Polls continue to show that we are losing the war to warn the public of the coming holocaust of Global Warming. Not only is the public, who was overwhelming with us, starting to doubt the seriousness of the problem, they're actually starting to doubt the problem exists. But worst of all, when asked questions about taking direct action, like support for cap and trade, the public is almost evenly split.
pollingreport poll on the environment
The bullhorn of propaganda from the denialists is wearing down the general public. Without strong public support, good carbon reduction legislation simply won't pass.
It's the economy stupid!
When you've lost your job or house and you're worried about what you're going to do, Global Warming is not going to be high on your priority list. The conservative economic depression is pushing the interest in Global Warming down several rungs on the ladder.
Add to the declining interest, a MSM that still is stuck in the "fair and balance" mode where denialists and their conspiracy theories are given the same weight of coverage as thousands of scientists and mountains of data from thousands of universities and government agencies from around the world.
I am convinced the direct assault on the reduction of CO2 and other greenhouse gasses has failed, and is failing. The Science was overwhelming almost 20 years ago and yet the world has accomplished almost nothing toward the reduction of greenhouse gas emmisions. We are rapidly approaching several tipping points and we can not continue to try and convince a reluctant world to take direct action.
So what are the alternatives?
The denialists with their pseudoscience mindset will most certainly push another star wars/geoengineering approach to fixing what they will call the natural problem of climate change. From carbon sequestration schemes to pumping SO2 into the stratosphere, they'll have a gee whiz, ka-pow, technical solution to Global Warming. After screwing up the delicate balance of the atmosphere/ocean global heat transfer system, they'll advocate screwing it up even more as a solution.
The economic solution:
Like it or not we, along with many others in the world, are a people of greedy selfishness, more interested in having more things rather than the future of our children. Attacking Global Warming from a purely economic front (I'm not talking about "free market" BS), and from a somewhat stealth approach, will get us to more significant fossil fuel emission reductions than the direct legislative approach.
Jobs, Jobs, Jobs! This is the huge problem of the day. Cash for caulkers is a great example of how we can create a large number of jobs that will lead to a significant reduction in fossil fuel usage, save individuals money, have a rapid payback period, and will actually reduce the long term budget deficit if quickly applied to government buildings.
Economic Stimulus: Pushing Solar, wind, and conservation incentive programs has the advantage of short payback, long term deficit reduction, job creation (especially if accompanied with incentives to manufacturers), and the side benefit of significant fossil fuel reduction. Alt-E research funding will also be a long term investment in the country's future. Any research that leads to the inevitable transition from gasoline cars-> hybrid -> pluggable hybrid -> all electric, would have enormous economic benefits.
Infrastructure repair: All funding for infrastructure should be directed at safety, and the future non fossil fuel economy. Not a penny should be spent on new highways that encourage the use of individual gasoline car transportation. Mass transit, such as rapid bus, electric trains, and high speed trains should be emphasized. Investment in the new smart grid should begin immediately.
Deficit reduction: All economic incentives for fossil fuels must come to an end in order to reduce our serious budget deficit problems.
All the above economic programs would have a far greater effect on reducing greenhouse gasses than a cap and trade or direct tax approach that would most certainly be filled with such huge holes that they wouldn't even reduce fossil fuel usage. And best of all, we don't even have to mention Global Warming. This is all about the economy, which everyone is very interested in right now.
We are wasting our efforts by continuing to try to educate people of the moral implications of letting Global Warming happen, or the self preservation argument of a danger that can't even be seen. By making the argument that the above Alt-E programs are the right way to get the economy back on track, as opposed to the "tax breaks for the wealthy" Republican approach that got us into this economic depression in the first place, we have a much better chance of preventing Global Warming from reaching the point of no return.
Once the Alt-E economy takes off and the incentives for fossil fuels are removed, they'll be no turning back. The Alt-E economy will be much cheaper for individual voters than the fossil fuel economy.
So lets switch our efforts from fighting denialist propaganda that is incompetently supported by the MSM, to a battle of economics that will greatly benefit individual voters, and just might save the planet at the same time.