Posted by
Catmman on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 11:10:18 AM
I feel compelled to write this essay after an exchange I had on line last night with an 'environmental economist'.
You can link to my reposts on all three parts:
Part I;
Part II;
Part IIINone of my arguments did anything and the guy really didn't address them anyway. He just stuck with his point of view. I should have known better, I know. After the exchange though, I started thinking. Trying to persuade the enviro nazis about the facts on CC is an almost lost cause. We can debate, inform, show the actual science through reports graphs etc, but it isn't going to work.
I'm not saying don't keep trying, because we need to educate as many of the 'fence sitters' as possible to the real science behind this issue. We need as many educated people as possible to fight the real battle which is coming.
If you read the above posts you probably already know where I'm going with this. The real battle isn't at the podium or lectern. It's not even in the MSM. It going to take place in your local and state (and more than likely Federal) legislative chambers. It will then (hopefully) move to the ballot box.
Those who support the current hysteria on CC are going to go through with their initiatives, no matter what the science says. The first rumblings are already out there in some places. Read this:
Arlington Budget Seeks 5% Increase: Plan Includes Tax For Initiative on Greenhouse Gas. And this:
Climate Panel Recommends Global Temperature Ceiling, Carbon Tax. These stories begin the tale of where the CC advocates will implement their plans.
A majority of people don't really care one way or the other about the debate on CC. They will more than likely believe the hype as opposed to the facts, just because they are constantly bombarded with it. But when it comes to actually doing something, people are famously lazy. Most people don't bother to recycle (another monumental waste of money, BTW). Most people buy the cars they want, etc. Politicians know this.
So the solution is? Taxes. Fees. Mandates. Some of which you may or may not have a say in. Look at the Arlington story again. After you get through the first few paragraphs, what happens to the focus of the piece? It switches to how the government is facing a shortfall in other areas (social spending primarily), so what's the solution? More taxes. A fee imposed ostensibly for 'environmental initiatives'. These initiatives include things which any citizen can pay for themselves if they want. But what is the real reason for the tax? More money in a 'general' fund for the politicians to draw from; the government mandating compliance with 'environmental initiatives'.
Anyway, that's the battle we will be facing in the near future. It's going to move from the classroom to the city council room.
Just like with many other issues out there, what they can't get through the ballot box, they will force through the legal and legislative system. Taxes will be imposed, regardless of taxpayer input. Laws will be made and not placed on a ballot.
The grassroots out there is going to have to re-engage the CC advocates in these arenas. Education will be a key, not only in getting the word out, but in engaging politicians. Arm yourselves with the facts. Don't back down.
Taxes are only the beginning. How long before mandates are passed down on limiting electrical use? Making you buy a Prius? Rasing the fees and taxes for 'less fuel efficient' vehicles. Some of these things are already in place. How many of you have to recycle? Separate your garbage?
You will be forced by your government into compliance. If we don't get involved in the fight at these levels, we'll get nickel and dimed into an environmental police state.
As an added bonus:
- Any law the electorate sees as being open to being perverted from its original intent will be perverted in a manner that is worse than the manner of perversion seen at the time.
- Any law that is so difficult to pass it requires the citizens be assured it will not be a stepping stone to worse laws will in fact be a stepping stone to worse laws.
- Any law that requires the citizens be assured the law does not mean what the citizens fear, means exactly what the citizens fear.
- Any law passed in a good cause will be interperated to apply to causes against the wishes of the people.
- Any law enacted to help any one group will be applied to harm people not in that group.
- Everything the government says will never happen will happen.
- What the government says it could not foresee, the government has planned for.
- When there is a budget shortfall to cover non-essential government services the citizens will be given the choice between higher taxes or the loss of essential government services.
- Should the citizens mount a successful effort to stop a piece of legislation the same legislation will be passed under a different name.
- All deprivations of freedom and choice will be increased rather than reversed.