Germany’s shutdown of its entire fleet of nuclear reactors—among the best in the world—for no rational reason whatsoever will go down as one of the most catastrophic acts of self-inflicted wealth destruction in history. More remarkably, it was enthusiastically applauded as a shining beacon of climate policy by many self-proclaimed “progressives,” seemingly indifferent to the billions of tons of additional emissions and air pollution it would entail.

Germany is in really, really dire straits, for a host of other reasons as well. But they're still feeling cozy and comfortable, mistaking decline for stability.