McCain and Climate Change: Sci-Fi as Policy

the frenchie

thanks guys to prepare the new stockeco, i'm on the starting block to get the ecovalues, is so amazing how mc cain is great .

the treaty of the universe of @ May 13, 2008 16:45:13 PM

Healthy Growth

Of course we want economic growth -- but how about sustainable growth? How about growth based on technologies that really exist rather than assuming that they technology fairy will show up and fix this mess we made for our kids? We keep ignoring the facts: We've already reached or will soon reach the halfway mark on the planetary oil supply, and the Arctic is melting at a rate unseen in millions of years. Yet we ignore the facts and think that wind power is some sort of Liberal treason and that feeding people instead of filliing gas tanks is some sort of socialist experiment.

I'd sure like to hear some kind of intelligent and morally sustainable thinking from conservatives about the difficult times that are ahead of us. But all we get is more of the same blather about evil liberals. We need one another, and need one another to be smarter and kinder. Instead Pethokoukis give us shallow whining about taxes.

Rev. Joel Miller of NY @ May 13, 2008 16:40:12 PM

What is this Fox Network?

This one sided, no facts, article is nothing but more of the same denials. Nothing is mentioned about the economic boost that would come from the building, research and implementation of new "Clean" technologies. If you have children - you should be ashamed to think that pumping hundreds of thousands of tons of CO2 into the atmoshpere would do absolutely nothing to the world they will inherit. What you are saying is MONEY IS KING - forget about quality of life for the world's inhabitants.

Sam of VA @ May 13, 2008 16:38:36 PM

So... CO2 = money?

If we take the writer's opinion and analyze it for a moment, he posits that an economy cannot grow without carbon emissions.

Let's flip that around, can carbon emissions not grow without an economy? I bet they can, I can burn all the shit I want for free! I won't even charge!

Hell, let's look at the contrapositive: "Carbon emissions support economic growth" - does this mean that by throwing soot into the air I can make more money? If so, then see above.

All fallacies aside, this is rubbish. Imposing limits on companies is one thing, and sure they're going to have to hire some more folks and adjust some charges ot make up for it... But that's MORE jobs, not less. Not to mention the 80 million dollars the government just awarded to companies that have or are developing carbon-capturing technologies.

In addition to these things what about all the construction jobs that will result from the building of new alternative energy power plants. If more jobs and less dependence on non-renewable resources is a bad thing for America, please direct me to a country where it's a good thing. I'll be taking my tax dollars and economic support there.

Eric of FL @ May 13, 2008 16:31:18 PM

urgent need for major shifts in economy

Instead of discussing how many percentage points the economic growth might be effected by efforts to limit CO2 emmissions, we should urgently start discussing how we can change the economic growth such that it restores the ecological balances and human conditions and happiness. We can not hope to avert catastrophy by making marginal changes.

We don't need an economy which can only prosper if we constantly buy things that we don't really need and work at jobs that we don't really believe in. It not only doesn't make us happier but it is also destroying the ecosystems of the earth to the point that the capacity of it to sustain life is noticably decreasing within our lifetime, which is an extremely short time if we consider the history of life on earth.

Humans built the economy, and as it now conflicts with life on earth, we should change it.

Sabri Ipek of CA @ May 13, 2008 16:25:31 PM

hold that thought

implementing climate change legislation to protect the environment from what over 500 peer-reviewed studies have deemed a credible, nay eminent, threat to our planet...and it's bad for the economy? what planet are you on? this, from the same establishment who told us that seatbelt laws would bankrupt the auto makers. sounds more like science fiction posing as journalism.

byron tully of CA @ May 13, 2008 16:19:09 PM

Poorly written and thought out

What a poorly written 'article.' Citing no sources, citing no facts, but rather just generalizations and strawman arguments.

"I would guess that such studies probably use"

"the economy could be four times as large "

Come on, what is this, amateur hour? Where's your information regarding this?

I like the fact that you're checking the facts of a politicians policies, but completely dismissing all environmental advocacy positions ("such goals" as you refer to them) as being a cause for a global depression seems rather irresponsible. What we need is proper discussion in terms of our environmental policies, not this sort of lecturing.

Brian of WI @ May 13, 2008 16:18:01 PM

global climate change

this is a total scam i am not saying we donot have to be concerned about the planet but this socalled carbon dioxcide subject is a farce and an economic desaster so before you make any hasty dicissions like the ethanol feasco that congress made do some research and listen to some experts insyead of al gore

thomas michell of WV @ May 13, 2008 16:15:24 PM