"Our greatest responsibility is to be good ancestors," said Jonas Salk, the polio vaccine pioneer.The problem for the Green Party therefore is one of timing. Even the most sensible policies play nicely to the ancestors but swoosh over the heads of Generation Indulgence.
London Assembly Green Darren Johnson is wrong on the east London crossings. Wrong for now, at least.
This area is criminally bereft of crossings compared to the west of the capital and any combination of the tunnels, bridges and boats is welcome.
When Mr Johnson proposes better public transport links and some help for cyclists his arguments seem puny, almost risible, compared to the scale of the problem. A third of new houses in London will come here in the next few years, in addition to an explosion of brownfield businesses.
This is the way of London.
London is a city built on wealth creation and ambition. It is voracious and merciless. To suggest that such economic growth should be strangled is akin to suggesting a vegan diet for a T-Rex. Some things exist to consume and are otherwise pointless.
At one and the same time, Darren Johnson and his party are right. In the light of all we know about limited life choices in a post-climate change world, bridges and cars and congestion are reckless and, except in the short term, futile.
One day the case against crossings will be as utterly compelling as the case for them is today - but for that to happen London, and its inhabitants, must change their character beyond recognition.
That's not happening till Armageddon swings fully into view.
