Fires are more urgent than messes, but we have firemen and custodians and need them both. The poster can vote with his wallet to get the best energy efficiency possible in his home electronics and possibly vote at the ballot box to help regulate corporate energy waste.

It doesn’t seem sane that he would have to forego every other endeavor in his life until the most urgent issue in it is resolved, even if there is no direct action he can take about that one at this time.

I need a new car and also to do the dishes. The new car is much more important, but I have no means to work on the car issue today and am already standing in the kitchen. Is it more productive if I pace around wringing my hands in concern about the car problem, or maybe wash some dishes now and get a car in the morning when the dealership opens?