Global Warming is finally beginning to smell..
I have always had trouble believing that CO2 - a colourless, odorless gas used in photosynthesis, poses a threat to the world's climate.
That said, I view myself as an environmentalist since I am - and I expect you are - opposed to pollution of any type. After all, the world we live in is the only one we have and we would like to pass it on to our children and our children's children in as pristine of condition as possible.
For some reason though the left has seized on CO2 as being the bad guy in it all. I can see why Al Gore has done so - he of many mansions, has been able to increase his wealth tenfold due to this scam.
But what of the rest? Where is their concern when it comes to dirty air and water? Why do they not take a better look at the hidden contents of the food and water we drink and eat?
Why should trillions of dollars be transferred to so-called underdeveloped countries (I say "so-called" since China falls under that category) to reduce their CO2 emissions when we know well that this is unlikely to happen?
Would these trillions not be better spent providing food, medical and housing assistance to the world's poor and education for their children? It is a scandal that the United Nations has been in existence for over 60 years and these terrible issues remain unresolved. But the UN finds time to criticize Israel for everything under the sun!
As a Libertarian I see government's role to be a very limited one. But there is one important area where they can be useful and that is in the area of R&D. Working in conjunction with Industry and Universities - Governments can spearhead research in the area of Environmental Protection. We know that the burning of fossil fuels is not Environmentally friendly - so we desperately need to find viable alternatives and government is best placed to do that.
Much has been done in this area but so much more remains before Western Civilization can ween itself off fossil fuels. It is too bad that the oil crisis of the 1970s was allowed to pass without a serious attempt to find alternative power sources. We have lost 40 years due to this inaction.
The Left would have us in the West live in tents while the Rest of the World continues to pump CO2 into the atmosphere in ever increasing amounts.
It won't happen. The instinct for our survival is just too strong.
Let's though work together and clean up all Pollution - CO2 included, in a structured and reasoned fashion.
In the meantime, monies for transfer to the Underdevelops should be targeted to ending poverty where it will do so much good.
As I see it...
"Galagher"
