| There are politicians who are flat-out | | | | already-born children. |
| anti-environmental---they just don't buy the | | | | |
| argument. As long as they state their case | | | | Gore and Kennedy are both doing good work on |
| plainly and honestly, we can at least respect | | | | behalf of the environment-they rank in the |
| their right to their opinion, however | | | | Top 10 of the world's most effective |
| misinformed it may be. Others, however, have | | | | environmental advocates. And they both no |
| taken to deceit, crafting back-room deals | | | | doubt make plenty of eco-friendly lifestyle |
| that are a negative for the environment but | | | | choices. But to be a high-profile |
| then trying to sell the public on the new | | | | environmentalist and not fully walk the |
| regulations by claiming they're an | | | | talk-even if only in terms of the perception |
| environmental improvement. We think that's a | | | | they create-is hugely problematic. The public |
| clear form of environmental hypocrisy and can | | | | does not like hypocrites, environmental or |
| be described as "listen to what I say, but | | | | otherwise, and giving opponents of |
| don't watch what I do." Let's go through a | | | | environmental progress the opportunity to |
| few examples. | | | | throw hypocritical mud on your righteous |
| | | | arguments reduces the power of your message |
| In campaign speeches prior to the 2000 | | | | and distracts people from the real issues. |
| election, George W. Bush promised to do | | | | For some in the audience, these slight |
| something about global warming if elected | | | | negatives weigh heavily against the |
| president. The insincerity of the promise was | | | | overwhelmingly positive work Kennedy and Gore |
| made clear shortly after he took office when | | | | do. |
| he reneged on his pledge, claiming that | | | | |
| joining the Kyoto protocol would hurt the US | | | | We find most mainstream environmental groups |
| economy. In reality, doing something about | | | | to be fairly on-target with their overall |
| global warming would hurt only some | | | | goals and methods, but we think some of them |
| industries---notably Big Energy and Big Auto, | | | | act hypocritically occasionally. For |
| both heavy contributors to the Bush campaign. | | | | instance, most major US environmental groups |
| Overall, delaying action on global warming | | | | are silent on the issue of global |
| will cost us far more in the long run. Making | | | | population-and, more specifically, silent on |
| a promise to do something about global | | | | the issue of US population. |
| warming without any intention of keeping the | | | | |
| promise it was a form of environmental | | | | Remember that one's individual environmental |
| hypocrisy. | | | | footprint is roughly based on the amount of |
| | | | energy and resources used and the amount of |
| To those people who take a pro-life stance, | | | | waste produced. The total US environmental |
| we ask: Is the health of a child already born | | | | footprint is based on the average individual |
| not just as important to you as the health of | | | | environmental footprint of a US resident |
| a child still in the womb? If so, do you | | | | times the number of people in the country. |
| voice your opinions on childhood health care | | | | Since the average individual environmental |
| and the above environmental issues as | | | | footprint in the US is very big compared to |
| strongly as you voice your opinions on | | | | the global average, adding more people in the |
| abortion? | | | | US is clearly an environmental negative. |
| | | | |
| Our intention here is not to debate the | | | | To talk about the problem of US population |
| merits of pro-choice vs. pro-life but rather | | | | growth only in terms of sprawl is dishonest. |
| to say that it is hypocritical to be | | | | But the US population level-and ways to check |
| supremely worried about the fate of unborn | | | | its growth-is a touchy issue, and green |
| children while being unconcerned about things | | | | groups would "rather not go there. |
| (environmental or otherwise) that affect | | | | |