What do we owe our progeny?

I saw a program on PBS the other evening on Global Warning. There is no longer a doubt that it's happening, that it will bring about significant climate changes in the future, and that many people in the future will suffer because of it. Scientists the world over agree that we must do something now if there is to be any hope of forestalling the worst of its effects. Yet the Bush administration still has a policy of creating "confusion and uncertainty" about whether it is even happening. Republican Senator Imhoff (perhaps the dumbest man in government) calls Global Warming "a hoax," while he collects campaign donations from the fossil fuel industry.

Global warming (along with saddling future generations with our national debt) confronts us with the question: What do we owe future generations? Do we owe them anything at all?

I think we do, but I've known people who disagree. "What do I care? I won't be here?", someone once remarked to me. I guess it boils down to one's philosophy. Or is "morality" a better word. And why is that the Conservative Right, who consider themselves the "moral ones," are also the ones with the "who gives a shit?" attitude toward our progeny?

Could it be that to them "morality" is only a matter of gay marriage, premarital sex and pornography and has nothing to do with our responsbility toward future generations?