Pride of being a Swedish nationalist is definitely something that comes to mind when I think of Greta Thunberg. She is a courageous young woman that has voiced her concerns of our polluted and uncertain future.

When she was met by our worlds most recognized leaders and offered the opportunity to speak at the UN summit – a faint hope emerged among many that maybe, just maybe she would be the one to turn the tide and be “that one” to guide our politicians, and ultimately our human race, away from the environmental jaws of extinction.

But what could she really do? What match was she to the political heavyweight champions of the world?

Greta Thunberg energetically came out of her corner and aggressively attacked the inactions of the world leaders. Though, as energetic as a small child that has a seemingly tireless tantrum, her efforts have had barely noticeable effects on the world leaders on the big stage. The counterattack/defence was foreseeable; simply retorting  – “How do you suggest we go about doing this?”.

Politicians effect opinions and move money to key areas of national and international interest. Politicians are not magicians, and their job description cards do not match those of engineers. In other words – politicians do not provide answers, but they can act if given answers to work with.

Popular opinion governs political ability – and as such, also political willingness. Politicians are dependent upon popular opinions to uphold their political mandate. Any actions politicians take that jeopardizes their popularity are going to have an adverse effect on their ability to act.

The policies politicians enact during their guidance of our society are in turn dependent upon the ability to fund the same. This balance, that is created between the available funds to spend, the funds that can be raised from different political actions, and the generated popularity this in turn provides the acting politicians, is what lays the foundation of the political arena. As such – the two main things politicians dread the most, are policies that will adversely affect the popular vote and policies that are too expensive to see through. Greta Thunberg not only demanded both these things – but she also expected our politicians to provide the solution to the problem as well – which is an ability they simply are not equipped with.

With Greta’s increasing popularity, what other strategy was left for our leaders, but the actions that shrugged her off so delicately. Greta was allowed to be heard. Her voiced climate concerns were amplified in the unity with our world leaders, proving their sympathy with her cause. The final blow to our young hero was the subtle slide of hands, stuck in a rigid system of financial rules and regulations, the solution to the financial issues related to the climate concerns were left to Greta to solve, an obviously impossible task.  

I am sure that the K.O. of Greta was as unintentional as when an elephant tramples down a small snail. But without providing the elephant with an alternative direction, the elephant had no reason to walk the other way.

Solidarism is partly born from the hope that Greta created. But more than that – it provides a real roadmap for reaching the environmental goals we must meet. Most importantly, it provides the “how” and solves the issues associated with financing. Now all that remains for us to succeed is political willingness.