InUrFace

Ok, so the green movement has a point when it comes to the corporate ambition and reverence for the bottom line. It works. That’s capitalism. So what?

If I were a lunatic the obvious answer would be to condemn the fiscal conglomerates and the infamous contributions they have made to the “Global Warming Crisis.” I would rant how overpaid CEOs oppress the middle class and will bring an unjust ruin to us all. Mostly though, I would suffer an internal edema of the brain, considering the political maneuverings of “Big Oil”.

But I am not, so I won’t. Instead I’ll say this.

The Green Movement appeals to people because it evokes emotions of responsibility and sustainability is the new password. I know I must mindlessly repeat that we must stop burning oil to save our children. Further more, we must cut the outrageously lucrative oil companies off at the knees to save or morals from a morass of profitability. What I want to know is this. How sustainable is this thinking? Can America continue to live in posh houses and expect the president to supply us with good fortune while we destroy the economic foundations of our enviable culture?

Tell me this. Would Green Peace be happy if all the retched Corporations of the world just shriveled up and died? That doesn’t seem like a very “sustainable” option to me. I like comfort.

Say I were to be, ironically, run over by a environmentally friendly semi and be reincarnated as the aforementioned lunatic. And, for the sake of the argument, I were to accomplish my goal of righting the right wing wrongs. What would that look like? 

Well, my Apple is now being powered by solar panels and friendly little breezes. My imaginary and in no way scientific carbon footprint has shrunk to the size of a small empirical cow. My house’s water is always luke warm due to solar heating when the sun is out. And the price of energy has increased 10 times more then Bush could have ever hoped because solar and wind energies are hugely expensive to develop. Oh, and no dams, those piss the fish off.

I have also managed to have the onerous CEO’s salaries reduced. Unfortunately the CEOs like getting paid that much and the shareholders (average people) like having the company running profitably. The CEO went somewhere else and the job got outsourced to an Indian with an MBA from New Delhi. Profitability has tanked along with consumer confidence (in the product) and investors don’t want to invest in a company that will cut off it’s head to spite it’s pocket book. Company over. 

Repeat the above a couple hundred times and I (the power crazed lunatic) will be preaching about more then just a recession. Try a super sized depression with those fries. Poverty anyone?

All I am saying is this. You and your Green Movement is a powerful force. Don’t let the aforementioned lunatic pirate your cause into dangerous waters. You may accomplish your dreams of a more clean more fair society and the world might be a better place for it, but don’t sacrifice everything America knows and holds dear. Please? 

Don’t be a tool, speak your mind and contribute!

I heard on the Adam Carolla show that he thought building codes should enforce the installation of energy saving devices such as water heaters and double paned windows. After all, what is a few more building codes since we already have so many? I can identify with the point Adam is making and I recognize that it comes from an honest and sincere thought. But it isn’t right morally. To justify the creation of new laws because we already have 1000 laws is dangerous on a multitude of levels. 

What do these laws do? Certainly require enforcement and cost money for all those involved. But that isn’t why I would object. I am happy to pay for the enforcement of some laws that make life safer in ways that I myself cannot control, such as speed limits, BUT I am not happy with laws that control actions that don’t make life safer. Installing a high efficiency water heater or double paned windows is something I can do. I don’t need building inspectors to make the decision for me. If the “product” is really a energy saving and therefor cost effective then I should have the freedom to make that decision. 

But then that is a personal preference. I like being able to make my own decisions. If I am required to install double paned windows what stops lawmakers from slipping a little farther into “Buy one of those Toyota Prius’”. For some that would be awesome, even you might see this as a way to save the world. But how would you reconcile violating other people’s freedom? Would that dampen the achievement?

I am trying to understand this new movement to determine what I should believe. Currently I do not understand the attraction to green laws or the desire to enforce these life choices on other people. Of course I also come from a perspective that is skeptical of the science behind climate change.

But then, what if it were worth it to force decisions on the unconvinced? What if the benefits did outweigh the moral inconvenience and made the world a better place? What would that look like? How much cleaner can the world get? That is not a sarcastic or uninformed question. Or perhaps it is.

What is the Green Movement? Obviously this is a rhetorical question. Everyone who isn’t David Beckham knows buckets about saving the planet. We all know the Green Movement is composed of responsible, educated, honest, and selfless people. There can be no doubt about this. The Green community goes to great pains to showcase their planetary philanthropy. But what if the advertised intentions were challenged? How would those challenges be met?

What if there were doubt about the true colors of the green movement? What if I want to know how you would respond if I made the claim that the Green Movement is actually the Red Movement. 

Consider this a challenge to your logic and policies. If you are right then I shall trumpet the fact. If I am right I will leave it up to you to determine your recompense. Commit yourself to a full examination of your beliefs and then those that effect you. After all, we all want to know the truth… And isn’t truth indestructible? Won’t it shine through the choking smog of cancerous lies? Couldn’t those lies lead us to make disastrous decisions on both accounts? We better know what we are doing.

If you care about this topic you must know what you believe. If you cannot prove your belief then your opinion is worthless and you count for nothing. 

Is that what you want?