NYT takes Obama to task for false dilemma on climate change

[wtmusic]

"Environmental advocates have expressed frustration with the lack of discussion of climate change in the presidential race this year, a reticence that persisted even after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. On Wednesday, in his first post-election news conference, President Obama offered his most extensive remarks on climate change in months. They did not particularly thrill environmentalists."

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/16/obama-on-climate-policy-not-just-now-thanks/

Obama in March 2012:

“There will always be people in this country who say that we’ve got to choose between clean air, clean water and growing the economy, between doing right by the environment and putting people back to work,” Mr. Obama declared in March at a conference that included environmentalists, outdoorsmen and small business owners.

“I’m here to tell you this is a false choice,” he said.

Obama after election:

There’s no doubt that for us to take on climate change in a serious way would involve making some tough political choices. And understandably, I think the American people right now have been so focused, and will continue to be focused on our economy and jobs and growth, that if the message is somehow we're going to ignore jobs and growth simply to address climate change, I don't think anybody is going to go for that. I won't go for that.

[NoOneMan]

1. "I don't think anybody is going to go for that"

I will


As far as I am concerned, you all can take your shallow, consumption driven industrial life and shove it. There are other ways to live besides infinitely growing, breeding, building, working, earning and dieing. And Obama is very wrong on one point--this way of life is not compatible with a healthy planet in any way.

[wtmusic]

2. Agreed.

Most dismaying is Obama's acceptance that "most folks won't go for that", as if "most folks" know what's best for them, or their kids, or their grandkids...

That's kinda what we elect a leader for.