Can Someone Be Both an Environmentalist AND a Capitalist at the same time?

Question

Do you think Environmentalism and Capitalism are compatable?

Do you think that Capitalism can cure environmental issues, or do you think that Capitalism is incompatable with a healthy environment?

Answer 1

Capitalism is the ONLY hope to cure such issues.   Have you seen any socialist Nations waste their confiscated funds on fixing such issues?  No .  The only fix is through the free market, where it is to the benefit of all to address such things.

Answer 2

Al Gore is---selling carbon credits!!!

Answer 3

Quite obviously there are many of the major capitalist that are not Environmentalist,,

There are many names that come to mind, and if these companies had been Environmentalist, there would be thousand of quality electric cars on the road today.

There are also companies and individual people who are making money off from environmental issues.

And there is nothing wrong with making money and at the same time working to improve the environment.

It is very obvious that  the world Governments are not going to do anything about it.

At least until public outcry, comes to the point that they are forced to.

Answer 4

easy. say I make a great new solar panel system that doesn't cost a fortune. I sell this to millions of Americans or around the world and make a huge profit. that would be capitalism. at the same time, less oil is burned and less "non-reusable" energy is used. Now I have helped the environment. It would be stupid to just be one or the other.

Answer 5

http://finance.yahoo.com/echarts?s=DCI#c...

Yes, they are compatible.

Answer 6

T Boone Pickins and his Wind Farms

Al Gore with his movie and Carbon Credits Company

Answer 7

I think the ugly side of capitalism is what's behind this scam.  Capitalism can be good but this AGW scam is one example of how people make up a crisis to raise prices, charge more taxes, and find new ways of making money and getting subsidies.  People are more willing to do those things if it's supposedly an "emergency."  And I think that somone who's running a business can still be honest and care about the environment--even more so than those making money on "green schemes" (who don't seem to really care at all).

Answer 8

I feel the private sector does a better job of solving complex issues than the government ever could. I also don't see where capitalism and environmentalism can't go hand and hand. And from a lot of the car commercials I've seen lately I say capitalism and environmentalism are working hand and hand on this issue, so I say let the private sector do its job and if the government wants to help it along give companies incentives to do so and not penalties, since the government will only waste the penalty money anyways.

Answer 9

Absolutely. If the economics don't work, recycling won't neither. Check this blog about very COOL GREEN businesses:

http://Livepaths.com  

Answer 10

Absolutely.

Consider the hybrid vehicle. How did it come to be? Some entrepreneurial soul (individual or corp., doesn't matter) saw an opportunity to fill a market for more efficient vehicle, spent time and capital at a substantial risk, and finally brought the product to market. All without a dime of taxpayer's money!

Ain't the free market great!

Answer 11

Yes, of course this is possible.

Classic unrestrained capitalism would always harm the environment and the people. Luckily, unrestrained capitalism doesn't exist anywhere. Every single capitalist system in countries around the world has been tempered to varying degrees with government regulation and social programs.

The United States is capitalistic country, but we still have an EPA that regulates emissions of hazardous wastes into the air and water. We have a National Parks system to protect some of our nation's wonders for future generations to enjoy.

Capitalism tempered by adequate regulations will continue to help protect the environment.

Answer 12

A capitalist is someone who uses private property (usually his or her own) to be successful in business. An environmentalist is someone who respects the natural environment. There are 2 types of environmentalists ---conservationists, who support careful management of environmental resources--- and preservationists, who do not favor using natural resources  at all.  

To answer the question: "Can an environmentalist also be a capitalist?", I would say that the 2 are not mutually exclusive. However, a capitalist is more likely to be a conservation than a preservationist (if his business involves using natural resources).    

Answer 13

Most certainly!  I recycle scrap metal because it is now economically profitable to do so.  I charge people a small fee to remove these items from their homes, then turn around and sell them for their raw components.  If the price of gas continues to climb faster than the price of copper and steel, it will no longer be profitable for me to do so.  At such time, I'll stop recycling.  I compost my biodegradable waste/yard waste for free fertilizer and to reduce the amount of money I pay the county dump.  I've even considered turning it into a side job, maybe contracting with a couple of landscaping/mowing firms.  There's money to be made in any human endeavor, if the "climate" is right.

Answer 14

Yes, though to do that external costs must be internalised (i.e. those who emit CO2 need to pay for their emissions) to ensure that the market can provide appropriate incentives.

There is also a relationship between wealth and pollution with pollution rising and then falling as people become richer (with the initial rise being because they are more concerned about a better life than pollution and then as they have their needs met they start to become disgusted by pollution and want a clean environment).

Answer 15

Being an environmentalist and being a capitalist are not mutually exclusive.  Some people (like big auto companies) just need to be convinced because they're already making money, and it will cost them dearly to change the way they do business.  But hybrids and better lightbulbs are selling, so somebody is making money on them...

Answer 16

Good question!

Yes, I think environmentalism and capitalism may work great together -after basic environmental rules and laws has been drawn. I also think capitalism may be a good tool to help us solve difficult environmental problems like global warming.

However, without proper laws to protect the environment, pure capitalism would entice companies to use methods and products not good for the environment in order to become more profitable.

Answer 17

Are envirnmentalist willing to go with out so Capitalism can go with. My answer to that is No!