Oh, the elite are at it again, folks. They've found that the real reason you're staying up at night worrying whether the world will burn in a hot climate catastrophe isn't because of their alarmism, but because – wait for it –individualism. That's right, in this star from Los Angeles TimesIn this book, the author racks his brains about the scourge of “climate anxiety” and, of course, traces it to the root of all evil: the fact that you still cherish your personal freedom.
This masterpiece of neurotic mumbo jumbo is titled "To address climate anxiety, we must first address individualism," (behind a paywall), is the self-examination of the top elite. Let’s break down their neurotic arguments and laugh at their complete inability to function outside of a groupthink bubble.
The Anxiety Industry: The Left’s New Addiction
First, let’s talk about climate anxiety, the latest design disorder to grip the liberal elite like avocado toast. If you haven’t heard of it, this is when your Climate virtue signaling turns into full-blown panic attack. People are losing their minds because they have been bombarded with apocalyptic rhetoric for years from the media, politicians, and activists who would have you believe that you are suffocating Mother Earth to death with every breath you take.
Just knowing that climate change is worsening can trigger serious psychological reactions. The shock and trauma are even more severe if you've experienced the kinds of disasters that keep the rest of us up at night.
https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2024-09-11/climate-anxiety-essay
According to this article, people are “anxious” about the climate, and naturally the solution isn't for them to step back and look at things rationally – no no, the solution is Eliminate individualism. Because of course it is.
Blaming individualism: the left’s favorite demon
The article begins with a dramatic declaration that “climate anxiety can only be fully addressed by confronting the toxic individualist ideology that underpins it.” You read that right. If you're upset about the planet, it's not because of endless climate alarmism or the fact that these same elites have been screaming “we have 12 years to save the planet” every year for the past 30 years. No, it's because you still stubbornly believe in your right to live your life without bureaucratic micromanagement.
“A big reason why climate anxiety feels so bad is this feeling of powerlessness,” Ray said. “But if you really see yourself as part of a collective, interconnected with all the other movements doing meaningful things, you won't feel this hopeless and alone.”
The secret to tackling climate anxiety, she says, is to tackle individualism. Start small, tap into something you're already good at, and join something bigger than yourself.
As many young activists like Patel have come to realize, we may have a better chance of solving climate change by addressing issues of individualism.
https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2024-09-11/climate-anxiety-essay
Apparently individualism – yes, the scary notion that you have autonomy over your own choices – is now considered “toxic.” Forget that individualism is the cornerstone of a free society, individual freedom, and human achievement. In the world of the eco-left, it is now the villain in their ongoing climate horror show.
Neurological disease? please
Even more ridiculous is how they view climate anxiety as a mental health crisis akin to depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. They write about it as if it's a post-traumatic stress epidemic where people are bombarded with all these terrible personal freedoms. I mean, seriously? The real crisis here is that people are being taught that every time they use a plastic straw or fail to recycle it perfectly, they are responsible for saving the entire planet. This is what happens when you raise a generation to believe that everything they do will lead to the imminent collapse of the world's ecosystems.
Author's Prescription: Collective Climate Neurosis
So, according to these enlightened minds, what is the solution? Of course, we need to get rid of this annoying idea that you have any personal rights or freedoms. The article actually celebrates the idea that if we could just get everyone to think collectively like good little comrades, anxiety would go away.
It promotes the view that “individualism places the responsibility for all actions on each of us, making us unable to live up to expectations, creating a cycle of guilt, shame and paralysis”. Oh, poor darlings! The same people who lectured us about reusable shopping bags and Meatless Mondays are now telling us that their own guilt is our fault. Let’s not forget who sets these unrealistic standards and then weaponizes guilt onto anyone who doesn’t live up to them.
But don't worry, they have a plan! Their brilliant strategy is to embrace collectivism, because nothing says more about mental health than forcing people into a hive mind, where the individual is secondary to the group. Yes, you will be happier if you can stop thinking for yourself and let the climate overlords rule your life. Or at least that's what the elites think.
A reality check for paranoia
Here’s the thing: Climate anxiety isn’t really a problem; This is a manufactured condition, hyped up by a generation of activists, politicians and media hacks who make a living by scaring everyone. They keep telling you that the world is coming to an end unless you stop eating burgers and driving SUVs.
The truth is that climate change is not an existential crisis, and it is certainly not a reason to abandon the value of individual freedoms and individual rights. But for these people, the issue is no longer climate – it’s control. Every crisis, real or imagined, is an opportunity to undermine your autonomy. And “climate anxiety” is just the latest weapon in this fight.
Today we often hear that climate change is the existential crisis of our time, but this suddenly examines the trauma and violence suffered by all those who have struggled to survive for centuries. Uchendu says colonization, greed and exploitation are inseparable from climate change, but when we think about our emotions only through a Western lens, we miss these connections.
https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2024-09-11/climate-anxiety-essay
Elites and their collective fantasies
What really leads this article to its crazy conclusion is the left’s continued obsession with collectivism. They long for a world where no one thinks for themselves and your life is determined by a handful of enlightened people who certainly know better than you. The article makes no secret of its disdain for the idea that individuals should be held accountable for their own actions. Instead, they imagine a world where everything is a collective plan and we all march obediently to the rhythm of the latest government edict.
According to them, if you were less concerned about your personal rights, you would be less anxious. Yes, because nothing will calm you down more than letting the state control every aspect of your life.
Their real goal: control, not climate solutions
Make no mistake, this is not about addressing climate anxiety. This is the elimination of personal thought. Environmental elites know that if they can convince you to give up your personal freedoms for the “greater good,” they can advance their agenda without resistance. They can push out any policy – no matter how ridiculous, no matter how invasive – because you’ll be too busy being a good cog in their collective machine to oppose it.
In the end, their entire argument boils down to this: Your desire to think and live independently is making the planet worse and driving you into panic. So, naturally, the only way to solve the problem is to give your autonomy to the team. Because, hey, collectivism always works well, right? Just ask Cuba or Venezuela what the situation is like.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Believe the Bullshit
Let’s face it: climate anxiety is a product of the indoctrination of the radical environmental movement, which thrives on fear-mongering. Now, instead of taking responsibility for the anxiety they caused, they try to blame you on your belief in personal freedom. This is ridiculous.
You don’t need to “solve” climate anxiety by addressing individualism. You need to correct the endless stream of apocalyptic propaganda designed to scare you into submission. The real mental health crisis is not caused by climate change; It is caused by a relentless bombardment of apocalyptic messages designed to make you feel guilty about what you have. Don’t let them trick you into thinking that giving up your personal rights will somehow make you feel better. The only thing it does is make it easier for them to control you.
So, to this bewildered author and climate-anxious army: take a deep breath, eat a steak, and stop trying to guilt trip the rest of us into a collective neurosis. We don't buy it.
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