In a provocative opinion piece, Max Hjelm discusses the rhetoric often used in political debates, particularly the term 'must' when referring to specific policies. He suggests that such language is often employed to frame the desired political agendas as not only necessary but inevitable. By scrutinizing this framing, Hjelm encourages the reader to rethink the legitimacy of these claims and to question whether extreme measures are genuinely required to address societal issues.

Hjelm points to recent statements by Sweden's Climate and Environment Minister, Romina Pourmokhtari, who called for an abandonment of the climate goal to reduce emissions in the transport sector. This shift in policy direction reportedly pleased some commentators, including Peter Wennblad, who has long viewed established climate goals as mere 'utopia' rather than practical targets. Hjelm argues that this perspective undermines the urgency required to combat climate change and reflects a broader reluctance among politicians to commit to ambitious environmental standards.

Ultimately, Max Hjelm asserts that politics should be driven by desire and moral responsibility rather than constrained by fear or perceived necessity. He urges readers to engage in meaningful dialogue about what kind of society they want to build, instead of passively accepting reductive and dire political narratives that lead to disinvestment in critical issues like climate goals and humanitarian protections. In this way, Hjelm's commentary serves not only as a critique of current environmental rhetoric but also as a call to actively shape a more humane and sustainable political future.