Summary - Selection 7

The Tragedy of the Commons by Garrett Hardin

The idea of the Tragedy of the Commons was easily described by Hardin as a herd of cattle, on land owned by a shared group of people. The problem is that the more cattle you add to your herd, the more money you make. As you add the cattle, other cattle owners will do the same. Now lots of money is being made, but at what cost? The land has been overgrazed, overused, and perhaps has even become to small to sustain this new cattle population. Like in other aspects of life, we are taking and using without thought of the consequences. Our land is suffering and our oceans are suffering. People think that our seas (or land) are inexhaustible resources and can be picked clean.

Pollution is similarly related to cost. Hardin notes that someone might find the cost of the discharge of waste is less than the clean up and purification process. Having to think about the cost and complexity of purifying the water deters that person from moving any further forward in a sustainable waste management. People will do something if they absolutely must (like paying certain taxes), but otherwise they would not do that particular thing. With such choice, life is easier and freedom is easier. People can reproduce however they please in North America, as it is our right to do so. We have nobody forcing us to stop reproducing because people have the right to chose, even though it may be largely affecting our huge families in the future.

It's almost the concept of greed. Because everything is so readily available we (or Americans) feel as though it's their right to whatever they want whenever they want because they area free country. Who cares about the consequences now? Drinking all the fresh water possible until it's too late. People will realize then that they should have considered the greater picture, and that doomed resources could happen sooner than thought. The long term consequence is easily forgotten as we continue to reproduce and consume. Hardin's solution to the "Tragedy of the Commons" is to take away freedom to reproduce, or at least the necessity to do so.