So, I've been following the talks in Bali regarding the environment, and I'm disturbed, to say the least, at the results.

The general consensus seems to be that the United States is the chief obstacle to creating real change there. To the rest of the world this is shocking, but here in America...this is merely 'status quo' and 'par for the course' whenever we, the people, tackle a green issue. Or anything that will take us out of our SUVs, the malls and the rest of our spoiled lives. I would argue that this isn't even a major story in the news: I had to dig deep beneath Britney Spears' sad Christmas and maligned actors who missed out on a fucking Golden Globe nod just to find the goods. Liza Minnelli falling down at a concert isn't news, people! It's an everyday reality.   

Let me detail just how much of a non-issue the climate is here. The only way 'efficiency' is making an impact is on hybrid sales, which are through the roof (just like gasoline prices.) I had a conversation with a co-worker, who lives in DC and drives from his home to work...also in DC...because he doesn't like waiting for the Metro (that he'd rather sit in the District's notorious traffic is a testament to his high intelligence and powers of deductive reasoning.) We're not funding Amtrak or building a high-speed rail network, which would clearly and easily drop our emissions while raising our sanity levels (see road traffic and airports, respectively.) This is despite Amtrak posting record numbers and mass transit nationwide posting record numbers. (You also can't fly a train into a building, just FYI.)

However, nobody else is really taking us to task. Al Gore, fresh from his Nobel Prize win, spoke tough, claiming that "My own country, the United States, is principally responsible for obstructing progress here in Bali. We all know that." What Gore fails to recognize is that he's taking the wusses way out. It's easy to grunt and groan, easy to critique the United States (the largest, or second-largest greenouse gasbag on the planet.) But if Gore really wants to make change, really wants the United States to adopt a leadership role in climate, run for President of the Free World, ya pussy!

Or is that too 'hard?' And yes, I called Al Gore a pussy. It's an inconvenient truth. To put it another way, if Bush was ideologically aligned with climate change, we'd have already attacked ourselves, and sent an ill-equipped army to China with no armor and no plan, with the hopes that they blow up enough factories to drop the levels of greenhouse gasses. That would be his legacy: the War on Warming. Bush may be a religious nut, he may be slow to put down this month's issue of "Highlights" during attacks, but he ain't a pussy. He wanted a hard-line, right-wing, religious nation with little-to-no separation of governmental powers (or separation of church and state, thought and faith, torture and justice...) and damn if he hasn't made every effort to get what he wants. 

Can one make the same claim about Gore?

Plus...I like Gore! I voted for Gore in 2000. I saw his film and sold my car, moving closer to where I work and play. I've been a huge bitch to friends and family members who drive sloth-UVs or don't recycle. Me liking Gore doesn't make him any less of a mother-fucking pussy! Seriously. Put up or shut up, already. Get in the race or get out of the kitchen.
 
And what about the other First-World powers, like the EU? Well, they threatened to boycott...the US-sponsored climate summit next month! Wow. Way to take a stand there, guys. I'm certain that will be quite effective in getting America on board. You know, if you really want to make us change, to threaten us, don't buy from Ford of Europe, the only profitable division left for Dearborn. Or refuse to buy or fly Boeing jets. Give up the Starbucks and 'Royales with Cheese' at McDonalds. The dollar is already crashing, give it a punch and you'll get our attention.

You could also get our attention by doing something altruistic and beneficial. For example, buy Amtrak and upgrade it to Eurostar standards (as Amtrak doesn't own its tracks outside of the Northeast, this may be a pipe dream.) One of the quickest and easiest ways for us to drop some 20% of our greenhouse gas farting is by getting we, the people, out of our cars. The problem for most of the country is that we, the people, can't...because there is no mass transit in cities and suburbs, and no short-line rail transit between cities and cities. Give people an alternative, and they'll take it. Almost nobody takes a plane from DC to NYC...'cause we have Acela. If you can't buy Amtrak, help them...help us see that trains aren't a travel method of the past, and get people off planes.

Mind you, America's not off the hook here. We, the people, are so easily distracted and entertained by utter nonsense. This ranges from genuine issues like abortion and equal rights (which have been so polarized that a true conversation is impossible,) to bullshit like Paris Hilton and Dancing With The Stars, (which have no redeemable value whatsoever.) Here's a clue, folks: we can't pay attention to nonsense if we're all dead, starving, or without energy. Just sayin'. 

Which leads me to China, who feels that the United States should take the lead on global climate change. Now, I get what China is saying. The US is the hyperpower. The US has been responsible for most of the greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. The US has an overall high standard of living, while China is ramping and amping up to move its populace out of poverty and into the modern age. Their claim that it's not fair to cap developing countries rings true...

...but you know what, guys? Life ain't fair. If it was, your culture wouldn't have been carved up and divided by the Europeans, the Americans and the Japanese for 150 years. If it was, the Great Leap Forward wouldn't have killed millions.

Life ain't fair.

Knowing that, realizing that, use your strength. China has a long, vast and proud history of triangulating their position to come out on top. Why not do this for climate change? Instead of producing tons of Barbies, produce tons of solar panels for pennies. Come into the automobil market with a hybrid that everybody can afford. Clean up your factories and sell the West your technology in doing that. If you wait for the US to act, the world in which you'll emerge as a major power will be much diminished.

But if you take the lead...

...you'll be a world power much, MUCH quicker. You'll make tons of money doing it WHILE being the 'hero' nation. You'll get to cast the United States as the 'villian' nation. Worse, we'll be yesterday's news while you'll ascend.

Do I really want this? Nope. I'd much rather we, the people, take action and take the lead. I've argued for a 'change of box' to place the free-market economy inside over many, many posts now. We SHOULD do this. 

But life ain't fair.  
     

          

 

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