Annapolis Capital Punishment

Annapolis Politics http://annapolispolitics.blogspot.com/2007/12/mayor-moyer-seeks-to-impose-new-green.html is worried that a proposal being considered to improve building codes to reduce global warming impacts will cost money. Here is what Brian Gill says (in red):

“There is certainly not consensus about climate warming….”

He also says:

“Folks, this stuff is expensive. First, home prices will go up, as will commercial rents, which we will pay for in the form of higher prices. Also, we will no doubt have to fund another inspector in city government to make sure all of the buildings are meeting the new green code.”

Brian is right to be wary of more and more government, especially as practiced by both our liberal, Democratic Mayor Moyer and that of our hyper-conservative, Republic President.

However, he is incorrect to claim that global warming is not occurring or that government should not take action. There IS consensus that global warming is happening and that it is human induced. The only people outside that consensus are politically motivated and unwilling to face facts, science and reality.

Annapolis Politics goes on to say, “There is certainly not consensus about climate warming. The very measurements we use to determine climate patterns may not be reliable, and even given a pattern of warming, the link between human effect on this warming is debated. It takes a great deal of arrogance to accept that a couple of generations of humans can alter the cyclical climate patterns that have been going on for tens of thousands of years. Aren't we still coming out of an ice age? For a great post on this subject, click here.”

Wrong again. The “great post” is none other than RedMaryland, another hyper-conservative blog that rehashes the same old tired, and discredited rants by climate maniac who have been funded by coal and other energy firms for years. It is their rants that have slowed the progress we need to move on this. This is further proof that it is only a tiny minority of hyper-conservative ideologues who dispute that human-induced global climate change is happening here and now. Why does Annapolis Politics say, “it takes a great deal of arrogance to accept that a couple of generations of humans can alter the cyclical climate patterns that have been going on for tens of thousands of years.”? That is the boiling pot calling the cauldron frozen, if you’ll pardon the mixed metaphor. The only arrogance being exhibited here is the arrogance that continues to believe it is perfectly fine to continue laying waste to out precious planet.

Annapolis Politics continues with, “Liberals, especially Mayor Moyer, disregard any debate on the issue and accept the responsibility of humans to challenge mother nature as their divine birthright.” What? There is no debate on cold, hard, scientific facts (or should we say hot facts?) gathered over many decades by thousands of scientists, not to mention things we are all seeing and feeling. So stop there. It’s not liberals who are disregarding debate. The problem is conservatives who are disregarding science. As for your statement about accepting the responsibility etc., etc., I cannot even figure out what you are trying to say. Are you suggesting that by claiming we are creating global climate change, we are challenging mother nature? Huh? We have challenged mother nature by laying waste to the planet? What are you talking about here?

Finally, you say, “Think of how many small businesses will shut down because they cannot afford to implement the new designs. Now think of how they will feel in 50 years when it is determined that the LEED designs have no impact on climate change!”

How will you feel in fifty years when there is no economic activity because we are under water, unable to produce food, unable to fight new diseases, expanded desertification and drought, etc., etc?. How will you feel when the buildings the LEED will affect will be under water? It is quite possibly that serious.

We must err on the side of caution by being conservative--yes conservative! We must conserve resources, plan ahead and begin saving and investing now rather than eating up our natural resource asset base. Make fun of all liberals if you wish, but I say the problem lies (lies!) with those that are unwilling to believe that we are making global impacts. The real fear of conservatives is simply that a global challenge will require a global commitment and global cooperation to address. That's what scares ultra conservatives-the US and China and India working together. What scares them is the political aspects, yet they claim that those who are warning about global warming are merely being political. What garbage!

I urge the few remaining unconvinced ultra conservatives to get off their high horse and see how the polar ice caps are melting, how temperatures are rising, how coral reefs are dying, etc. etc. THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF, not some game promulgated by liberals, or some conspiracy. Do the worried conservatives recommend we keep burning more and more fossil fuels, stripping the planet of forests and laying waste to our planet--our very source of life? Do they think this cannot have a global impact? Or will they continue to argue that to do anything is bad for business?

Even those who smugly rely on conservative economic theory must realize that all wealth is derived from our natural resource assets. Without water, air, soil, minerals, trees etc., there is no wealth. If they believe it is sound investment and business practice to squander and waste it, then so be it, but don't go around claiming it is has no impact or they have some sort of right to do so. Global warming is real--and its economic and human costs are already mounting. They will be staggering. So quit whining about governmental action and take a cue from the business world, we can see how business may actually lead the way to make these necessary changes in how we do business. More and more businesses understand the need to move on this and are doing so. Allstate Insurance was probably among the first right here in Maryland, but more and more businesses understand what is going on here. The proposed LEED is probably good for business development, as will much of the business and government-induced new technologies that we will have to develop to deal with this crisis by using new energy sources and new ways to reduce consumption. Burying our heads in the sand will do nothing.

I will go on the offensive against any writer (hyper conservative or in the unlikely event of being otherwise) who tries to squirm and whine his way out of this one. Human-induced global warming is fact. Not only is it a fact, but it is becoming increasingly evident--and worrisome that it is happening more rapidly than we may have ever imagined. The impact of a new government regulation designed to slow these impacts will be nothing--absolutely nothing compared to the impacts if even the most moderate fears about may come do become reality. Think that will be bad for business? Just wait and see.

Having said this, I urge you to view this video on Youtube which presents a classical cost-benefit analysis to doing something, versus not doing anything. I think you'll find it interesting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDsIFspVzfI