“Realpolitik” and the Cause of Environmentalism

Readers who subscribe to dictionary.com’s “word of the day” know that today’s offering is “realpolitik,” meaning “political realism or practical politics, especially policy based on power rather than on ideals.” Apparently, “The word comes directly from the German word of the same spelling which means ‘politics of realism.’ It emerged in English in the 1910s.”

This, of course, raises the question: Are environmental causes idealistic, or are they examples of “realpolitik?”

I suppose it depends on what specifically we’re hoping to get accomplished.  We’ve seen repeatedly, for instance, that removing the enormous subsidies that the oil companies receive from the taxpayers is a fool’s mission.  The brave U.S. Senators who vote their consciences on the issue routinely suffer ignominious defeat at the hands of the winners, who, not coincidentally, receive five times more campaign contributions per capita from the oil companies than the losers.

Having said this, even the most repressive forces (e.g., the Koch Brothers) have been unable to force individual states to repeal their renewable portfolio standards.

So what exactly is “realpolitik” here?  It’s tempting to say that when enough people really want something, it happens, since we still live in a democratic republic.  But let’s not be too quick to conclude even that.  89% of the U.S. people favor more comprehensive background checks before gun permits are issued, and 89% is as close to a unanimous viewpoint as you’re ever going to find in a diverse culture like ours.  But do you think we can get such legislation through Congress?  Not a chance.

So what do I conclude here?  Nothing, I suppose.  I hope a few readers will comment on this and help me out here.