A company has found a way to turn liberal guilt directly into profit:
SAN FRANCISCO - Jill Cody used to feel guilty whenever she drove her car or flew on an airplane. She worried about pumping heat-trapping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and contributing to global warming.
Francisco company called TerraPass to offset emissions from her car and air travel by investing in wind power and reducing farm pollution.
"I'm part of the solution, not the problem," said Cody, who sports a TerraPass decal on the decade-old Lexus she drives about 6,000 miles a year. "Now I don't feel guilty when I drive my car."
And that's what it really comes down to. She feels guilty, however she doesn't want to change her behavior, so she'll pay someone else to change their behavior instead.
Much later in the story, I found this gem.
Backers say carbon offsets can help make people more conscious of climate change — and show policymakers that Americans want the government to take action to stop global warming. Experts say the atmospheric buildup of greenhouse gases is leading to extreme weather, melting snowcaps, species extinction and rising seas.
I really don't understand this part. How on earth do consumers tell the government that they want the government to do something by doing it themselves? Doesn't that do just the opposite: show that government action isn't needed because the market is taking care of things itself?
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