I loved the bumper sticker, ubiquitous in the 80s and 90s, “Question Authority.” I haven’t seen it lately, but always thought it so wise and succinct.

It came to mind yesterday (and I transformed it into the version above) after reading about the bloodshed in Myanmar. I wanted to know a little more about the country, so I went to the Wikipedia entry.

One line of the 6,000 word article was particularly memorable: “Myanmar’s slow economic growth has contributed to the preservation of much of its environment and ecosystems.”

That is the trade-off, isn’t it?

The degree to which our world is inhabitable is inversely proportionate to the amount of development.

How do we burn that into our brains? It’s not a Reaganesque metaphor like a rising tide lifts all boats. It’s so simple to tell lies with metaphors.

For 45 years Burma’s been run by one or another cruel military government. Brave people stand up to the dictators, are imprisoned or murdered. They suffer. But like the Sudanese, they suffer on the other side of the world.

Regarding the latest atrocities, Condoleeza Rice has assured the Burmese that the Bush administration is keeping a very close eye on the situation. Whew!

But all of these facts are just more of the same. The news cycle will carry Myanmar off the front page. And like any other horribly governed country, it will return to our attention from time to time.

But my mind slips back to that one fact: “Myanmar’s slow economic growth has contributed to the preservation of much of its environment and ecosystems.”

Slow economic growth. Bad. Preservation of environment. Good.

Can’t we have, as our leaders assure us, responsible development? Negotiable pollution credts, carbon vouchers, toxic river signage, pond-raised dolphin, a ban on the use of teak in NASCAR bleachers?

Uh, yeah, we’ve been trying stuff like that for quite a few decades. It’s not working. The only thing we’re developing is a hotter, more hostile planet.

China’s building a plant in Tijuana designed to sell cars to the American public. Thanks NAFTA. Guess what? China will profit — as will a few wealthy American dealmakers. But Mexico won’t. And the environment certainly won’t.

Multiply this by the millions of other developments taking place in the world. Find out what’s being built in New Orleans. Or any beachfront. Or mountainside. And don’t forget those few capital-rich city/states in the Middle East.

Here’s a metaphor for the new century:

A rising tide lifts all sea levels.