Righteous Risks: Introduction
Posted by RISKMONGER on NOVEMBER 28, 2023
Synthetic pesticides are under constant regulatory pressure, but not organic pesticides
“Green” renewables and EVs have very little regulatory scrutiny
Food additives need to meet tight authorisation controls, but not more toxic natural foods
Tobacco cessation products (like e-cigarettes) are being restricted on the basis of poor evidence
Certain seed breeding innovations are banned even when changes are imperceptible
Billions are funnelled into the war on climate, dwarfing aid for education, health and infrastructure
These are some results from poor righteous risk management.
A righteous risk is a threat of harm to societal well-being that arises when decisions are based solely on widely-shared moral perceptions, social virtues and ethical ideals. This value-based policy approach does not consider facts or data in a consistent manner with certain actors, reinforced by social media tribes, imposing their ideals upon others. Righteous zealots (particularly environmental activists, naturopaths and food puritans) are more intensively forcing their moral dogma upon the policy process. Such value-based regulations are righteous risks that have become a growing threat to entrepreneurs and researchers whose innovations may challenge their traditional ethical norms. In attacking agricultural practices, food choices, energy use, nicotine alternatives and transportation choices, when the righteous feel they have virtue on their side, their reasoning and decision-making become hazardous to others.
This is the introduction to a series on how to manage righteous risks.
https://risk-monger.com/2023/11/28/righteous-risks-introduction/
