In nature there is no
separation between the economics and the environment.
“It’s the economy stupid.” James Carville advised in 1992. When it comes
to environmental issues such as global warming it would be wised to heed this
savvy advice. Right now the environmental agenda has been shoved off the stove.
Consider:
· The
Climate Conference in Copenhagen
· Even Democratic members of the Senate and House are sponsoring
legislation to stop EPA from its attempt to regulate carbon emissions.
· Obama pledges $54 billion in loan guarantees to promote nuclear
power. Imagine what this could do for wind and solar.
On the other hand, the political right and their
corporate funders are waging ever aggressive campaigns to paint the climate
change issue as a “green scare” or a “snow job.” In California ,
conservative forces have launched a ballot initiative that if passed would rescind
California
The conservatives are winning right now because: (1) they are connecting with working and
middle class anger and fears on economic security (2) they have framed the
issue – the first step in a winning strategy.
The Democrats have not helped. With command of the White House,
Senate and House, they have not taken serious steps to regulate the financial
industry (now more consolidated and too-big-to-fail
than ever). They have not prevented foreclosures for millions of families. The Administration’s
Geithnerist strategy (appeasement) toward the credit-stingy, profit-hungry mega-banks is not very likely to win the favor of angry people who see their economic well being going down the drain while bank executives enjoy ten billion dollar + bonuses. Unless the Administration acts visibly and aggressively to create jobs and regulate the financial industry, the right will continue to win in their efforts to take back the Congress and derail efforts to protect the environment.It's our job to remind the President of his promises and to awaken the people's movement that elected him.
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It is incredible thinking about the conditions that it might get to before leadership takes collective action to stem the long growing trend of placing economics before the environment. Short term gain is what you get when the solutions to problems do not match the complexity of the environment, and we certainly are not the only players.
ReplyDeleteIt would be great to have some links to action that the public can take and readers of your blog, if you come across any ideas or suggestions in your research. I know that for me the care is there, but often lack of time and knowing where to start keeps me from building a resume of acting for change. I would certainly pass along all forms of activism to my friends from this blog if we can find a strategy to rally around.
Thanks for your urgently needed blog, Henry. Sadly, those who should read it, don't. And those of us who do read it are pretty much helpless to change things. But fortunately, there are people like you out there who care and try. what can an ordinary person do? The processes with which we started this government really don't work any more...
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