George DAH-beu Bush [RE-wrenches]

[Steve Bell]

WARNING: this is a political commentary.
I apologize in advance for this perhaps questionable use of this site.
Consider my hand already slapped.


Please understand, I am not particularly pro-Bush nor pro-Gore. I tend think
somewhat along the lines of Nader. Yes, Gore is much more vocal about
environmental issues, but what has been his ability (or desire?) to deliver.

To my mind there are two questions that you need to ask. First, do I support
the candidate that truly intends to significantly change the status quo or
the I support a candidate that has a chance of actually getting elected?
Second, of the candidates that have a chance of getting elect, which one
will provide the best leadership for guiding America (and the world) into
the next millennium? (Not just in purely "environmental" issues but in the
broad scope human and planetary issues.) Who would you want at the helm
during a time of true national or global crisis?

 Would Gore or Bush be willing to allow the cost of gasoline or electricity
to double so that Americans would be forced choose to conserve the planetary
resources and preserve the quality of the environment? I doubt it. Would
Bush or Gore be willing to require all utilities and energy suppliers to pay
the total cost (impact on the planet) of their energy productions?  I doubt
it.

Until a majority of Americans are willing to choose to accept full
responsibility for their wanton, wasteful materialism, no real change is
going to occur. All the RE programs to date are like putting a bandage on a
severed leg; a nice gesture but total ineffective. All the money sent on all
the subsidy programs, local, state and federal, is pocket change to the
major gas, oil and electric companies. (Look at BP, their expenditures for
their entire solar program including BP Solar and Solarex isn't a pimple on
their corporate butt.)

I am all for being environmental, but I think we also need to be honest. WE
blame the oil companies and utilities for ruining the environment, we say
the politicians need to MAKE the companies be responsible. Then we complain
if our energy cost go up. We complain that energy efficient appliances cost
more. In reality, we do not want to converse energy. We want our cake and
eat it too. In truth, the politicians accurately represent the true
convictions of the American people; talk GREEN, but maintain the status quo
and give me more. This seem to be most prevalent in the cities and
surrounding suburbs, "the government should do something, there should be a
law".

I'm sorry, but I'm tired of both liberal attitude that "they" (the other
guy) are ruining the environment and the conservative attitude that "there
are no environmental problems."  The real environmental problem is wanton
materialism of the people of the First-world, with the United States as it's
poster child, and all the second and third-world people who want to be just
like us, ASAP.

So, who really wants to be "environmentally friendly"  and what are they
doing about it?  Why does a Ralph Nader type of candidate not stand a chance
of being elected?   Why do people encourage voting for the lesser of the two
evils instead of supporting a candidate who more honestly represents their
stated ideals? Do they believe that they will truly changed the world that
way?

Yes, we can elect another environmental bandage while the global environment
hemorrhages, but then we shouldn't be surprised if the patient bleeds to
death. Frankly, I doubt that American will be willing to adjust their
lifestyle until "the train hits the wall" and they have to adjust in order
to survive. So, perhaps it doesn't matter which candidate gets elected. Why
not vote for the one who promises to give us the most goodies? It work well
in ancient Rome.



Respectfully,
Steve Bell
sebpv at stelle.net


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