Back to the Dark Ages

Victor Davis Hanson argues that penance doesn't excuse bad behavior:

Penance, ancient and modern, was thought corrupt because it was not
sincere apology nor genuine in its promise to stop the sin.
Thanks to carbon
offsets, Al Gore keeps his mansion — and still feels good while warning others
we all can’t live as he does.
John Edwards chooses to offset his own
privileges by sermonizing about unfairness in America.
And who can forget
George Soros? The billionaire can lavishly fund liberal causes such as left-wing
think tanks, Web sites, and ballot initiatives — and thereby offset his millions
made speculating on exchange rates and bankrupting small depositors. He’s become
a hero to those who ordinarily demonize such financial piracy.

And:

...by all means help save the planet, worry about the poor,
establish charities. Just spare us the medieval idea that such penance ever
excuses your own excess.

In a nut shell, spare us the hypocrisy. The rich want to add further burdens on the poor, like destroying jobs with their green legislation, while they won't sacrifice having the good life themselves.