Cartoon makes light of serious situation

H. Payne’s July 1, Free Press political cartoon depicting Democratic presidential candidates constructing a “Dems 2020” ark atop a Miami skyscraper demonstrates a frivolous ignorance of the consequences “the great climate change” has made and will continue to make. The rising sea levels ridiculed in the cartoon are not the only predicted catastrophic results of an abused global environment.

Too many give too little notice of scientific predictions of the consequences of global warming. Already polar ice shelves are deteriorating and desertification is increasing. Rising temperatures and changing weather patterns are producing floods and droughts in places where such disasters have not been an issue. In turn, many insects necessary for pollination are in decline. Many areas are already suffering food shortages and famines. Migrations of plants, animals and even people are creating issues practically everywhere.

Denying human responsibility for global warming, the current administration pulled out of international environmental agreements. Executives and lobbyists of ecologically harmful industries have been appointed to positions and relaxed protections previously adopted. “The fox in charge of the hen house.”

Profits are produced and jobs “trickle down” to the working public, but the environment continues to be damaged, perhaps irreparably.

Grady S. Burgner

Ooltewah