Take Your Ethics All The Way, Dude
The New York Times had this letter to The Ethicist:
I'm a biologist with a federal agency. My family owns land in northeast Pennsylvania. A portion is owned outright by my mother, who has entered into a contract with a natural-gas company to allow drilling on the property. Royalties from the gas extraction allow her to live comfortably in retirement. My mother made the arrangements for the gas drilling without my support. I'm not in favor of increasing fossil-fuel dependence. In light of the anticipated royalties, my mother was advised by her lawyer to establish a corporate partnership with my brother and me, for liability protection. This would mean a portion of the royalties will be mine. If I intend to work on any future climate-change projects professionally, should I decline the partnership with my mother? If I do not support natural-gas drilling, is that another reason to decline the partnership? And is this decision different from eventually inheriting money related to drilling? RICHARD, WASHINGTON
David Binko, Bronx, NY, had this reply -- which I loved:
Richard of Washington may also consider not driving a car, heating his home or cooking on a gas range. Also eating out at restaurants that use gas to cook their food. Perhaps not taking the bus because it uses natural gas. Show some backbone Richard and just say no.
His car could be the Nissan Leaf, and he might heat his home with electricity and/or solar power.
Somehow,I doubt it.
Patrick at April 1, 2013 3:09 AM
"His car could be the Nissan Leaf, and he might heat his home with electricity and/or solar power."
Most electricity generated in the U.S. comes from either coal or natural gas.
David Foster at April 1, 2013 4:51 AM
David: "Most electricity generated in the U.S. comes from either coal or natural gas."
Fair enough. I should add that he might live next to a big dam, a wind farm or a nuclear power plant.
Patrick at April 1, 2013 5:09 AM
And maybe he does use solar power to run his house. But even if that's true, if he lives in this country, he and his family probably have more living space than most people outside the U.S. He should take in boarders, or maybe move into a yurt.
Old RPM Daddy (OldRPMDaddy at GMail dot com) at April 1, 2013 5:09 AM
I'll take "global warming" more seriously when Al Gore lives his life like he believes it.
Also, when these people give up on electricity.
I R A Darth Aggie at April 1, 2013 5:58 AM
Or he could accept the Abiotic Oil theory and simply re-name the natural gas so it's not a "fossil" fuel. SCIENCE to the rescue!
(I know, "climate change activists" get a little eye twitch when they hear that theory. Sometimes they foam a bit.)
Storm Saxon's Gall Bladder at April 1, 2013 6:54 AM
so... conflicted boy is conflicted because... you know, ENVIRONMENT, but MONEY!!!?!?
what will he dooooo?
pal, you're lucky your mom is understanding.
SwissArmyD at April 1, 2013 10:07 AM
Because environment.
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at April 1, 2013 10:44 AM
"But how can I maintain my purity if there's money from FOSSIL FUELS coming in?!?"
Lord, I'm sick of these people.
Firehand at April 1, 2013 4:08 PM
My bigger worry, is someone is paying for idiots like this to go to college, where they are assumed to acquire some "reasoning skills"
Sure didn't happen in this case.
Isab at April 1, 2013 5:05 PM
My bigger worry, is someone is paying for idiots like this to go to college, where they are assumed to acquire some "reasoning skills"
Sure didn't happen in this case.
Isab at April 1, 2013 5:06 PM
His presumption tha anthropomorphic global warming is fact tells me that first he is an idiot.
So once we get that, please only take you're eighth of a nice inheritance after taxes and let your brother live well.
Jim P. at April 1, 2013 8:02 PM
I want to thank you for telling us what the commenter said, and totally ignoring what the "Ethicist" said. Those guys need to be ignored more.
James Fulford at April 3, 2013 2:16 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2013/04/01/take_your_ethic.html#comment-3667338">comment from James FulfordThank you. And I agree with you there (on ignoring...). I'm frequently amazed (and not in a good way) by the answers of the current "Ethicist" -- as I have been by the previous ones.
Amy Alkon
at April 3, 2013 2:26 PM
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