Fossil fuel greed “destroying our planet” claims Bernie Sanders, attracting support from young people who believe socialism is the solution. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez argues socialism creates an inclusive environment. Tom Palmer of the Atlas Network, exposes this misconception after living in socialist countries and witnessing the environmental disasters they produce. It is clear capitalism better protects the environment through generating wealth to address environmental problems.
The damage socialism wreaks on the environment is often overlooked. Palmer has seen the catastrophic results of socialist countries’ environmental policies first-hand. In China, central planners decided to kill sparrows en masse, leading to an increase in crop-destroying insects that ultimately resulted in starvation. Socialist central planning consistently causes ecological catastrophes; Stalin’s cotton-growing scheme drained the Aral Sea, causing severe environmental damage. Despite modern socialists claiming this time will be different, their track record on environmentalism is poor.
Capitalism, conversely, protects the environment as it creates wealth, enabling society to address environmental issues. In wealthy countries, people can prioritize the environment, preserve wild animal habitats, and adopt sustainable farming practices. Capitalist countries also have cleaner air compared to their socialist counterparts. Capitalism is actually the superior choice for environmental protection.
The push for socialism is naïve and misguided, as results from past “green” socialist policies have been disastrous. It is vital to recognize that ultimately, capitalism is the more effective route to protecting our planet and ensuring a sustainable future for all.
