Be skeptical of any “problem” whose only solution is massive redistribution of wealth.
I think you and Rich Lowry have it right. The article reminds me of when, as a child, I would say to my parents "But everybody is doing it" and they would ask me to be specific about "everybody". That is the false power of a wrong-headed consensus whereby you choose to go with the crowd so you don't appear to be out-of-step rather than thinking for yourself.
Couple consensus with a deep dip into your pocket to finance it and you have a sure recipe for a loss of freedom.
It doesn’t seem to matter WHAT the crisis is (coming ice age, global cooling, overpopulation, famine, etc) the solutions are always the same - reduced Western lifestyle, higher taxes, more centralized elitist control, reduced “serf” population.