Get behind Bernie Sanders's climate plan

[Uncle Joe]

The Aug. 26 editorial “A plan that goes nowhere” claimed that Sen. Bernie Sanders’s (I-Vt.) proposed $16.3 trillion climate plan was made “unnecessarily expensive” by his exclusion of new nuclear power construction and his intention to deny existing nuclear plants license extensions. According to research by the Environmental Working Group, five states have already spent $15 billion in subsidies to keep their economically failing nuclear plants open. In Ohio, a whopping $1.1 billion was lavished on just two old nuclear plants whose owners had planned to shutter them. That bill will be paid by consumers.

New nuclear construction has proved to be economically unpalatable to most companies and impossible without loan guarantees. In Georgia, $25 billion has already been poured into two new plants at Vogtle, still unfinished. In South Carolina, two reactors under construction were canceled, leaving customers with a $9 billion tab and not a single watt of electricity.

That’s already $49 billion, without considering constant safety maintenance, the unsolved management of radioactive waste and, of course, the incalculable price of a major accident.

The editorial described Mr. Sanders’s plan for jobs in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors as “cushy gigs” and advocated a “steadily rising carbon tax.” But we have time for neither sarcasm nor caution. Mr. Sanders offers a bold plan that recognizes our climate emergency. We can either get behind it or mortgage our future by doing too little too late.

Linda Pentz Gunter, Takoma Park

The writer is the international specialist at Beyond Nuclear.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/get-behind-bernie-sanderss-climate-plan/2019/08/29/b6679bac-c822-11e9-9615-8f1a32962e04_story.html

[lapucelle]

1. Linda Pentz Gunter...

LINDA PENTZ GUNTER
Biography: Linda Pentz Gunter founded Beyond Nuclear in 2007 and serves as its international specialist as well as its media and development director. Prior to her work in anti-nuclear advocacy, she was a journalist for 20 years in print and broadcast, working for USA Network, Reuters, The Times (UK) and other US and international outlets.

snip====================================================================

While focusing her writing on the Beyond Nuclear International site, Linda continues to write for Truthout, Counterpunch, The Ecologist and others.

She makes occasional appearances as an expert on television and radio programs. Originally from the UK, Linda has a BA Honours degree in English and Italian Literature from Warwick University where she also studied and wrote about film, including a dissertation on the novels and films of Pier Paolo Pasolini.

http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/356082/27888129/1524073089820/Linda+Pentz+Gunter+Bio_2018.pdf?token=FxRiSf%2BMXA%2FJXSX8o2oJVkoNNxI%3D

[Uncle Joe]

2. Thanks for the addition lapucelle.

[Loki Liesmith]

3. If it doesn't include nuclear I have little interest in it.

[George II]

4. Perhaps people will, once it's fully written and detailed and all the peripheral fluff is taken out.

[Uncle Joe]

5. Bernie is laying out the vision and the guidelines, it will be up to

the next administration preferably Bernie for me and the next Congress; or perhaps the one afterwards depending on the electoral wins, to draft the law.

No plan by any Democratic candidate for President will evade those conditions, should someone else win.

[NYMinute]

6. A wish list is not what a real plan consists of

A wish list sort of works while writing a "Dear Santa" letter ... but doesn't work with the American people and the congressional committees.

Pesky details to bring the wish list from fantasy to reality always make such fantasies unfeasible.

[Uncle Joe]

7. A wish is only a wish if the people don't support it.

I would venture that most people over 6-7 come to realize Santa Claus doesn't exist and yet hundreds of millions of people the world over pretend he does.

Here is a list of some of the names Santa goes by in other countries that share his legend.
Santa Claus, United States of America. ...
Dedt Moroz, Russia. ...
Mikulás, Hungary. ...
Papai Noel, Brazil. ...
Hoteiosho, Japan. ...
Julenisse, Norway. ...
Père Noël, France. ...
Noel Baba, Turkey.
More items...•Dec 22, 2017
Here are some names and looks of Santa Claus in other countries

https://www.mercurynews.com › 2017/12/22 › santa-claus-around-the-world...

I believe it's because there is an exceptionally strong basic human nature or inner instinct for a "Santa Claus" too exist, selflessly giving, never taking anything except for some milk and a few cookies.

The parents; of the house hold (those with the most wealth and power by far) usually shell out for the refreshments but all try to contribute in their own way.

But that message or vision either got lost or at best greatly diminished as the single minded capitalist ethos of "sell the most stuff, make the most money" became rule #1 of the day, shaping the American Nation of citizens from people into consumers and everything became about cost first and survival second, whether it be about about climate change, health care or freedom.

In the real world it's all about who can die with the most toys and I believe increasing numbers of Americans have the holiday blues over the aspect of being ruled by the Grinches of the world, so only time will tell whether the wish just remains a wish.

[brooklynite]

8. Given the choice...

Would you spend trillions on an environmental plan ,or trillions on MFA?

[Uncle Joe]

9. It's all intricately tied together the environment and health care, I would invest trillions in both.

To save only one would be unbalanced raising the odds against sustainability.

[brooklynite]

10. You think Bernie can get the cash for both?

[Uncle Joe]

11. I believe it's possible, dependent on many circumstances, primarily the will of the people.

[brooklynite]

12. So, no?

[Uncle Joe]

14. Possible is not no.

Winning the nomination, winning the election, winning the Senate and expanding the lead in the House, winning the statewide and local races that's just for starters but it can be done.

Mobilizing the people.

[brooklynite]

15. Bernie can't mobilize all of the voters he had last time.

[Uncle Joe]

16. Even if he were the nominee?

[aidbo]

13. I'm not as opposed to use of Nuclear power as Senator Sanders is.

I think money could be better spent on designing new safer, more renewable reactors.

But its not a deal breaker for me.