Democrats Care About Climate Change, But Republicans are Laughing All the Way
Perhaps you have heard the news about the recent Climate Change Report, which finds that global warming is man-made? (If not, browse below and pick an article from the end of this post. The list is intended as a helpful sample. Read about this from any source you please.)
The news stories all note the same findings about the man-made causation. Most note that Resident Trump's administration, and particularly the EPA under Scott Pruitt, is acting in concerted opposition to what is called for by the findings summarized in this report. There has been some surprise that Trump's administration allowed the release of the report, although the release is mandated by law. Notice we are surprised when Trump's administration follows a law. We wonder why they let this report be published when it directly confronts actions they are taking every day, and shows them to be wrong.
Somehow it surprised many when, in June this year, Trump initiated withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord. Some were apparently surprised because of the extreme unpopularity of that decision, with only some Congressional Republicans in support. Many found it hard to understand that he chose that course despite so many calls not to, from many other countries, from his daughter, from a few Republicans, and even from many leading businesses which are not primarily "green" companies.
In making that decision, Trump put the United States into a very small category of three countries. Nicaragua had not joined the Climate Accord, but only because, as a country already seeing damage from global warming, it did not consider that the Accord was envisioning adequately urgent corrective steps. Syria also had not joined the Paris Climate Accord, being busy with various internal murderous wars since 2011. Another difficulty in Syria's path was that, since its government representatives are under sanctions by the United States and Europe, its representatives could not travel to negotiate or to sign the Accord.
Nicaragua has since joined, last month, upon determining that a unity of the world's countries represents more hope for practical solutions than does holding apart in idealistic and frustrated solitude. Syria, still enmeshed in war and still under the rule of Bashar al-Assad, called "President," has just reportedly joined the Paris Climate Accord, probably for the same reasons North Korea previously did: they likely think it is amusing that murderous dictators can claim a higher moral ground than the United States of America under Trump, called "President." North Korea's spokesperson for Kim Jong-Un actually specified that Trump's decision was the "height of egotism and moral vacuum seeking only their own well-being even at the cost of the entire planet and, at the same time, a short-sighted and silly decision ignorant of the fact that the protection of the global environment is in their own interests."
There are people who believe that stark global isolation on the climate change issue will bring Trump to reconsider. I do not think so. The dotard did not care about being justly mocked on the subject by North Korea. It seems unlikely that being abandoned by Syria, to stand as the only country on the planet not participating, would motivate Resident Trump to change his decision to withdraw.
There are people who believe that Trump determined to withdraw just to spite President Obama. It is true this type of grotesque spite seems highly motivating regarding many of Trump's decisions. Some people think that Trump does not really mean the withdrawal, and is aware that his decision is despicable, but basically meaningless unless further steps are taken in 2020. Meanwhile, his decision to withdraw represents lost time and global stigma. He is okay with that, so perhaps somehow it seems to him like a counterpunch to...something.
There are people who believe Trump is simply profoundly ignorant and stupid on this subject. This is true and correct. There are people who believe he is admirably trying to "get the U.S. a better deal," which actually ties back to the issue of stupidity. There is no such thing as a "better deal" with this Accord. Perhaps there is some peer pressure amongst powerful nations, but each country develops its own approach toward mitigating the effects of climate change, and then commits publicly, globally, to reaching the goals. This arrangement is why, when Trump defected, states and cities and towns across America stepped up to join the Climate Accord.
Some have tucked Trump's disgrace, of actively harming the planet while withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord, with the many other appalling things Trump says and does; there is a current phrase, "throwing red meat to his base." (See, for example,
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2017/06/04/the-paris-agreement-as-trump-pulls-out-governors-jump-in/#591932ae5c57
It is a theory that I can't find persuasive. Resident Trump's base lets him do anything except make a deal with Democrats on DACA, but otherwise, anything Trump does, his base defends. He could easily turn this around, even with the long-tutored conservative contempt for climate science. If he said he had determined now to rejoin because he "negotiated a really great" no-details deal, to revive his shattered reputation as a deal-maker, the core Trump base would stand by him, regardless how stupid and untrue his speech is.
So far, we see that most people attribute this isolation of America, this attack on climate preservation, to Trump. This makes sense only in that Trump is the one who gave the Rose Garden speech withdrawing from the Climate Accord for nonsensical reasons, in the face of much disapproval. I think anyone who sees this decision as all Trump is making a terrible and dangerous error.
This is not just about Trump. Let's assume Trump drops dead because he struggles to walk uphill (CNBC.com, "Wall St. analyst concerned for Trump's health: 'Loathes exercise,' sleeps 4 hours, never eats fruit," by Jeff Cox, November 7, 2017
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/07/trump-health-fears-loathes-exercise-sleeps-4-hours-never-eats-fruit.html
Republicans would still say NO to taking steps to minimize the effects of climate damage and climate change. It is so easy to put Trump at the center of the vortex of disgust, but it is critical to remember the role of Republicans. On this issue, Trump is toeing the Republican party line.
Republicans are concerned about the culture wars Trump incites. They are, especially after the Democratic governor-elect wins in Virginia and New Jersey, concerned about Trump's uniquely poor polling, while, simultaneously, they are leery of crossing him, with his persistently strong support from Republican voters.
Republicans agree with rolling back climate protecting regulations. Republicans agree with Scott Pruitt's evisceration of the EPA, followed by its new role as pro-polluters. This is one of the most powerful reasons why Republicans do not belong in federal government. When they have a role in representing our country to the world, we are the most stupid, the most contrarian, the most facilely ignorant, the most selfish and uncaring country, throughout the world. It is embarrassing, and not representative of America when more than a quarter of our population turns out to vote.
Look at Scott Pruitt, and assume a monumentally obdurate, mentally debilitating degree of skepticism about climate change science. “It is all a hoax and a conspiracy, or at the very least, is not good science.” Someone truly believing this, given the run of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, will take steps to determine what is scientifically valid, what is truth. This is why Pruitt occasionally bleats a lie about spending vast sums on a putative Red Team/Blue Team climate science rematch, as if anything about his position relates to rational good faith, but of course, he does not act on it. The attitude of Trump and Pruitt and nearly all establishment Republicans regarding climate science and climate change is not skepticism. It is not stupidity. It is avarice.
The greed is not even concealed. It is a Republican talking point. Repeal all that climate protection regulation, and some corporations will become more profitable. It is not that most Republicans do not believe in the science, or in the risks to people and countries all over the Earth. It is that they don't care. They did not have to break the law, and withhold the new Climate Report, because it does not matter what it says, as far as they are concerned. They need not actually deny the validity of the conclusions in this report, because they just need to continue to say they are not convinced, no matter what.
Keep in mind, it is not a significant circumstance that pulling out of the Paris Climate Accord will help some companies transition from not very profitable, to a bit more profitable. Republicans do not care about marginally profitable companies any more than they care about climate change science and risks.
Removing regulatory restrictions which aid in protecting and preserving this planet's climate becomes a high priority however, when that course will help massive corporate profits stay always higher, because these are the clients of the Republican "pro-business" party, and this is why the fees paid into the party as donations by mega-donors are worthwhile. Participating with the entire rest of the world on behalf of preserving the climate would cut into the profit margins of Republican-oriented corporations.
This is not just about Trump. This is not extraordinarily deep and firm climate science skepticism or denial. This is not a course subject to correction by gravitas, or isolation from every other country on this planet, or shaming, or a sudden realization that perhaps there may be something to this climate change stuff. This is Republicans, and it is about money, and the power that goes with money. Key Republicans and their campaign war chests are laughing all the way by circuitous routes to Cayman Islands banks and their equivalents.
U.S. Report Says Humans Cause Climate Change, Contradicting Top ...
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/03/climate/us-climate-report.html
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https://www.washingtonpost.com/.../2017/.../trump-administration-releases-report-finds-...
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IPCC - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
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www.npr.org/.../2017/.../massive-government-report-says-climate-is-warming-and-huma...
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https://www.theguardian.com › Environment › Climate change
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