ILYA SOMIN: Applying the Precautionary Principle consistently. “One major problem with most invocations of the precautionary principle is that people tend to apply it to whatever danger they want to prevent, but largely ignore it in considering the potential dangers created by the policies they advocate. . . . Whatever we do (including doing nothing), there is at least a small chance of catastrophe; thus, the principle would lead us to reject all the available options, which isn’t exactly helpful.” Plus, why environmentalists are like Dick Cheney.