Al Gore: as green as he's led the world to believe????

[BOISE_CAT]

If only Al Gore would just go away..........
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/ed ... reen_x.htm
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Gore isn't quite as green as he's led the world to believe
Updated 8/10/2006 10:44 AM ET E-mail | Save | Print | Subscribe to stories like this

By Peter Schweizer
Al Gore has spoken: The world must embrace a "carbon-neutral lifestyle." To do otherwise, he says, will result in a cataclysmic catastrophe. "Humanity is sitting on a ticking time bomb," warns the website for his film, An Inconvenient Truth. "We have just 10 years to avert a major catastrophe that could send our entire planet into a tailspin."
ON DEADLINE: Your thoughts?

Graciously, Gore tells consumers how to change their lives to curb their carbon-gobbling ways: Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs, use a clothesline, drive a hybrid, use renewable energy, dramatically cut back on consumption. Better still, responsible global citizens can follow Gore's example, because, as he readily points out in his speeches, he lives a "carbon-neutral lifestyle." But if Al Gore is the world's role model for ecology, the planet is doomed.

For someone who says the sky is falling, he does very little. He says he recycles and drives a hybrid. And he claims he uses renewable energy credits to offset the pollution he produces when using a private jet to promote his film. (In reality, Paramount Classics, the film's distributor, pays this.)

Public records reveal that as Gore lectures Americans on excessive consumption, he and his wife Tipper live in two properties: a 10,000-square-foot, 20-room, eight-bathroom home in Nashville, and a 4,000-square-foot home in Arlington, Va. (He also has a third home in Carthage, Tenn.) For someone rallying the planet to pursue a path of extreme personal sacrifice, Gore requires little from himself.

Then there is the troubling matter of his energy use. In the Washington, D.C., area, utility companies offer wind energy as an alternative to traditional energy. In Nashville, similar programs exist. Utility customers must simply pay a few extra pennies per kilowatt hour, and they can continue living their carbon-neutral lifestyles knowing that they are supporting wind energy. Plenty of businesses and institutions have signed up. Even the Bush administration is using green energy for some federal office buildings, as are thousands of area residents.

But according to public records, there is no evidence that Gore has signed up to use green energy in either of his large residences. When contacted Wednesday, Gore's office confirmed as much but said the Gores were looking into making the switch at both homes. Talk about inconvenient truths.

Gore is not alone. Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean has said, "Global warming is happening, and it threatens our very existence." The DNC website applauds the fact that Gore has "tried to move people to act." Yet, astoundingly, Gore's persuasive powers have failed to convince his own party: The DNC has not signed up to pay an additional two pennies a kilowatt hour to go green. For that matter, neither has the Republican National Committee.

Maybe our very existence isn't threatened.

Gore has held these apocalyptic views about the environment for some time. So why, then, didn't Gore dump his family's large stock holdings in Occidental (Oxy) Petroleum? As executor of his family's trust, over the years Gore has controlled hundreds of thousands of dollars in Oxy stock. Oxy has been mired in controversy over oil drilling in ecologically sensitive areas.

Living carbon-neutral apparently doesn't mean living oil-stock free. Nor does it necessarily mean giving up a mining royalty either.

Humanity might be "sitting on a ticking time bomb," but Gore's home in Carthage is sitting on a zinc mine. Gore receives $20,000 a year in royalties from Pasminco Zinc, which operates a zinc concession on his property. Tennessee has cited the company for adding large quantities of barium, iron and zinc to the nearby Caney Fork River.

The issue here is not simply Gore's hypocrisy; it's a question of credibility. If he genuinely believes the apocalyptic vision he has put forth and calls for radical changes in the way other people live, why hasn't he made any radical change in his life? Giving up the zinc mine or one of his homes is not asking much, given that he wants the rest of us to radically change our lives.

Peter Schweizer is a research fellow at the Hoover Institution and author of Do As I Say (Not As I Do): Profiles in Liberal Hypocrisy.

[GOKATS]

I guess inventing the computer just isn't enough for some people.

[ChiOCat]

Don't forget the dangerous shortage of trees we're facing in NW Montana.

I have a hard time with the Global Warming scare. Yes, it's good to limit our polution and impact on the earth. But the earth has gone through so many hot and cold spells without our help. It seems pretty cocky of us to attribute any change in the enviroment to humans.

[catatac]

Don't forget the dangerous shortage of trees we're facing in NW Montana.

I have a hard time with the Global Warming scare. Yes, it's good to limit our polution and impact on the earth. But the earth has gone through so many hot and cold spells without our help. It seems pretty cocky of us to attribute any change in the enviroment to humans.

True, and I think it's really tough to calculate exactly how much humans are contributing to global warming, but the evidence remains that currently the earth is warming at a pace far greater than any of the past warming cycles (according to about 300,000 years of records, i.e. c02 measurements taken from ice cores at the polar ice caps.) That leads me to believe that maybe we are accelerating it quite a bit. Having said that, I also believe that Ma Nature may have a way of correcting the problem. We'll just have to wait and see...

[RyeCat]

http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/pruden080806.php3

This guy has got the issue nailed.

[Ponycat]

but the evidence remains that currently the earth is warming at a pace far greater than any of the past warming cycles (according to about 300,000 years of records, i.e. c02 measurements taken from ice cores at the polar ice caps.)

True, But haven't those same measurements revealed that increased temeratures are what caused increased C02 in the past and no vise versa.

[catatac]

but the evidence remains that currently the earth is warming at a pace far greater than any of the past warming cycles (according to about 300,000 years of records, i.e. c02 measurements taken from ice cores at the polar ice caps.)

True, But haven't those same measurements revealed that increased temeratures are what caused increased C02 in the past and no vise versa.

http://www.grinningplanet.com/2005/06-21/co2-rise.gif

Yes, I believe so. I'm not exactly sure which effect causes the other, but the outcome is the same... a warming process that feeds on itself. Shrinking ice-caps and worldwide glaciers (Less white sorface area) which obviously reduces the amount of solar energy being reflected away from earth and increases the amount being absorbed (More open ocean or brown or green earth). If you haven't been to Glacier Park lately to see the few glaciers that remain, you better hurry because it doesn't look like they'll be around much longer.

I don't think I'm an alarmist - but I think the evidence out there now is overwhelming that it is happening. My opinion is that Humans are probably just adding to a natural cycle and I don't think we've been able to effectively determine how much we're adding to the naturally occurring greenhouse effect, via CO2 emmissions and reduction of oxygen emitting CO2-reducing vegetation. I also don't think than any actions we take now can slow the process much. I'll also restate my opinion that Mother Nature could easily make a subtle change to reverse the process... humans don't fully understand how the planet climate works.

[couloir41]

ok boise...

i think there is enough hypocracy in politics and main stream issues and their protagonists to go around...

why i'll bet you could find that gwb...the ivy league free market entreprenur (sp) awol leader of the free world...is pretty much responsible for bankrupting several petroleum businesses in his early days...then made a ton of money off of a publicly financed baseball team...you know...the one in north texas...

my point is that everyone has dirt...maybe even you...hypocritical little emoticon here...

[iaafan]

(Cue background music from Ed Wood's "Plan Nine from Outer Space" with some stock Army footage circa 1918.)

I suspect the planet can handle global warming, but human life as we know it can't. The planet has endured worse than what we can do to it. We could probably fire off all of our nukes at once and not kill the planet, but not much would be left of us.

My hunch is that we'll kill ourselves off, the planet will go into a hybernation (de-evolution; we are DEVO. D-E-V-O) with some life remaining and then begin the evolution process again. Whether or not a species like man comes out of that (lets hope for something better, it shouldn't be too tough), who knows.

Or maybe God will step in. Or maybe he/she is. He/she's just giving us a slow painful death. Not a bad idea God, can't say I blame ya.

We haven't been around very long in the grand scheme of things. Something like the last few hours of the last day of the Cosmic Calendar. Humans are just a blip on the planet's radar. I doubt that if the planet could talk it would give us rave reviews. In just the last millisecond of
Dec. 31 we've really been making our presence felt. What will the next few seconds bring? Will W's daughters marry and have kids? Will we be attacked by more Yale cheerleaders?

(Fade to black)

[ChiOCat]

(Cue background music from Ed Wood's "Plan Nine from Outer Space" with some stock Army footage circa 1918.)

I suspect the planet can handle global warming, but human life as we know it can't. The planet has endured worse than what we can do to it. We could probably fire off all of our nukes at once and not kill the planet, but not much would be left of us.

My hunch is that we'll kill ourselves off, the planet will go into a hybernation (de-evolution; we are DEVO. D-E-V-O) with some life remaining and then begin the evolution process again. Whether or not a species like man comes out of that (lets hope for something better, it shouldn't be too tough), who knows.

Or maybe God will step in. Or maybe he/she is. He/she's just giving us a slow painful death. Not a bad idea God, can't say I blame ya.

We haven't been around very long in the grand scheme of things. Something like the last few hours of the last day of the Cosmic Calendar. Humans are just a blip on the planet's radar. I doubt that if the planet could talk it would give us rave reviews. In just the last millisecond of
Dec. 31 we've really been making our presence felt. What will the next few seconds bring? Will W's daughters marry and have kids? Will we be attacked by more Yale cheerleaders?

(Fade to black)

I think that's very true. And it's what has happened to so many species who have come and gone before us. Can you see the panic humans would have gone into trying to protect the dinosaurs as they started dying off???

[catatac]

(Cue background music from Ed Wood's "Plan Nine from Outer Space" with some stock Army footage circa 1918.)

I suspect the planet can handle global warming, but human life as we know it can't. The planet has endured worse than what we can do to it. We could probably fire off all of our nukes at once and not kill the planet, but not much would be left of us.

My hunch is that we'll kill ourselves off, the planet will go into a hybernation (de-evolution; we are DEVO. D-E-V-O) with some life remaining and then begin the evolution process again. Whether or not a species like man comes out of that (lets hope for something better, it shouldn't be too tough), who knows.

Or maybe God will step in. Or maybe he/she is. He/she's just giving us a slow painful death. Not a bad idea God, can't say I blame ya.

We haven't been around very long in the grand scheme of things. Something like the last few hours of the last day of the Cosmic Calendar. Humans are just a blip on the planet's radar. I doubt that if the planet could talk it would give us rave reviews. In just the last millisecond of
Dec. 31 we've really been making our presence felt. What will the next few seconds bring? Will W's daughters marry and have kids? Will we be attacked by more Yale cheerleaders?

(Fade to black)

Good Post... 100% agree.

[DriftCat]

ok boise...

i think there is enough hypocracy in politics and main stream issues and their protagonists to go around...

why i'll bet you could find that gwb...the ivy league free market entreprenur (sp) awol leader of the free world...is pretty much responsible for bankrupting several petroleum businesses in his early days...then made a ton of money off of a publicly financed baseball team...you know...the one in north texas...

my point is that everyone has dirt...maybe even you...hypocritical little emoticon here...

Thats funny you would bring up Bush because if this little article was about him you would be all over it wouldn't you? Instead it is about Gore (does anyone actually take him seriously anyway?) and instead of staying on topic and discussing the issue at hand you have to make it about GW. Typical.

[HelenaCat95]

Maybe someone has "Bush envy"

[catamaran]

ok boise...

i think there is enough hypocracy in politics and main stream issues and their protagonists to go around...

why i'll bet you could find that gwb...the ivy league free market entreprenur (sp) awol leader of the free world...is pretty much responsible for bankrupting several petroleum businesses in his early days...then made a ton of money off of a publicly financed baseball team...you know...the one in north texas...

my point is that everyone has dirt...maybe even you...hypocritical little emoticon here...

Thats funny you would bring up Bush because if this little article was about him you would be all over it wouldn't you? Instead it is about Gore (does anyone actually take him seriously anyway?) and instead of staying on topic and discussing the issue at hand you have to make it about GW. Typical.

That's because he is actually Al Gore (bump, bump, BUM)

[Bleedinbluengold]

I agree that we don't understand earth's climate 100%. However, we do understand more than 50% of it probably. In the Gore movie, that one scientist was able to calibrate his climatology model with history. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that his model's predictions of the future are probably more accurate in a general sense, than not. The model might not predict the actual time-frame of events to the day or year, but the model could easily be within 10 years.

Regardless of what one thinks about global warming, it seems reasonable to me to conduct your personal life, in terms of your living habits, in a manner that reduces greenhouse gases. Venus is a good example of what happens to a planet that experiences extreme global warming. I guess I just don't like the, "The Planet will be just fine, let's just do whatever it is we want to do" mentality.

[HelenaCat95]

Regardless of what one thinks about global warming, it seems reasonable to me to conduct your personal life, in terms of your living habits, in a manner that reduces greenhouse gases. .

I can agree with this sentiment 100%, because it involves an individual's decision. The rub comes when we start basing government policy and government regulations/mandates on what may or may not be a true prediction.

I am not saying that we should not be basing regulations on the theory of global warming. What I am saying is that we should be very careful and very mindful of the economic consequences of using global warming theory to guide our mandated behavior.

[iaafan]

I can agree with this sentiment 100%, because it involves an individual's decision. The rub comes when we start basing government policy and government regulations/mandates on what may or may not be a true prediction.

I am not saying that we should not be basing regulations on the theory of global warming. What I am saying is that we should be very careful and very mindful of the economic consequences of using global warming theory to guide our mandated behavior.

Unfortunately leaving it to an individual decision probably won’t work. It’d sure be nice if that’s how it worked with everything. Bad is bad, so don’t do it. Good is good, so do it until you find Better. We’ve tried leaving drinking responsibly to the individual, smoking is an individual choice that everyone knows isn’t just bad for that person, but everyone else (not only in terms of getting sick from secondhand smoke, but from insurance premiums). Gambling and unhealthy fast food, too. You can go on and on. There are people who will create bad things and sell them to us without even batting an eye. All of those habits, like our vehicle habit, have been marketed in a way that makes many feel they’re ‘losers’ if they don’t have the ‘cool’ car (SUV, ½ ton pickup, etc.). As you know a lot of people take a huge amount of pride in what they drive, despite how inane that is. They got a lot of help in being that way from the auto industry’s marketing execs. It’s really sad to see someone dump their life savings into a SUV they barely afford, but it happens all the time. It’s one thing for rich people who can’t find anything else to spend their money on to do that.

The reason we don’t base regulations on global warming and haven’t seen our government buy into the notion is simply because of the economic consequences. We’re worried that other countries won’t follow suit and will then gain economic superiority. American companies buy oil for cheap, then sell it high and make huge profits, which are biggest in the U.S. and still pretty good abroad. They depend on us to depend on gas, so you see little Johnny racing a Hummer go cart and beating his buddies. Don’t compete with your brain of body, compete with the car you can. Great message isn’t it.

When it’s so undeniable that global warming is occurring, even to those making the hugest profits, then something will happen. You can tell some people something, but until they actually experience the sensation it won’t matter. We’ll probably have a civil war before everyone comes together on this one. Then again maybe not. People have been building on flood plains, earthquake zones, the Gulf Coast and doing so without being prepared for the event.

[urcrackinmeup]

[quote="HelenaCat95"][quote="Bleedinbluengold"]
I can agree with this sentiment 100%, because it involves an individual's decision. The rub comes when we start basing government policy and government regulations/mandates on what may or may not be a true prediction.
quote]

I suppose you don't wear your seatbelt either Helena Cat

[HelenaCat95]

I can agree with this sentiment 100%, because it involves an individual's decision. The rub comes when we start basing government policy and government regulations/mandates on what may or may not be a true prediction.

I am not saying that we should not be basing regulations on the theory of global warming. What I am saying is that we should be very careful and very mindful of the economic consequences of using global warming theory to guide our mandated behavior.

Unfortunately leaving it to an individual decision probably won’t work. It’d sure be nice if that’s how it worked with everything. Bad is bad, so don’t do it. Good is good, so do it until you find Better. We’ve tried leaving drinking responsibly to the individual, smoking is an individual choice that everyone knows isn’t just bad for that person, but everyone else (not only in terms of getting sick from secondhand smoke, but from insurance premiums). Gambling and unhealthy fast food, too. You can go on and on. There are people who will create bad things and sell them to us without even batting an eye. All of those habits, like our vehicle habit, have been marketed in a way that makes many feel they’re ‘losers’ if they don’t have the ‘cool’ car (SUV, ½ ton pickup, etc.). As you know a lot of people take a huge amount of pride in what they drive, despite how inane that is. They got a lot of help in being that way from the auto industry’s marketing execs. It’s really sad to see someone dump their life savings into a SUV they barely afford, but it happens all the time. It’s one thing for rich people who can’t find anything else to spend their money on to do that.

The reason we don’t base regulations on global warming and haven’t seen our government buy into the notion is simply because of the economic consequences. We’re worried that other countries won’t follow suit and will then gain economic superiority. American companies buy oil for cheap, then sell it high and make huge profits, which are biggest in the U.S. and still pretty good abroad. They depend on us to depend on gas, so you see little Johnny racing a Hummer go cart and beating his buddies. Don’t compete with your brain of body, compete with the car you can. Great message isn’t it.

When it’s so undeniable that global warming is occurring, even to those making the hugest profits, then something will happen. You can tell some people something, but until they actually experience the sensation it won’t matter. We’ll probably have a civil war before everyone comes together on this one. Then again maybe not. People have been building on flood plains, earthquake zones, the Gulf Coast and doing so without being prepared for the event.

I can agree with some of what you are saying. For example, I am big on individual choice, but unfortunately our society is willing to compennsate people for their bad decisions. I can use your example of people building on flood plains, earthquake zones, etc.....and then when there is a disaster, expect the government to bail them out. To a certain extent, that is what the govt is there for, but not to make people whole again. There is a reason that insurance rates are high in those areas, and if people can't afford to pay those rates, then they shouldn't live there (I know, some people are too poor to move, and we must take that in to account). I am just bringing up the point of individual choices have consequences.

To a certain extent, people are paying for driving SUV's. The high price of gas has had an effect on the market. People are buying fewer SUV's and more hybrids. And it has spurred investment into alternative sources of energy. While I will admit that if the global warming theory is true, we will ALL pay for it, and not those that have contributed to it most, we must find ways to let the market work on this. And with the price of gas, we are seeing some of it already.

On your point about gambling and fast food. I agree, science and social theory have shown that these are not good for us. But there are many things that aren't good for us, yet we take part in already. For example, egriz (just kidding folks). Seriously though, what if the government learned from science that certain posts on this website raised the blood pressure of people - I think there is no denying that some of the posts on this site have raised our blood pressure. And because of that, the government determined that no one should visit this site? I know I'm arguing to the extreme, but the point is that I don't trust anyone other than myself to make those decisions for me. Give me the information, and I will decide.

Bottom line for me is individual choice...and the freedom to make bad ones. As a very wise judge from Bozeman (now deceased) once told me, "The Constitution gives people the right to make an ass out of themselves - and it's obvious to me that many people enjoy exercising their Constitutional rights"

Don't blame the BN poster for the reaction of the reader. (except for the "fire" in the crowded theater type statement)
Don't blame McDonalds for the reaction of the eater.
And don't blame MSU for the actions of former student-athletes.









whew.....why do I feel like Will Farrell (Frank the Tank) after the debate scene with James Carville in Old School.....I think I blacked out there.

[HelenaCat95]

I can agree with this sentiment 100%, because it involves an individual's decision. The rub comes when we start basing government policy and government regulations/mandates on what may or may not be a true prediction.
quote]

I suppose you don't wear your seatbelt either Helena Cat

I never liked, and still don't like the seatbelt rule.....but I do wear one.
Why are you trying to kill me?