The Edge of Extinction
By Kim Steinhardt, East Sierra Branch
It’s been a tough time for we the people. These can be discouraging days for those who care about our planet and our survival, and that includes pretty much everyone regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum.
We the people often conflate noise with action when it comes to policymaking. But that way lies madness, as the last few years have shown. Based on noise alone, you could be forgiven for thinking that we are beyond the point of reasoned debate over solutions to the challenges posed by climate change, global warming, and sea level rise. The circus-like atmosphere surrounding our politics these days has severely undermined the capacity of the institutions of government – and we are that government – from acting in meaningful ways.
Oh, yeah, and then there’s been this pandemic.
The pandemic redirected our attention into emergency action to save lives across the globe, pouring precious human and financial capital into an unprecedented, all-out effort to conquer a devastating disease. But the fallout goes far beyond the tragic loss of so many lives, or the depletion of finite resources, or the impact on our collective psyche. Widespread cynicism, skepticism, and polarization threaten to further paralyze us at a time when failure to act is at its most harmful.
It is easy to turn away from the complex issues facing our planet. Whether it is denying the dangers we face and, in some cases, even denying science itself, the cost of backing away from this challenge and withdrawing into stark pessimism is too high.
We the people still can and must act to confront the problems. We must recognize the interdependence of our physical environment, our social environment, and our legal ecosystem. Environmental issues and issues of social justice are not at odds with one another; they are part of the same fabric. Similarly, lawmaking and judicial oversight are not entirely separate spheres; they are part of a unified governing whole shaping our policies. These linkages are essential but delicate and can easily break down, as we see in today’s extreme politicization of the judiciary. Candidates for elective office who promise to appoint judges with a particular policy agenda – and those judges who obediently deliver on the policy promises – threaten our ability to thoughtfully address our challenges and build a better world.
Every day, we see corruption revealed and we can become jaded. We see hatred and bullying, and we can become isolationists. But there has to be room for both outrage and action. Pessimism and power. Good and evil.
Humanity is incredibly vulnerable but also incredibly resilient. Our strength has historically been most apparent when we have been in deepest trouble. We’re vulnerable precisely because we are dependent on each other and our Earth for our survival. Our future is not guaranteed.
But I still see hope so long as we remain committed to making the changes that are required. Citizen participation and vigilance are necessary to assure that we the people survive the evolving threats and shifting political winds. I hope that fifty years from now, people will look back and say that we were compassionate, good stewards of the planet, and all that depends upon it.
Showcase interviewed Kim Steinhardt
in spring 2021 for the three-parter
“Trying Your Hand with Advocacy Writing.”