Media coverage of the U.S. Senate's latest postponement of climate change legislation has, as usual, focused on political consequences. Allegations of midterm election nervousness and congressional uselessness are the mainstay. Some articles include forecasts of intensifying climate change unchecked by government action. But human consequences are never placed on the balance scale. A drought in Minnesota means lawn-watering restrictions. A drought in Malawi means starvation. Specific impacts vary by region, but millions of families in poor countries are suffering from climate change today. Statistics from respected organizations on the front lines like Lutheran World Relief and Oxfam confirm this. Stories from Minnesota's vibrant immigrant communities and Peace Corps veterans eliminate any doubt. The Senate should not wait until a politically convenient time to vote on a climate change bill. When saving actual lives -- not political lives -- is part of the calculus, inaction is not an option.ADAM OLSON, MINNEAPOLIS