Time Person of the Year: Greta Thunberg

I do not have a problem with anyone passionate over any cause. Greta is a 15 year old passionate about climate change and going to protests over that cause. I only ask that folks live as they preach and as far a I know Greta does. Greta no longer goes to school since climate change is her life mission and has already testified before Congress. Again, I have no issue with this, I wish the best for Greta and her family.

All that said, if Time can not do any better than Greta for person of the year, even for climate change matters, that is a shame. While the ability to protest (peacefully) is okay, but protesters are a dime a dozen. However, finding a person who can actually innovate and find solutions to problems facing America is really rare. What is going to solve climate change problems are not protests, but scientists. Who is going to invent that smaller but more efficient battery for electric cars or the next energy fuel that is clean, cheap, and abundant? In my view, Greta would be better off staying in school to learn to be a problem solver instead of a problem creator. I have never seen a protest solve any problem and in most cases it only angers persons with other views. Unfortunately, this is what college students learn: to pick a cause and protest for it. Instead, what college students should be learning is to pick a cause and then how to innovate for it. Griping to automakers to pressure them to make a better fuel efficient car does very little. In fact, the pressure may force them to cut back on safety to meet fuel efficiency causing thousands to die. I have always lived by the mantra that it is alright to complain about a problem but only if you can offer some solutions to the problem.

There is absolutely nothing unique about Greta. Lots of young people protest and lots of people protest over climate change. If Time wants to give person of the Year to some liberal cause that is fine and it is there prerogative, but they should find a productive problem solver and not persons who a dime a dozen that merely create more problems.