| Last week the EPA categorized carbon dioxide | | | | caps won't affect me all that much- I have |
| and 5 other greenhouse gasses as "endangering | | | | always owned very fuel efficient, low emission |
| public health and welfare", finally recognizing | | | | vehicles, turned lights and appliances off when not |
| officially what the scientific and conservation | | | | using them, kept my programmable thermostat |
| communities have been trying to tell the | | | | at a lower temp in winter and a higher one in |
| governments of the world for years. The EPA is | | | | summer. The extra $20 to fill my tank at $4 a |
| very likely to recommend legislative action on this | | | | gallon and higher natural gas bill was more of an |
| issue, while looking at regulatory options as well. | | | | inconvenience than crippling, because I had already |
| This is a stark turnaround from just a few years | | | | made my energy needs so small. I see taking |
| ago, when President Bush publicly stated that | | | | action now as an investment in the future, and |
| there was no such thing as global warming and | | | | $20 a week is cheap for ensuring my son a bright |
| the politically conservative EPA saying nothing on | | | | future on a healthy planet. Sure it will cost us |
| the issue. In today's political news, the Republicans | | | | money, but when has inaction and procrastination |
| have been forced to acknowledge reality on this | | | | ever saved anyone money. All it does is rob us of |
| issue, but are now basing their opposition on cost. | | | | the time and resources needed to tackle the |
| They maintain that it will simply cost too much to | | | | problem. Fact is, something should have been |
| regulate or legislate industries to "go green", citing | | | | done about this a long time ago and we have |
| higher energy costs and job losses as reason to | | | | coasted. The cost will only continue to grow and |
| do nothing to as little as possible on the issue. | | | | the time needed to come up with a solution will |
| They have responded in accordance with oil | | | | run out. Do we want to hand our future |
| company executives who say that President | | | | generations a "do or die" situation, or do we want |
| Obama's proposals will encourage the industry to | | | | to exercise some forethought and good judgment |
| shift production and jobs abroad. They also look | | | | and give them solutions? I opt for solutions. |
| at China and India's use of fossil fuels with little to | | | | That brings me to my second issue, the stated |
| no regulation as making our attempts worthless. | | | | response by the oil companies to attempts to |
| These comments and attitudes exposed a few | | | | legislate climate change. They are basically |
| things that I have long suspected and have | | | | threatening to move out of the US and punish us |
| commented on in the past. One, that the | | | | for doing what's necessary for our nation's health |
| Republican Party only gives a hoot about the | | | | and survival. This shows that they care nothing |
| future of this country and the welfare of future | | | | about the long term future of this country, which, |
| generations when it suits them. Second is that | | | | since we are one of their biggest customers, |
| when corporations reach a certain size, they care | | | | would affect their long term survival too. The |
| nothing for the health of the citizens and nations | | | | short term pursuit of profit as the focus of oil |
| that gave them life, only care for their short term | | | | companies demonstrates just how much |
| profit and own survival. Third is that politicians and | | | | intervention on this issue is needed. They are |
| analysts in this country are using the fact that | | | | taking no responsibility for the affects of their |
| India and China are major contributors to the | | | | industry's actions and are perfectly happy to |
| global warming problem as an excuse to do | | | | abandon our nation should it prove to be more |
| nothing, saying that unless they take measures to | | | | profitable. Someone needs to take the long view |
| cut their usage and carbon dioxide emissions | | | | on the issue of energy and climate change, |
| there's no point to us doing it. | | | | because no one else is going to. If the industry |
| Ask any Republican what they object to most | | | | isn't, the market isn't, or the public at large isn't, |
| about the stimulus package and they will start | | | | that leaves the government to step in and do |
| talking about how the Democrats are saddling | | | | what's necessary. |
| future generations of Americans with "crippling" | | | | My third issue is the comments by those in |
| debt. We won't go into the fact that the single | | | | authority that run along the lines of "we shouldn't |
| biggest cause of the current deficit is the war in | | | | have to do it unless they do it too". Whether |
| Iraq and Afghanistan, which were engineered by a | | | | China or India do the right thing to prevent |
| Republican administration. We will, however, pause | | | | climate change or not does not remove our duty |
| to question that the Republicans, in their fervor | | | | to act responsibly. We are not a developing |
| for cheap energy that nurtures our wasteful | | | | country, we cannot say we don't know better, |
| treatment of our natural resources, show no | | | | and we cannot say that we can't do anything to |
| signs of being concerned with the health or | | | | stop it. We all know what we need to do- we |
| welfare of those same future generations by | | | | need to take our heads out of the sand, ante up |
| taking action to ensure our planet's well being. In | | | | a bit, and stop being so lazy and greedy. If we |
| order to be able to have cheap electricity for | | | | don't do it then China and India, who still don't |
| McMansions and to be able to fill up behemoth | | | | produce as much greenhouse gas as we do, will |
| SUV gas tanks for less than $50, they are willing | | | | only point to us and say "if they don't have to do |
| to risk a future with mass flooding, dying wildlife, | | | | it, why should we?" Someone has to be first and |
| dirty air, increased skin cancer risks, and | | | | do the right thing. Even if it IS only us alone that |
| dangerously shrinking natural resources. They are | | | | acts, then at least we will have lowered the |
| willing to cause irreparable damage to pristine | | | | amount of greenhouse gasses created and |
| wilderness areas ("Drill, baby, drill!"). They are willing | | | | slowed the process down. That's better than |
| to disrupt the natural cycle of all life on this planet. | | | | nothing. |
| All of these will cost our descendants untold sums | | | | This is a time of reckoning; a time to show what |
| to fix, if they even can, but that isn't our problem | | | | we are made of, what we believe in and practice. |
| is it? That hasn't happened yet, so it isn't real, is | | | | The US has always prided itself in being the |
| it? But the fact that gas will cost me a little extra | | | | innovators and visionaries of the world. Now is the |
| and that I may have to turn my thermostat | | | | time to demonstrate those skills in the service of |
| down in the winter and up in the summer will | | | | the future of mankind and our planet. We want to |
| really put me out NOW. However, I don't look at | | | | be leaders; don't let other nations lead the way on |
| it that way. The higher cost of fuel and emissions | | | | climate control regulation and environmental issues. |