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Speaking of the Kyoto Treaty Bush and Co. broke, a recent Paul Krugman piece makes the obvious connection between global warming (which the Kyoto Treaty aimed to reduce) and obscene wealth. Speaking of the compensation of America's 10 most highly paid C.E.O.'s, Krugman writes:
 In 1981 those captains of industry were paid an average of $3.5 million, which seemed like a lot at the time. By 1988 the average had soared to $19.3 million, which seemed outrageous. But by 2000 the average annual pay of the top 10 was $154 million. It's true that wages of ordinary workers roughly doubled over the same period, though the bulk of that gain was eaten up by inflation. But earnings of top executives rose 4,300 percent.
What are we to make of this astonishing development? Stealing (and modifying) a line from Slate's Mickey Kaus, I'd say that an influential body of opinion has reacted to global warming and the emergence of an American plutocracy the same way: "It's not true, it's not true, it's not true, nothing can be done about it." 
Glad to see a mainstream source pointing this out. Krugman goes on to posit that eventually the gap between the rich few and the poor multitude is going to become so wide that no one will be able to deny it, but I think he's too hopeful. How bad would it have to get? 9:36:46 AM 
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