climate gains. This is not merely about industry lobbying; Krugman sees it as ideological hostility toward renewables, driven by cultural resentment and climate change denial.
Despite overwhelming scientific consensus on the dangers of human-induced climate change and 2024 being the hottest year on record, the GOP remains antagonistic. The irony is tragic: renewable energy has become economically viable, offering a politically palatable climate strategy based on incentives rather than restrictions. Technological advances have drastically reduced the costs of wind and solar power, allowing for growth without heavy subsidies.
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), under the Biden administration, capitalized on this moment, providing investment and momentum toward a cleaner economy. But the MAGA faction’s rise threatens to unravel this fragile progress. While economic and business momentum may protect some climate initiatives, the political climate has turned grim. Krugman concludes that this backlash is driven not just by corporate greed, but by sheer spite—jeopardizing a last, best chance to mitigate climate disaster.
