There's a difference between those in control of the system assigning blame to the peasants to avoid consequence, and owning your own share of responsobility.

If you drive or otherwise consume oil and you don't have to, you are at fault -- but so is Shell for digging it up and destroying the tram. You are also at fault for giving them money, but so is Chevron for using that money to bribe the government.

Owning your personal contribution, minimizing it, and more importantly, showing others how is praxis.

Buying oil is a form of direct action helping the fossil fuel industry. So is driving because you make being outside a car just a little more unpleasant and dangerous. Buying a big car is even worse.

The only myth worse than your carbon footprint being the only thing that matters, is the idea it doesn't matter and some nebulous "them" needs to fix it.

Totally. Let's change the world, and be the change we want to see in the world. And of course, understanding the complex sociological problems that lead people to not be able to afford Eco-friendly solutions while looking for ways to make that change possible. 🤗 Direct action is the way to go, voting is more of a "support" tool to kinda move the needle.

my feelings exactly, why even bring up political action in the context of something so urgent without emphasizing direct action and bottom-up political organization

You're just sharing propaganda. Those 100 companies cannot pollute without your money and consent. If everyone gets out of the car it no longer matters that the footpath is gone, you can walk on the street. The beef industry can't use 50% of the land and emit half the methane if noone buys red meat.

Chevron and Tyson foods are responsible and you are responsible. They will never step up and they will always use the power you give them to do evil, withhold it and show those around you that it can be done. The message you are spreading is both disempowering and deflecting blame.

Would you mind not flying your private jet so much?

The "vote" and "badger your reps" are the most important things by far.

We need genuine progressives in power to end things like fossil fuel subsidies.

If your only real options are "red neoliberal" or "blue neoliberal", you need to make them know that pandering to polluting businesses will lose them their power, which means no more trough for their snouts.

And those letters and emails matter. Sure, they'll probably dismiss them and swan off to be wined and dined by mining and oil companies.

But ultimately, they're going to look out for their own self interest. They need to know that being soft on environmental issues will lose them more than it will gain them.