In the past, some believed in economic planning, others not. People who believed in planning did not everywhere share the same faith. In communist systems, the belief was absolute: all ends of the economy had to be controlled by the state which then could dictate (plan) what needed to be done. In capitalist systems, there were those who believed in planning for the state sector - others who also had faith in so-called "indicative" planning for the private sector - and there were those who on the basis of computerised forecasting for the economy as a whole, believed that there existed a planning method by which to confirm the forecasting or alter the future scenarios it delivered by making specific interventions.
At least then, one knew where one stood with those who denied that planning made any sense. Today, forecasting has become so sophisticated that without the "free" market being renounced in any way, medium term economic conditions have come to be described in terms that in the past would have been part of the jargon of planners...
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THE EUROPEAN BUDGET
At present, member states of the EU are debating the financial commitments they wish to include in Union budgets over the next five to seven years (starting from 2028). They almost all agree that the Union should have a greater involvement in defence and security issues and the control of immigration, plus increased efforts against climate warming and further investments aimed to improve competitivity. All these imply an increase in outlays. How are they going to be funded?
A group of countries do not want to allow an increase in expenditure. Likely they prefer to see a decrease in existing commitments as for agriculture, regional aid and social programmes. Other member states will not accept such cuts. Proposals have been made for "European" taxes to be introduced, which certain countries do not like at all. Some have envisaged that the European budget could be allowed to post a deficit, which would then be financed through debt. On this point too, there is dissent.
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HOT
No matter how much President Trump and his representatives obfuscate about the matter, the global effects of climate change do exist. The climate is warming up and creating serious problems for citizens and communities. In Malta as well.
The sectors which have been hit... or will be hit... by climate change range from the environment, to buildings old and new, to animals (household pets... dogs, cats, birds...; those being raised for meat and milk; those living in the "wild" ... fish, hornets, rats...), to the health of people as well as their customs and working patterns, to economic production and how much it could cost... Although they are distinguishable from each other, most of the impacts (not all negative) are interlinked.
Perhaps it would be a good idea were all those impacts which can be predicted as of now (but we'll be aware of some only when they reach us) to be assembled in one easy to read report or paper. It would necessarily have to be drafted on the basis of inputs by experts and scholars from different disciplines. With such a document, people could be able to understand better how the effects of climate change have a wider significance than just summers that keep getting warmer.