Righteous Risks Part 2: Foundations of Virtue
Posted by RISKMONGER on DECEMBER 22, 2023
In the introduction to this series, righteous risks were defined as the threat to societal well-being when value-based motives influence decision-making more than facts and evidence. Policies should be determined according to the best pragmatic solutions to complex problems with conflicting interests being addressed through a consensus approach. More and more though, regulators are being led by moral dogma and ethical exclusion techniques dictated by influential stakeholders.
Policymaking is often framed now in a virtue context rather than policy management.
Fighting climate change is the morally responsible thing to do and takes an overarching precedent.
Good leaders can only protect public health by banning synthetic chemicals and pesticides (associated with evil corporations peddling poisons).
Plastic waste has caused moral outrage, from straws up a turtle’s nostril to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, so it is a righteous imperative that all plastics should be removed from the market.
Industry has been profiting for decades at the expense of the poor, working class so the benign regulator must act to restrict company involvement in any policy process.
The distinction is clear: industry lobbies (deceptive, bad) while NGOs advocate (supportive, good).
Capitalism is inherently wasteful and unjust; we must transition to a degrowth, human economy.
Sustainability is a virtue and pollution and waste are the key vices.
https://risk-monger.com/2023/12/22/righteous-risks-part-2-foundations-of-virtue/
