Climate Change In Michael Pollan's Why Bother?
Global Warming is an issue demanding of world wide attention, yet widely ignored. Global Warming will change our planet drastically yet under the benefit of cheap energy we do nothing to shrink our carbon footprints. Many ignore the topic of Climate Change as they don’t believe in it, or simply don't understand why they should bother. This is exactly what Michael Pollan trys to argue in his article, “Why Bother?”, published by The New York Times,
He argues that every common man should do their part to slow the advancement of climate change. Pollan's cites “crisis of lifestyle” and “specialization” as two reasons no real effort has been made by a majority to stop global warming. He writes about how one man changing his ways and shrinking his …show more content…
Every scientist will agree and anyone else who has any idea what climate change is. Through this, Pollan answers the question, “Why Bother?” but his true purpose, inspiring people to actually “Bother” fails. His ignorance of the lower class and humanity's subconscious Moral Balancing combined with his use of cheap scare tactics makes his arguments fall flat and inspires readers to roll their eyes and enjoy their plant destroying comforts while they can.
Pollan argues that if everyone were to plant their own personal gardens, we could all cut our carbon footprints. Let’s narrow this argument to just America, requiring approximately 318 million people to grow a garden. 13% of these people are over the age of 65 and maybe unable to work in the conditions required to maintain a garden. An even bigger percentage of Americans can’t afford to grow a garden. According to the 2010 census, fifty percent of the American population is low …show more content…
Pollan's article is ineffective in its purpose and actually counteracts his goals. His use of cheap scare tactics could be admissible if his arguments remained intact but without them further the question of, “Why Bother?”. If an NASA climate scientist says we only have eight years to cut carbon emissions and you can’t provide me a solution, why should I bother? If Al Gore thinks the most challenging thing I can do is change my lightbulbs, why should I bother? Pollan tries but ultimately fails to prove why we should bother to do
He argues that every common man should do their part to slow the advancement of climate change. Pollan's cites “crisis of lifestyle” and “specialization” as two reasons no real effort has been made by a majority to stop global warming. He writes about how one man changing his ways and shrinking his …show more content…
Every scientist will agree and anyone else who has any idea what climate change is. Through this, Pollan answers the question, “Why Bother?” but his true purpose, inspiring people to actually “Bother” fails. His ignorance of the lower class and humanity's subconscious Moral Balancing combined with his use of cheap scare tactics makes his arguments fall flat and inspires readers to roll their eyes and enjoy their plant destroying comforts while they can.
Pollan argues that if everyone were to plant their own personal gardens, we could all cut our carbon footprints. Let’s narrow this argument to just America, requiring approximately 318 million people to grow a garden. 13% of these people are over the age of 65 and maybe unable to work in the conditions required to maintain a garden. An even bigger percentage of Americans can’t afford to grow a garden. According to the 2010 census, fifty percent of the American population is low …show more content…
Pollan's article is ineffective in its purpose and actually counteracts his goals. His use of cheap scare tactics could be admissible if his arguments remained intact but without them further the question of, “Why Bother?”. If an NASA climate scientist says we only have eight years to cut carbon emissions and you can’t provide me a solution, why should I bother? If Al Gore thinks the most challenging thing I can do is change my lightbulbs, why should I bother? Pollan tries but ultimately fails to prove why we should bother to do