NBC, Guilt, and Reality

NBC, in the past week, has started up some series on their news episodes....where they go and ask regular Americans to 'confess' and admit their own personal guilt for climate change. 

Around a decade ago, I read through two books on Martin Luther.  There are a couple of central themes to the life and accomplishments of the German Lutheran priest.  Most of these lead back to the Catholic Church and the need for Catholics to continually feel guilt.  It's not a modern thing on this guilt business....the church was built with a base of guilt. 

Letters of Indulgence?  Martin Luther came to be amazed over the Catholic Church introduction of the letters and the need of Church members to continually 'buy' the letters to avoid 'hell'.  So in period, you'd go and confess your sins to the local church, and they'd sell you letters to absolve you of your sins, and ensure you felt good, and guaranteed you a spot into heaven. 

The NBC gimmick here?  More or less the same thing.  You announce your sin, and the NBC guy gives you a verbal 'we can forgive' message, which leads you to feel better.  The fact that it's a free 'we can forgive' you message?  No one can argue about things that are free. 

How long will the news series last?  I'm guessing for a year or so.  Might it end early?  Maybe.  If you had a guy answer that he doesn't flush if he urinates, or that he urinates in his parking lot (not in the house).....that might convince the bosses to end it early. 

The problem I see in this guilt business is that bulk of Americans don't have that kind of guilt problem.  These are people worrying about their mortgage, their hot-water heater, where the $50k will come from for the daughter's college, the transmission that seems to be failing in the Buick, the neighbor is shooting heroin in the backyard, or their NCAA football team is all crapped-out.  I suspect that if you did the numbers.....climate change guilt won't be anywhere on the top hundred worries of most Americans. 

So having a show to let you admit guilt and get absolved will sell?  I have my doubts.