Carl Davidson – 12/20/18

This page was last updated on January 3, 2019.

One Chart, 10,000 Words. Today’s Terrain for the Green New Deal ; Carl Davidson (KD); Facebook; December 20, 2018.

KD describes himself on Facebook as a “Truthseeker, Changemaker, Student of The Way, Pilgrim on the Road.”

You can learn more about BCR’s leftster management here. “Leftster” is the combination of leftist and gangster, inspired by the left-originated “bankster.”

You can find previous AOC-related pieces here and here.

Carl Davidson 12/20/18 @ 8:20am: “ONE CHART, 10,000 WORDS. TODAY’S TERRAIN FOR THE GREEN NEW DEAL. This is a good start, but we need more political debate and education. Not only a GND supermajority at the base, but also in city councils, state legislatures, and Congress. It’s the mother of all infrastructure and energy plans, starting with a ‘Smart Grid’ that can span countries, making use of unskilled, skilled and high tech labor. Then on to solar arrays and wind and wave turbines.”

[RWC] I have no problem with “renewable energies” and I think most of us believe we should exploit all economically-, environmentally-, and technically-viable energy sources, “renewable” or not. What I take issue with is pinning our present and future solely on “clean energy” while tying our hands behind our back regarding domestic production of coal, hydro, natural gas, nuclear, and oil-based energy. Most “renewable energies” are technically feasible to one degree or another but currently are not economically viable. That will change for some alternative energy sources, of course, but not for all and not overnight. By “economically viable” I mean the ability to compete in the marketplace without subsidies, tax credits, et cetera. We need to let the marketplace do its job without government interference beyond that deemed necessary by limited-government principles. Please read my paper Manmade Global Warming.

Gary Potter, the person who posted the subject chart, wrote, “Well, well it appears that almost everyone supports the ‘New Green Deal’ proposed by those dangerous, radical women Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Tulsi Gabbard. Maybe we could use a few more dangerous, radical women to get us universal healthcare and educational funding instead of endless corporate war. Just sayin’”

Claiming the poll says “almost everyone supports the ‘New Green Deal’” is fraud. “Just sayin.’” The poll’s question was, “Some members of Congress are proposing a ‘Green New Deal’ for the U.S. They say that a Green New Deal will produce jobs and strengthen America’s economy by accelerating the transition from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy. The Deal would generate 100% of the nation’s electricity from clean, renewable sources within the next 10 years; upgrade the nation’s energy grid, buildings, and transportation infrastructure; increase energy efficiency; invest in green technological research and development; and provide training for jobs in the new green economy. How much do you support or oppose this idea?” It’s clear the poll’s question was designed to get the desired results. That’s why it’s always necessary to know a poll’s exact questions, lead-ins, order in which they’re asked, and so on.

We don’t know “that almost everyone supports the ‘New Green Deal.’” That’s because the poll respondents were asked about only one part of the GND, the alleged benefits. The respondents were not asked about the other part, the price. They were not asked if they would like the increased taxes and the increased energy bills needed to pay for the GND. They were not asked if they would like the increased prices on just about everything resulting from the GND. They were not asked if they wanted “a new economy,” and so on. For example, I suspect most people would answer “yes” if asked if they would like their auto insurance to include free routine maintenance (new tires, oil changes, et cetera), including preventive maintenance (inspections, 6,000-mile checkups, et cetera). Would we still support the “free” stuff if told how much our premium would increase?

Isn’t this what happened in France? Everyone loved all of the alleged “green” goodies promised by campaigning politicians, including President Macron. According to NPR, however, after “French President Emmanuel Macron announced a green tax on fuel last month to go into effect Jan. 1 … the move set off nearly a month of protests around France. The French Interior Ministry estimates 136,000 protesters turned out across the country over the weekend, in addition to 280,000 in previous weeks.” Eventually, the protests turned into riots, vandalism, and violence. It got so bad, the police had to ask the French Army for help and President Macron backed off the proposed fuel tax increase.

As I wrote in a previous review, “if you think the Green New Deal (GND) is about swapping out current energy sources for ‘100% renewable energy,’ get that thought out of your brain right now. Read the ‘Draft Text For Proposed Addendum To House Rules …,’ and a chill should run up your spine. Here’s an example. A question in the FAQ section asks, ‘Why do we need a sweeping Green New Deal investment program? Why can’t we just rely on regulations and taxes alone, such as a carbon tax or an eventual ban on fossil fuels?’ One of the answers is, ‘a country that is trying to change how its economy works will need to make big investments today to jump-start and develop new projects and sectors to power the new economy.’ Wait! The GND is going to ‘to change how [our] economy works’ and the result will be ‘a new economy?’ I thought the GND’s goal was about swapping out current energy sources for ‘100% renewable energy.’ Instead, we find its about establishing a fascist economy. A fascist economy is one in which businesses are still owned by the private sector on paper, but government regulation takes sufficient operating control to make the government the de facto owners. Communism is the next step on the slippery slope, going from de facto to de jure government ownership of businesses.”

In Peace, Friendship, Community, Cooperation, and Solidarity. <g>