"I often find myself trapped by the questions and thinking to myself, 'You know, this is a stupid question, but let me ... answer it.' So when Brian Williams is asking me about what's a personal thing that you've done [that's green], and I say, you know, 'Well, I planted a bunch of trees.' And he says, 'I'm talking about personal.' What I'm thinking in my head is, 'Well, the truth is, Brian, we can't solve global warming because I f***ing changed light bulbs in my house. It's because of something collective'."
- President-Elect Barack Obama, during preparations for the primary debates, via Newsweek's Special Election Project, "How He Did It, 2008."
I completely agree with his response...I just wish more people grasped the bigger picture
view Ari_B's profile
Hold on now... sure our leaders should get the bigger picture, since they're in a position to utilize more resources to solve the problem. As for *individuals*, i think its more important they they focus on changing their lightbulbs (and bringing their own bags to the grocery store, and buying higher mpg cars, etc), because lets face it -- most people are not community organizers. Most people aren't going to go out there and make a big impact. Most people are going to keep on worrying about themselves and running their lives -- if they can manage to do that while at the same time improving their habits for the greater good, i think we're heading in a good direction.
view mh330's profile
Eh, true and not. Your house, diet and car are fairly big things you can change. But a community can certainly make bigger changes (including, say, tax breaks for smaller houses or cars, zoning, public transportation, etc.)
What I don't get is how planting trees is not personal.
view whytephoenix's profile
I think the only way significant changes will be made is if people make small changes in their life, as well as think of and work for the bigger picture.
But it seems like, in general, people who care enough to make small personal changes also care enough to work for bigger ones, and vice versa. Unless they are making green changes just to show off.
view stellato's profile