The influence of money

As the UN climate summit opened in Glasgow, European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said, "We are fighting for the survival of humanity. Climate change and the threatening ecocide are the biggest threats humanity faces."

More frequent and severe storms, floods, heat waves, droughts, wildfires and crop failures cost "the globe about $320 billion a year in economic losses, according to risk modeling firm

AIR Worldwide."

Climate scientists - including Exxon's own climate scientists - are virtually unanimous that burning fossil fuels is the main cause of climate change and that climate change is causing ever-increasing extreme weather.

In recent congressional testimony, ExxonMobile CEO Darren Woods said the company's public statements on climate have been consistent with mainstream climate science.

The United States could be the world leader in the battle against climate change, setting a powerful example and encouraging and assisting other countries to reach more ambitious goals.

Yet, Republicans at the federal level are either in denial about climate change or oppose action against it. They cannot be so vastly out of touch with the reality of climate change. But they are very definitely in touch with the reality of large-scale political contributions.

Fossil fuel interests pour hundreds of millions of dollars into political races. Public funding of campaigns would be an antidote to the powerful force of big money on political outcomes. Public funding is part of the For the People Act which passed the House but not the Senate where all Republicans oppose it.

Public funding of federal campaigns would cost about $10 yearly per person, reduce conflict of interest and favoritism, elevate merit in decision-making and strengthen democracy and trust in government.

Richard Barsanti

Western Springs