(When Fraidy Kat peeked out from under the bed last night she saw a strange cat on the window ledge. He was the fattest, sleekest and longest-hair creature she had ever seen)
Miss Kat! Kindly come out from under your abode. Our mutual friend Thomas suggested that I might stop by and speak with you when he is otherwise engaged.
Do you mean Feral Tom?
Yes, that is the gentleman in question. He has commenced an exploration of the city, and will often be away for several days at a time. He wishes to learn more about the humans first-hand.
Who are you?
I am Rainier Carl Gustaff von Katz, five times blue ribbon Best of Breed and three times Best in Show (retired). You may call me “Mister Katz”. Our friend Thomas often speaks of you, and wishes that I may enlighten you further whenever I am in the neighborhood. Since my retirement from the show circuit I have been living with a very intelligent and highly educated human, one who is almost as smart as an animal. Every evening he reads what they call a “newspaper”, and he teaches me about the irrational behavior of his fellow creatures.
Thomas has requested that I speak to you regarding the changes in the weather. It all has to do with their noisome vehicles and other machines. These human creatures have learned how to ruin more than just their own lives. They are in the process, as I speak, of ruining the climate. No one knows how bad it might get. Nothing will come in its right season again.
How awful! Is it the Republicans doing this?
Oh, Miss Kat, it is far worse than that. There are humans of all types and colors, who are engaged daily in their unconscionable business of ruination and destruction. You are right, however, to ask about the Republicans because they are the powerful humans who gain the most profit from these horrific human enterprises.
Just today, it was revealed in the newspaper that the boss of the Republicans, known as “The President” has decreed that they will not clean up the air which we breathe, even though they themselves will have to breathe the same poisons.
Try to understand, Miss Kat: humans have something called an “economy”, which refers to how they can get what they want when they want it. The boss Republican says that if we clean up the air it will “devastate the economy”. He believes that it’s more desirable that rich humans get more things immediately than the survival of themselves and all the rest of us here.
Can’t they see what’s happening around them?
Would that it were so simple. Those who are wealthy believe that their wealth will always save them. They think that even if the entire world is choked in it’s own filth they shall always prevail because of their money and power. They are convinced that the evils will be visited only upon the poor, for whom they have only contempt.
Aren’t there any humans who want to do something about this?
Oh yes, there are some admirable humans who do look ahead. Some of them joined together long before either of us were born, and created a group which they called “Environmental Protection Agency”. They wanted to help halt the inexorable march to destruction before it got worse. The Republicans have taken over this agency and use it now to justify their crimes.
They have turned what had been a good thing into something that does more harm than good. They claim now that the air and the water and all the living things are not important enough to save. There is no one, Miss Kat, who will speak for the rest of us.
Oh, Mister Katz! I have to get back under the bed — right now!
