Nobel Prize winner Friedrich Hayek’s The Road to Serfdom is a telling portrayal of what collectivism in the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany can lead to: impoverishment and oppression of freedom. Having lived through the communism regime himself, Czech Republic President Václav Klaus recently published his own book that illustrates a green road to serfdom. It’s titled Blue Planet in Green Shackles, What is Endangered: Climate or Freedom?
Klaus refers to himself as an economist who happens to be in a high political position, and he does a remarkable job of rationally questioning the costs and benefits of climate change legislation. He challenges the inconclusiveness of the science behind global warming, and ultimately concludes that if policies are implemented to combat climate change, it could be one of the most egregious acts that would threaten freedom and prosperity across the globe.
What is worse,
[…] poor countries face greater danger of being harmed by the dispute (which is, in fact, not theirs). Such countries have been taken hostage by environmentalists, who propose halting human progress at immense costs.”
This quick yet informative read does well to clearly address the science, the economics and the politics behind global warming. Also included are answers to questions President Klaus presented to the U.S. Congress for hearings with Al Gore. Every member of Congress should pick this up before even considering to implement any climate change policy.
