27th October 2010
Environment and the free society
The scene on the left is from Mumbai, on the Arabian Sea. The scene on the right is from Barcelona. The images speak for themselves.
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Yet a myth is propounded by some Indian intellectuals that the environment is better maintained in socialist India than in free societies. Constantly carping about the West, Indians claim a position of moral superiority despite having one of the world’s worst records of corruption, killing of innocent people, poverty, and mismanagement of the environment. Even Indians who have widely travelled across the world will suddenly say: “But the West has damaged the environment.”
In reality, free societies have a reasonably clean environment. Economic development based on freedom is compatible with a clean environment through the following process: First, the innovation which arises from freedom leads to industrial development along with increased pollution as natural resources are tapped and exploited. As awareness about pollution then develops, a regulatory framework of accountability is introduced in free societies to force polluters to clean up or face penalties. A strong enforcement mechanism and system of justice is a crucial part of this framework. Being rich helps as well, making it easier for free societies to clean the environment. These steps make alternative technologies profitable and viable, further reducing environmental damage.
As a result of these processes, polluting industries and agriculture have been cleaned up in the West, and rivers and lakes reclaimed, reverting most parts of the West to near-pristine environments. In comparison, India's regulatory framework is shoddy and almost totally ineffective. Not only have the Himalayan foothills been denuded and our wildlife destroyed, we are unable to maintain the Taj Mahal, and our cities stink. Good governance based on the principles of freedom is the key to a clean environment – but good governance is exactly what is missing in India!
(This is from my editorial in the Towards a Great India magazine, 15 September 2008)
Addendum
http://reason.com/blog/2011/05/10/governments-vs-markets-julian
#Environment and the free society: The scene on the left is from Mumbai, on the Arabian Sea… http://goo.gl/fb/Jjl0h
Dear Sir,
This is a piece from your blog- Good governance based on the principles of freedom is the key to a clean environment – but good governance is exactly what is missing in India!
I am of strong opinion that as a citizen of democratic country, we have the strongest constitution which takes care of even minor concerns of each and every indian. It provides right to live and not a weapon to punish. However the intricacies of constitution has made the justice slow and this has modified the attitudes of indians including of those who so called govern the country sortsighted. We have become selfish. We work for ourselves, we think for ourselves and we li e for ourselves. We are indians because live in india rather than considering that india belongs to us. Mother india is just a title to show that we respect and treat india as our mothers, the way we are in real terms have started treating our mothers and fathers in present society- just for meeting our own selfish needs. I feel that these attitudes can be changed only by self help and by making law process very straight and time bound while closing all escape points. For years I have seen many politicians and civilians been involved in corrupt practices but see how many of them have actually been punished.
I am not a great thinker or writer, but feel that attitude change in our society need strong enforcement through dictatorial actions.