Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Can We Solve the "Climate Crisis"?

I saw a commercial yesterday about taking action on climate change. It was an advertisement funded by the Alliance for Climate Protection, featuring Nancy Pelosi, current Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Newt Gingrich, former Speaker. Both legislators pointed out their often-differing political opinions, as well as their united belief that we should take action to solve climate change.

Speaker Pelosi said, "We need cleaner forms of energy and we need them fast."
(A good point, I think)

Former Speaker Gingrich said, "If enough of us demand action from our leaders, we can spark the innovation we need."
(Another good point)

But wait, isn't Congress our lawmaking body? Aren't those the leaders we should be demanding action from? So, should I call up Nancy Pelosi and Newt Gingrich and "demand action"? What exactly is the hold-up?

It seems like a clear message with good intentions, but I'm not sure who these leaders are supposed to be. If the House of Representatives is calling on other leaders to take action on climate change, maybe we really do have a climate crisis.

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