David Koch of the famous oil-chemical super-billionaire brothers agreed to an interview with me on the issue of climate change. David and Charles have spent several billions in efforts to block legislative measures to block carbon pollution, the major cause of global warming. This and other measures to control climate change would cut into the profits of Koch Industries. Also, millions in Koch dollars have gone to ads on TV to convince the public that the concept of climate change is a hoax.
When I pointed out to David Koch that a recent study by the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change concluded that, if the nations don't stop emitting greenhouse gases, global warming in the future will cause food and water shortages or their total unavailability, the death of the oceans and, eventually, the extermination of human life, he responded.
"What does today owe tomorrow? What have future generations ever done for me? My daddy taught me that the rule of life is 'you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.' If people in the future haven't done anything for me why should I spend my hard-earned money on them?"
I responded that he had two sons and a daughter and that in a few generations a climate apocalypse will occur.
"Well, a few people on earth may have to go to other planets. We're a rich family so we'll go, and so will other deserving individuals who have inherited great fortunes. As for the billions of people left on a dying planet, today doesn't owe them anything come tomorrow, as I just said."
