We each make invisible assumptions that distinguish between what just happens from what is actually (humanly) caused. Things that just happen (like tornadoes) must be responded to, but with things that are caused (like a flood from a failed dam) there must be an investigation into the cause so that we can assess blame and hold someone responsible to fix it or prevent it. Even weather events can be blamed on people. Hurricane Katrina (2005), the Chicago Blizzard (1979), and deadly California Wildfires (2018-19) are regarded as the clear responsibility of President George Bush, Mayor Harold Washington, and the PG&E power company.
How should we think about these options? Moving from weather to climate change, we can ask if something just happened or if it was caused. If it ‘just happened’ we should respond by anticipating the impact of warmer temperatures, more storms, and higher ocean levels. If, however, climate change is caused, we must also identify the human causes and stop or fix whatever is causing it. ‘This just happened’ requires a response, but it does not involve the blame and responsibility that ‘this was caused’ requires. Sadly, many of the obvious climate cures have serious downsides, or even been counterproductive (ethanol), harmful (diesel as a replacement for gas in Europe), or complicated (wind turbines cause some environmental harm and harm raptor birds).
Poverty: Some believe that poverty is caused by rich people and is measured by inequality, which must be controlled and corrected. Others believe that, since poverty is the natural state of mankind (it just happens), we should note what erases poverty (education, skills, private property) and encourage those forces.
Pregnancy: Some believe that pregnancy just happens and that we must deal with it. No point in blaming anyone, seeking prevention, or holding anyone to account. We should just provide education, abortions, and remediation for STDs. Morality is for people who do not understand. End of story. Others believe that pregnancy happens mostly by personal choice that can be mostly controlled in order to maximize the good and to avoid the most painful outcomes. Morality is a pathway to a satisfying life, in my view.
Land Occupation: Some believe that all tribes have their own land and that any movement, migration, and occupation must be undone. Others believe that the movement of people mostly just happens. If Americans had not settled beyond the Mississippi River, would the West still belong to the indigenous Native Americans?
Diseases: Some believe that diseases were deliberately brought to Europe during the Crusades and to the Americas as the New World was discovered. Others believe that the spread of disease on this scale just happens.
Innovation: Some believe that innovation and new products and businesses just happen. If a society has roads, schools, and government support, then…pop…out comes businesses. Society is seen as a large beehive where whatever happens is what needs to happen, as if busy, mindless drones explain new inventions and businesses. Others generally believe that businesses are started by entrepreneurial people…very often immigrants who should be encouraged by freedom to start a business through various public policies.
Wealth: Some believe that wealth just happens. Of course, land and rivers just happen. If you live high in the mountains, you’d better eke out a living grazing sheep because you cannot grow the more bountiful crops like corn in Iowa or pineapples in Hawaii. If wealth just happens, it cannot be destroyed by regulation or taxation. The productive people will just keep producing and not quit or move away. Wealth will still be there regardless.
So, does immigration just happen?
To what extent does crime just happen? Do guns just happen?
To what extent do single-parent homes just happen?
To what extent do kids just happen to grow up without a family?
To what extent does pollution just happen?
Do markets just happen? Do garage sales just spring up?
These are topics of division, but the key is to identify the invisible assumptions we must think about… we must do the hard work of careful thinking… so that we can not just react but defend… or even change our minds. My point is less to urge specific choices than to get us thinking about our assumptions.