Comments on: ODE Watch: A Fistfull of Stupid http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2005/11/29/ode-watch-a-fistfull-of-stupid/ Free Minds, Free Markets, Free Booze Mon, 08 Sep 2008 03:25:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Tyler http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2005/11/29/ode-watch-a-fistfull-of-stupid/#comment-2029 Tyler Tue, 29 Nov 2005 18:54:38 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2005/11/29/ode-watch-a-fistfull-of-stupid/#comment-2029 Whenever I hear or read someone lamenting the United States' unwillingness to sign the Kyoto Protocol, I remember a great P.J. O'Rourke quote: "United Nation treaties have about as much weight as notes passed in study hall." (This is from memory mind you). When countries take treaties seriously, the results can be disastrous. DDT bans in developing countries, for example, have contributed to an increase in malarial deaths. The Protocol calls for industrialized countries to cut their emissions by five percent by 2012. But what about developing countries? Many are signatories to the Protocol, but for the specific reason that it doesn't ask them to do ANYTHING -- this despite the fact that most of these countries have a higher rate of pollution than developed countries. As Ian noted, both India and China, which pollute far more, are exempt. Of course, developing countries cannot afford the $716 billion price tag (this number care of a study conducted at Yale). But who can? Like almost all of these treaties, the benefits do not outweigh the costs. In this case, the costs would outweigh the benefits by a 7-1 ratio. Hurrah! Sign us up! Once again, the ODE goes for the middle ground. Whenever I hear or read someone lamenting the United States’ unwillingness to sign the Kyoto Protocol, I remember a great P.J. O’Rourke quote: “United Nation treaties have about as much weight as notes passed in study hall.” (This is from memory mind you). When countries take treaties seriously, the results can be disastrous. DDT bans in developing countries, for example, have contributed to an increase in malarial deaths.

The Protocol calls for industrialized countries to cut their emissions by five percent by 2012. But what about developing countries? Many are signatories to the Protocol, but for the specific reason that it doesn’t ask them to do ANYTHING — this despite the fact that most of these countries have a higher rate of pollution than developed countries. As Ian noted, both India and China, which pollute far more, are exempt. Of course, developing countries cannot afford the $716 billion price tag (this number care of a study conducted at Yale). But who can? Like almost all of these treaties, the benefits do not outweigh the costs. In this case, the costs would outweigh the benefits by a 7-1 ratio. Hurrah! Sign us up!

Once again, the ODE goes for the middle ground.

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