False Dichotomies

Beliefs



We all have our belief systems. Some have more of a basis on facts, but all rely at least to some extent on faith. Even those of us who espouse a scientific view must still have some faith in the science of their peers as well as those who have come before and helped build the pyramid of scientific facts upon which our current beliefs are based. Then there are those who base their beliefs more on faith than fact. Many a debate has been had between those with a scientific and those with a religion based world view.



Even if we accept that science vs religion is a dichotomy (and some of us would not concede this), the environment in general, and climate change in particular, does not need to be in the middle of it. For even those of great religious belief must still accept that some scientific facts are true. And some of those facts have to do with keeping our planet verdant for future generations. Little to nothing in religion tells people that they should exploit natural resources until they are exhausted, burn fossil fuels until the air and water are polluted, or dump industrial or coal waste into water systems.






Regulation



Here is another dichotomy, and, I believe, another false one: environmental regulation suppresses jobs and the overall economy. It's true that regulations do sometimes reduce jobs in certain sectors, but they then create new jobs in others. In fact, an award-winning 2013 paper by Berkeley economist W. Reed Walker shows that there is "increasing evidence that benefits from environmental policy far exceed the costs."






Support of Renewable Energy



And finally there's this related one: the government has no business supporting renewable energy. Jobs and the economy are based on our fossil fuels. This article, from that bastion of liberal thinking, Forbes magazine, debunks and disputes this entirely.  It's still (in spite of our recent election results) not too late for our country to take a leading role in the economy of the future.

In past posts, I've listed sources that show our government's historical and continuing subsidization of the fossil fuel industry. It's well past time for this to stop, and to start putting clean energy first.

In What Universe?

Things are happening so fast in Washington, that it's nearly impossible for us normal people to process it. I've heard that so many lies are emanating from the Executive branch that the fact-checkers are facing exhaustion. One thing is perfectly clear, however: the environment is under attack.

Last week President Trump signed an act of Congress rolling back the stream protection rule, a regulation to protect streams from mining pollution. Yes, this really happened. This will, in effect, allow coal waste to be dumped into rivers.

I have seen and heard arguments about why this should be good for jobs, industry and preventing governmental overreach. I have seen and heard that we can "have a clean environment without needless regulation." I have heard the assertion that this rule was only put in place by President Obama in the last days of his Administration. Here is what I have to say to the Republicans and their new President about these justifications.

You have no moral or ethical justification whatsoever. Greed has won this battle, even as the war continues. In what Universe is it okay to dump coal waste in streams? How do you pass a law like this, and then face your children and grandchildren?

Now comes the next phase of the assault on clean air and water. Senate Republicans have confirmed Scott Pruitt as head of the Environmental Protection Agency, an agency that he and President Trump have promised to dismantle.

To my Republican friends, I have to ask: you are presumably getting what you asked for. What has happened to your human decency?