As we approach the end of 2004 it seems reasonable to look ahead. Environmental politics will certainly heat up in 2005. Now that Russia has joined the old Europe by ratifying the Kyoto Protocol calling for slowing economic activity to levels some say will return the world's people to poverty. Slowing economic activity allows corrupt and dysfunctional governments to manage income and wealth. And many believe that's actually what is driving Kyoto.
Powerful governments are struggling worldwide from "freedom" breaking out all over. People everywhere are clamoring for education and for self determination and for opportunities to take risks to create wealth. The Fax machine broke down the "Iron Curtain" and now the Internet is undermining governments with instant information and with competitive and often diverse voices. This movement is seen as toothpaste out of the tube. A mess all over government's ability to control their nations. And much like toothpaste, once it's out of the tube, there is no putting it back. Not that old Europe and Russia and the UN aren't trying.
America's liberal elites fear freedom more than they fear terrorists. The concept that individuals can work as hard as they want to create wealth and to increase their standard of living without government's helping hand strikes fear in the hearts of those who appoint themselves smarter and wiser than everyman. These are affectionately called limo-liberals because they are "do as I say" talkers rather than "do as I do" walkers. This is a large group that hoards economic power while it struggles to keep government power. Hoarding economic power assures that not too many, especially people of color and recent immigrants, gain ground on the elites. And it also assures that government power can be spoon fed to people of color to make sure they stay on the "plantation."
And that brings me back to why old Europe, Russia, the UN and of course North American liberals are using the environment to stop freedom from breaking out all over. Slower economic activity assures that more of the world's people rely on governments for their daily needs. Now that's a symbiotic relationship. The best way to slow economic activity is to stop generating electricity. Here in the Northwest, the enviro-Nazis are talking about breaching dams while they demand that power plants stop emitting carbon dioxide. Both strategies are bound to produce recessions and then a major world depression. And guess what will happen? Governments all over will establish reasonable standards of living and will provide products and services the people need, not those they want. Except of course for the limo-liberals that need their luxuries.
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
The Cost of Envirowar
Respect for our planet is expressed in many forms. In the Northwest, recycling municipal and industrial waste reduces landfill tipping. Recycling useable materials saves not just by reducing landfill size but also reduces the energy required to process "virgin" materials. That saved energy also reduces emissions that inevitably accompany material processing. Recovering inert materials is a step in the right direction, while tipping organics is where the real pollution is. Organics decompose and that releases gases that can contribute to climate fluxuations.
Tokyo has some of the world's most stringent emissions regulations. On a visit there, I wondered why almost all of the cars were late models. In fact In over 200 visits over 15 year's time, I don't remember seeing an older or dented car. Fact is that Tokyo's emissions standards are so stringent that owning an aging and polluting car is so expensive that it's much more cost effective to buy new. Japan's banks support that strategy by providing low interest loans for new car purchases as opposed to much higher cost for used cars.
Environmental common sense promotes give and take relationships between mankind, animals and plants, and our planet's ecosystems. It makes me wonder how far this country has moved while for decades human haters were writing regulations and laws that seemed intended to erase man's footprint from earth. Wouldn't a more moderate effort at shaping energy policies that include energy experts as well as energy haters achieve real improvements in our environment? So let's support those who seek to improve our relationship with nature rather than those who seek to destroy it.
Tokyo has some of the world's most stringent emissions regulations. On a visit there, I wondered why almost all of the cars were late models. In fact In over 200 visits over 15 year's time, I don't remember seeing an older or dented car. Fact is that Tokyo's emissions standards are so stringent that owning an aging and polluting car is so expensive that it's much more cost effective to buy new. Japan's banks support that strategy by providing low interest loans for new car purchases as opposed to much higher cost for used cars.
Environmental common sense promotes give and take relationships between mankind, animals and plants, and our planet's ecosystems. It makes me wonder how far this country has moved while for decades human haters were writing regulations and laws that seemed intended to erase man's footprint from earth. Wouldn't a more moderate effort at shaping energy policies that include energy experts as well as energy haters achieve real improvements in our environment? So let's support those who seek to improve our relationship with nature rather than those who seek to destroy it.
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
The New Deal
The heart and soul of America's environmental movement is the New Deal. Originated in the early to mid 1930s, the New Deal was Franklin Delano Roosevelt's effort to bring egalitarianism and socialism to the United States. And he succeeded beyond his fondest dreams. He succeeded by using his power to reverse a reluctant Supreme Court to embrace his vision for a new America.
Segway to today and FDR's New Deal is embraced by enviro-warriors who seek to take our property rights to shape society to their expectations. But the Bush administration feels otherwise. Scholars have for decades pointed to the Wickard v Filburn case as the foundation for federal government overreach using the "interstate commerce" clause of the constitution to impose regulatory oversight that otherwise might be unconstitutional. An OPED column today in the New York Times discusses the peril that progressives now believe Wickard v. Filburn is in.
There are other legal underpinnings for the soldiers of the envirowars to employ in their effort to stop America's economy and to reverse property ownership. So the battle for America's values and for the world's people to be exposed to freedoms beyond their wildest dreams will be fought one precedent and one skirmish at a time.
Monday, December 13, 2004
Property Ownership
The envirowars are coming! They will be fought in far away places by appointed bureaucrats and elected officials who feel that a minimalist world is better for all. And they are being fought today in communities out west. It seems logical that if mankind lived more frugally, fewer resources need to be used. And if mankind would just settle for a "reasonable" existence, the environment would prosper to the benefit of plants, animals, and mankind as well.
One of the envirowar's fronts is in the state trenches of the United States. Here enviro-extremists have used zoning and sweeping land use regulations to minimize property owner's rights to use their land. Zoning was first proposed as a way to control growth and to manage development. It was sold as a way for communities to design the fabric of their neighborhood by keeping unwanted businesses and "ugly" housing out. Zoning has failed to deliver. One of zoning's most prestigious legacies is the infamous "commute." This is the unintended result of creating bedroom communities miles from "workplace" cities.
Zoning also created slums as it was used to keep the poor and minorities in one place. In fact desegregation assured a legacy of zoned slums by encouraging middle class blacks to run from their dysfunctional communities. Today that continues with political demonizing of the return of minority and white tax payers by labeling it "gentrification."
Zoning recently took a shot across the bow from property owners in Oregon, of all places. There a populous initiative granting property owner rights gained over 60% voter approval. Measure 37 attempts to roll back government overreach of restricting private property owner's rights to use their land. The result is simple. When someone acquires land it has restrictions attached and the purchaser knows these restrictions and must adhere to them. But when government changes land use policy and changes zoning, it must pay for loss of land use to each owner. Breathtaking.
Neil Pierce, by many considered one of America's pulse takers, writes that this vote might bring back the "Sage Brush Rebellion" that fizzled during the Reagan administration. Since then a few states, notably Oregon and Washington, have spearheaded the assault on property ownership rights. In Washington, recent King County Council resolutions, and city and state environmental actions demanding that up to 65% of all rural property be restored to it's natural state, goes further than any in the United States. Enviro-extremists cut their teeth on these types of property taking policies. And it is their mission to bring these policies to the rest of America.
One of the envirowar's fronts is in the state trenches of the United States. Here enviro-extremists have used zoning and sweeping land use regulations to minimize property owner's rights to use their land. Zoning was first proposed as a way to control growth and to manage development. It was sold as a way for communities to design the fabric of their neighborhood by keeping unwanted businesses and "ugly" housing out. Zoning has failed to deliver. One of zoning's most prestigious legacies is the infamous "commute." This is the unintended result of creating bedroom communities miles from "workplace" cities.
Zoning also created slums as it was used to keep the poor and minorities in one place. In fact desegregation assured a legacy of zoned slums by encouraging middle class blacks to run from their dysfunctional communities. Today that continues with political demonizing of the return of minority and white tax payers by labeling it "gentrification."
Zoning recently took a shot across the bow from property owners in Oregon, of all places. There a populous initiative granting property owner rights gained over 60% voter approval. Measure 37 attempts to roll back government overreach of restricting private property owner's rights to use their land. The result is simple. When someone acquires land it has restrictions attached and the purchaser knows these restrictions and must adhere to them. But when government changes land use policy and changes zoning, it must pay for loss of land use to each owner. Breathtaking.
Neil Pierce, by many considered one of America's pulse takers, writes that this vote might bring back the "Sage Brush Rebellion" that fizzled during the Reagan administration. Since then a few states, notably Oregon and Washington, have spearheaded the assault on property ownership rights. In Washington, recent King County Council resolutions, and city and state environmental actions demanding that up to 65% of all rural property be restored to it's natural state, goes further than any in the United States. Enviro-extremists cut their teeth on these types of property taking policies. And it is their mission to bring these policies to the rest of America.
Sunday, December 12, 2004
Parakeet, Spotted Owl, Salmon!
Every now and then the environmental movement wraps its might around an icon that they say exemplifies fair and just environmental commitments. This is akin to the parakeet in coal mines to warn workers of impending doom due to build up of toxic gases. And so is the salmon in the northwest. It's essentially a food fish that migrates from fresh water streams down rivers to the Pacific Ocean where it feeds and frolics for several years doing what salmon do until it returns in the last days of its life to spawn and die back home in the same fresh water streams and creeks.
What makes salmon such a hot commodity for enviro-extremists is that once its placed on the "endangered species list," any and all land near flowing and even not any more flowing brooks, creeks, and streams, as well as rivers and salt water can be controlled by the extremists.
The endangered designation provides for extreme protection of "critical habitat" where salmon are, or can, or might some day, or once did, spawn. In high precipitation areas such as the northwest, that's about 80% to 90% of all land west of the Cascade mountains. This is on top of "wetland" protections that control any land that has standing water for any period of time and where grass grows beyond minimum heights.
Combine wet land and critical habitat protections and it's lights out for development and economic activity. The enviro-extremists have now successfully stopped property use without spending a cent. Subsequently they control all road construction; economic expansion; housing; recreating; and any other land use that might not fit their view of society.
The Bush administration is stepping into the fray by moderating property control by articulating clearly which environmental protections actually enhance successful salmon reproduction. This sounds pretty regressive to the enviro-warriors who fight for control of all land. Makes me believe that salmon reproduction is not actually as critical as controlling property use is.
What makes salmon such a hot commodity for enviro-extremists is that once its placed on the "endangered species list," any and all land near flowing and even not any more flowing brooks, creeks, and streams, as well as rivers and salt water can be controlled by the extremists.
The endangered designation provides for extreme protection of "critical habitat" where salmon are, or can, or might some day, or once did, spawn. In high precipitation areas such as the northwest, that's about 80% to 90% of all land west of the Cascade mountains. This is on top of "wetland" protections that control any land that has standing water for any period of time and where grass grows beyond minimum heights.
Combine wet land and critical habitat protections and it's lights out for development and economic activity. The enviro-extremists have now successfully stopped property use without spending a cent. Subsequently they control all road construction; economic expansion; housing; recreating; and any other land use that might not fit their view of society.
The Bush administration is stepping into the fray by moderating property control by articulating clearly which environmental protections actually enhance successful salmon reproduction. This sounds pretty regressive to the enviro-warriors who fight for control of all land. Makes me believe that salmon reproduction is not actually as critical as controlling property use is.
Today's Seattle Post Intelligencer's OPED section features a column by Mark Trahant lamenting the loss of "critical habitat" due to this administration's review of the language. Moderating and improving critical protection language is more likely to strengthen salmon recovery than just shotgunning restrictions at all of society. It seems to me that greater focus on scientifically identified critical habitat and on other proven strategies can be achieved once the fluff in the process is removed.
Thursday, December 09, 2004
Science or Government?
The $64,000 question about the near-term direction of America's environmental policies is whether it will be based on internationally pushed slow economic growth demands or on scientific solutions to truly important environmental challenges?
Will we succumb to pressure by small minded persons who feel that minimalist policy is good enough for the regular folks while they believe that elites should benefit from their "leadership?" We saw this in the Soviet Union where the "party" cooped the best food and the best housing and had their own lanes on roads. And they were very Clintonian by making sure that there always were plenty of young girls available to service the komrads.
This failed egalitarian movement is now repackaged as the environmental movement. Can't win on the battle field? Join the enviro-extremists! Can't compete with America's entrepreneurial spirit and individuality? Join the Kyoto crowd to slow that Mustang down.
The Kyoto crowd is now beginning to plan for post 2012 reductions in "green house gas" emissions. The fact that they have yet to measure one single affect of their mid-nineties protocols, they are pushing forward to slow the world's economies to almost a stop. The Seattle Post Intelligencer supports that strategy with today's editorial calling the Bush administration to join in. It's a happening and why are we all not enjoying the benefits of "just getting along?"
In my opinion we should review real scientific research, not sloppy political enviro-propaganda. There is much we can do and it's time to truly prioritize challenges that we can invest in to solve. But to achieve that lofty goal, tens of thousands of parasite environmentalists would have to stop sucking our economy dry.
Will we succumb to pressure by small minded persons who feel that minimalist policy is good enough for the regular folks while they believe that elites should benefit from their "leadership?" We saw this in the Soviet Union where the "party" cooped the best food and the best housing and had their own lanes on roads. And they were very Clintonian by making sure that there always were plenty of young girls available to service the komrads.
This failed egalitarian movement is now repackaged as the environmental movement. Can't win on the battle field? Join the enviro-extremists! Can't compete with America's entrepreneurial spirit and individuality? Join the Kyoto crowd to slow that Mustang down.
The Kyoto crowd is now beginning to plan for post 2012 reductions in "green house gas" emissions. The fact that they have yet to measure one single affect of their mid-nineties protocols, they are pushing forward to slow the world's economies to almost a stop. The Seattle Post Intelligencer supports that strategy with today's editorial calling the Bush administration to join in. It's a happening and why are we all not enjoying the benefits of "just getting along?"
In my opinion we should review real scientific research, not sloppy political enviro-propaganda. There is much we can do and it's time to truly prioritize challenges that we can invest in to solve. But to achieve that lofty goal, tens of thousands of parasite environmentalists would have to stop sucking our economy dry.
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Control & Restrict
Bipartisan panel seeks to limit green house gas emissions described in an article in the Washington Post. Rather than seek to reduce emissions per GDP dollar a group from a wide variety of industry and government seek to reduce emissions to arbitrary levels not supported by science or economics.
Left Coast
Today Washington State joins California to extend it's management of the environment. Outgoing Governor Locke, known as a bureaucrat's bureaucrat, tells the Seattle Post Intelligencer that the lack of federal movement on global warming policy makes it critical that states join to save the planet.
A Free Market Place
It is said that global warming is the result of man made atmospheric emissions. Truth is that cars, trucks, and industry generate huge amounts of nasty emissions. And truth be told, these emissions are manageable. Emissions are a factor of economic activity rather than the result of bad environmental policy.
The United States has about 5% of the world's population. It produces more than 25% and consumes about 30% of the world's products. And the United States generates about half of the world's profits. Yet the United States uses about 20% of the world's resources both in energy and otherwise to achieve it's economic activity. What's happening is that activity increases while the use of energy per GDP dollar is actually decreasing. And that is as it should be.
Common sense would dictate that environmentalists worldwide might cheer reduction of energy use to create economic activity. Yet the opposite is actually true. The world's other nations are uniting to slow American economic activity in the name of saving the environment. This strategy is embodied in the Kyoto protocols that call for regression of economic activity. You might call it the Amish form of enviro-economic policy. Pick a date, any date, and agree to turn back the clock to activity taking place at that time. Don't worry about the world's population that is for the first time participating in business. It's not personal empowerment that matters, it's government power. And the United States is the rotten apple that infects so many with hopes of opportunity. It's the United States that is tempting many to take risks to earn an income and possibly even a profit.
In the 19th century form of caretaker government thinking, a free market is much more dangerous than Osama. Imagine that a majority of the population might actually rely on themselves rather than on the government promised "cradle-to-grave" security. It's no wonder that President Bush is feared and hated as he is around the globe. He represents freedoms which other governments believe the ignorant people have no use for.
The United States has about 5% of the world's population. It produces more than 25% and consumes about 30% of the world's products. And the United States generates about half of the world's profits. Yet the United States uses about 20% of the world's resources both in energy and otherwise to achieve it's economic activity. What's happening is that activity increases while the use of energy per GDP dollar is actually decreasing. And that is as it should be.
Common sense would dictate that environmentalists worldwide might cheer reduction of energy use to create economic activity. Yet the opposite is actually true. The world's other nations are uniting to slow American economic activity in the name of saving the environment. This strategy is embodied in the Kyoto protocols that call for regression of economic activity. You might call it the Amish form of enviro-economic policy. Pick a date, any date, and agree to turn back the clock to activity taking place at that time. Don't worry about the world's population that is for the first time participating in business. It's not personal empowerment that matters, it's government power. And the United States is the rotten apple that infects so many with hopes of opportunity. It's the United States that is tempting many to take risks to earn an income and possibly even a profit.
In the 19th century form of caretaker government thinking, a free market is much more dangerous than Osama. Imagine that a majority of the population might actually rely on themselves rather than on the government promised "cradle-to-grave" security. It's no wonder that President Bush is feared and hated as he is around the globe. He represents freedoms which other governments believe the ignorant people have no use for.
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Invirowars are Coming!
Making sense of man's footprint on earth and mother nature's response is becoming more difficult every day. It's not that environmental specialists and climatologists are in short supply but rather it's that few scientific disciplines are more politically cleansed than environmentalists.
I remember the days when nature and its complexities were openly discussed by a variety of persons who seemed to be comfortable exchanging diverse opinions. On the first Earth Day there were as many believing that increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would cool the planet as there were those who believed that it caused warming.
Environmental science was barely on anyone's radar screen. We were after all fearing nuclear winter from what some thought would be some error by one side and plenty of retaliation by the other. Today it's hard to believe that those days ever were.
The Envirowars are now about to begin. The environmental movement is a coalition of extreme political movements woven in one enviro-fabric. Many otherwise small political factions can join to coop the environment to achieve their otherwise unachievable political goals. Don't like lots of people? Join growth control environmentalists! Hate cars and roads? Join mass transit environmentalists! Hate private property owners? Join zoning and property control environmentalists! Hate private business and corporations? Join those who believe that we should not consume more than we need! Environmental politics has something for everybody who hates the principles and values of America.
What rankles me is that anyone who questions statements and who refuses to follow demands by environmentalists is painted as anti-nature and pro-pollution. It is my intent to comment on daily news and editorial opinions about environmental science and global warming. Using the environment to slow economic growth that keeps the poor poor and limits economic opportunity and personal life choices must end.
Sunday, December 05, 2004
Humans are the enemy!
Thank God, we now know that it's humans that are the scourge of mother earth. It's us humans who abuse the rest of nature's children by living and working and recreating. If only the enviro-Nazis could get rid of humans they would inherit the earth.
But there are some limitations to animals that are helped with the coattails of these extremists. Canada geese are not protected because they soil water and beaches. Rabbits, coyote's, squirrels, raccoons, and sea lions are not protected. Why? Because they don't fit enviro-engineer's views. It's the world as the enviro-extremists see it that must be maintained and supported with our tax dollars.
To understand the extent of the disdain for us humans read the Washington Post for a perspective of some of their elitist journalist's opinions.
But there are some limitations to animals that are helped with the coattails of these extremists. Canada geese are not protected because they soil water and beaches. Rabbits, coyote's, squirrels, raccoons, and sea lions are not protected. Why? Because they don't fit enviro-engineer's views. It's the world as the enviro-extremists see it that must be maintained and supported with our tax dollars.
To understand the extent of the disdain for us humans read the Washington Post for a perspective of some of their elitist journalist's opinions.
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