Here we go again with the does-she-or-doesn’t-she debate over global warming to which we respond: Who gives a damn as long as she makes money?
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum is now officially on record as a skeptic of global warming. Aside from scoring points with certain well-financed special interests, we aren’t sure why he and other Florida polticians think this makes such a dandy political issue. We think it flat out misses the point.
Here are some things we expect McCollum does believe:
Economic growth in China, India and other developing countries has created permanent upward pressure on crude oil prices.
High oil prices dampen economic prosperity in Florida and the United States.
Russia and other oil-rich nations have demonstrated their willingness to use oil as a political weapon against western democracies.
The security of the United States is dependent upon relatively cheap and readily obtainable energy supplies.
We’re sure McCollum also believes that Florida’s economy ain’t so great right now and that the Sunshine State is becoming less attractive because of below-average wages and above-average housing and insurance costs.
Got any solutions, Mr. McCollum? That is besides your dismissal of global warming?
Here’s one: get behind alternative-energy development as a path toward economic progress and diversification, regardless of whether global warming is real. It doesn’t take a PhD in International Finance or an expert in climatology to understand that someone is going to make a buttload of money in the not-so-distant future on alternative-energy technology.
As a matter of fact, they already are, according to that reknowned bunch of left leaners known as The Voice of America. Sure, Germany has reduced its Co2 emissions by almost 20 percent. Great. Guess what else it’s doing? Making money on the export of alternative-energy technology.
And get this: “A case in point is the Puralube Company, which recycles waste oil to produce clean lubricant oil, fuel and gas. The process was invented in the United States, but developed here because Germany guaranteed a return on the company’s investment.”
So, here’s a New Year’s resolution for all the politicians on both side of this global warming debate: Shut up, already, and let’s see if we can make Florida competitive in something other than pointless political pissing matches, bad home loans and sketchy vote counts.