CNN has a story today on the melting of Zugspitze, the last glacier in Germany. Economic losses are already resulting, despite the efforts of locals to slow down the melting by creating an anti-glare shield to reflect sunlight away from the glacier.
Democracy is utterly dependent upon an electorate that is accurately informed. In promoting climate change denial (and often denying their responsibility for doing so) industry has done more than endanger the environment. It has undermined democracy.
There is a vast difference between putting forth a point of view, honestly held, and intentionally sowing the seeds of confusion. Free speech does not include the right to deceive. Deception is not a point of view. And the right to disagree does not include a right to intentionally subvert the public awareness.
