> Place ownership of the rain forest in private hands and let the market determine the most valuable use of the land.
I find it much easier to believe that this satire, because were it up to the “Market”, the rainforest would be gone, and every river polluted. Short-term profits are incompatible with environmental protection. Just because a few men get rich doesn’t mean the result is what’s overall best for society. The “market” (quotes necessary because it’s so much more complicated than that) has decided that continuing to burn fossil fuels is what’s best, and look how that’s working out.
The incentives have to change. Making money hand over fist typically only benefits a select few, to the detriment of the many. How many more examples do we need?
Well, last time the world chosen leaders like this, it led to a world war, so World War III, honestly. Maybe I’m just a pessimist, but I don’t see things getting better until they get a whole lot worse.