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Bernie Sanders is having a good day. Hes thrilled to have influenced the most progressive" Democratic Party platform since 1917. Oh wait that was the communist revolution in Russia. I meant since the American Revolution.
Political platforms are manifestos outlining the druthers of the party elite. They dont carry the weight of law nor even the weight of a campaign promise. Youll read candidates chided regularly for failing to deliver on a campaign promise (Obama 2007: I can bring the country together…") but how often do you read a hit piece on one of the parties not fulfilling a platform goal?
Part of the usual hysteria in the DNC platform includes climate change (Dont dare deny it! The climate
is changing; it
always has and it always will). However the Democratic National Committees 2016 platform wants formal inquiries into climate denial by fossil fuel companies such as Exxon Mobil.
Treating them like tobacco companies the platform says all corporations owe it to their shareholders to fully analyze and disclose risks they face including climate risks. Those who fail to do so should be held accountable. Democrats also respectfully request the Department of Justice investigate allegations of corporate fraud on the part of fossil fuel companies accused of misleading shareholders and the public on the scientific reality of climate change."
This time though the Democrats dont just want a hazardous to your health" sticker on the gas pumps. They want to punish oil companies for producing oil; you know like countries in the Middle East do (they dont).
Somehow Democrats believe that by crippling the oil industry in America some renaissance in green energy will take place. While Im all for advancing green energy (Ive hugged a tree or two in my time) its just not affordable enough to meet all our needs at present. Even the most vigorous proponents believe that it would require an infrastructure overhaul over several decades to complete.
As if that would solve the worlds greenhouse gas problem. Self-centered Democrats may believe that the U.S. is the Great Satan of carbon emissions but China is much worse. According to InsideClimate News the U.S. is responsible for 16 of the worlds carbon emissions more than India at 6 but way less than China at 28.6. 80 of Chinas production of electricity comes from coal.
So lets say that every American is driving an electric car has a household wind turbine and solar panels. Its unlikely despite all our efforts that well see a big difference in the carbon emission problem. This is because developing economies elsewhere in the world are ramping up their use of fossil fuels.
Americans on the Left want us to go green so why not everyone else? To see a real change in climate change theyll demand that China India and the rest of the world stop poisoning the planet too. Highly commendable but heres what such a conversation would look like:
America: Theres too much pollution and its causing climate change. You guys need to stop using coal and stuff.
China: Are you kidding? Thats how we get electricity.
India: We can barely afford to feed our people! We need cheap energy.
America: Yeah but its causing climate change. Dont you realize that Climate.NASA.Gov says the average temperature has risen 1.1 degrees Fahrenheit since the mid-twentieth Century?
India: Thats what 0.6 degrees Celsius?
America: Yes you must stop using fossil fuels immediately.
China: Let me get this straight: Youve been using coal and oil for the last hundred years and became the worlds superpower but now that were developing our economies youre concerned about
our use of fossil fuels?
India: Doesnt sound fair to me.
China: Me neither.
America: This is for your own good. How about at least trying?
China: Um maybe a little. Get back to us in 2030.
India: Whatever.
So regardless of the Democrats attitude towards oil even a completely successful conversion to green energy in the U.S. wouldnt solve whatever human-related issues might be involved in climate change. We share this planet with a lot of other people; it is
they that will contribute the grand majority of carbon emissions the rest of this century.
Punishing American companies is not the answer.
Joe Alton MD is a disaster and epidemic preparedness writer NYT/Amazon bestselling author and host of American Survival Radio.
