Here's what I don't get about Born-Again Environmentalists®... They agree with the left after ignoring their science and ridiculing them for decades. How is it that all of a sudden they're supposed to have credibility? Sorry, but I don't buy it.
There are no short cuts to solving this problem. No half measures. You either accept that this is the major global issue of the 21st century or you're a part of the problem. We must think in terms of 100 years from now in order to define the scope of the challenge properly. Otherwise we're just punting this problem to our great grandkids.
Well what does that mean? It means that growing corn for biodiesel maybe isn't such a good idea if it requires more than its share of energy in coal to turn that stalk into gasoline. It means making global warming the international diplomatic priority. And it probably means getting off of carbon-based energy completely.
Of course Gingrich is right about the value of market based initiatives. Duh, this is a capitalist society. But to ignore the essential role of the government is ludicrous. There is no market incentive for shareholders to think in 100 year terms. They can barely think about the next few fiscal quarters.
And self-regulation has proven throughout history to not work. Yes, some companies say they are changing their tune without Kyoto. But that's just marketing. The world doesn't get saved by marketing. There has to be a consequences to irresponsibility or recklessness.
Does that mean more beauracracy? To a very limited extent, yes it does. But at least it'll be the most energy efficient department in the government. And it will probably save the planet in the process. You tell me how much government that is worth, but I'm pretty sure that the reality won't be as much as you're imagining.
