NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071117/ipcc_report_071117/20071117?hub=CTVNewsAt11
In light of this new report and dire predictions if action is not taken, why is it that climate change is almost a non-issue amongst the Presidential candidates? Sure I think the Dems have occasionally mentioned it, but I don't think any of the GOP candidates even believe it exists? I mean if you look at our elections here in Australia, both sides are saying they will take action to stem climate change, albeit Labor more than Liberal, but nonetheless as an issue it is on the front-page for voters.

Why have the US Pres candidates avoided climate change like the plague, surely we must take action and the US as the biggest polluter must take a leading role.

Don't hold your breath. America will do nothing about global warming until it is far far too late. I am sorry.

Climate change isn't an issue in the '08 election because a significant portion of the American public thinks that climate change is a hoax made up by the EU to push their supposed far-left agenda down our throats, and any politician foolish enough to make it part of their campaign would be dismissed as a tree-hugging, hippie commie.

Climate change isn't an issue in the '08 election because a significant portion of the American public thinks that climate change is a hoax made up by the EU to push their supposed far-left agenda down our throats, and any politician foolish enough to make it part of their campaign would be dismissed as a tree-hugging, hippie commie.
I have long suspected that this might be the case but my brain kept dismissing it so that I didn't have to deal with the implications. Now that I've actually seen it written down I suppose I'll just have to try and forget that I read it.

Don't hold your breath. America will do nothing about global warming until it is far far too late. I am sorry.
I'm sorry too.

I think the reason is that the effects of climate change are far more visible here than in the US. In addition, the effect of the drought here has (somewhat) passed on to the average Joe much more quickly in terms of food prices. A smaller economy means that the changes are passed on significantly quicker.

The US has also experienced drought of late, but it hasn't been quite as visible.

we have far more immediate problems that we know the solution to. the list of things that need changing in the US is so long and so pressing that no one is going to vote for any candidate based only on their stance on climate change.

Don't hold your breath. America will do nothing about global warming until it is far far too late. I am sorry.

America may not, but Americans are. Special mention to California for leading the way on this.

http://www.mercurynews.com/politics/ci_7479443

A couple have mentioned it. One Republican (I forget who) doesn't think there's enough proof, but says we should fix it just in case.

Why have the US Pres candidates avoided climate change like the plague, surely we must take action and the US as the biggest polluter must take a leading role.

Maybe because of the skepticism that exists. In the 50’s, we were warned there was an Ice Age coming. It never arrived and now we are supposed to believe Global Warming? :rolleyes:

Is the US the biggest polluter? What about China and India? I don't see them taking a leading role in reducing pollution.
:(

Climate change isn't an issue in the '08 election because a significant portion of the American public thinks that climate change is a hoax made up by the EU to push their supposed far-left agenda down our throats, and any politician foolish enough to make it part of their campaign would be dismissed as a tree-hugging, hippie commie.

We don't need to blame the EU for the far left agenda we have enough of them here. Thank you Al Gore, the biggest far left climate hypocrite.

Maybe because of the skepticism that exists. In the 50’s, we were warned there was an Ice Age coming. It never arrived and now we are supposed to believe Global Warming? :rolleyes:
Some people said X. Turns out they were wrong. Some totally different people said Y. Lets just assume they're wrong, because the first group of people were. Yes, this makes perfect sense.

Is the US the biggest polluter?

Who gives a shit?

Climate change isn't an issue in the '08 election because a significant portion of the American public thinks that climate change is a hoax made up by the EU to push their supposed far-left agenda down our throats, and any politician foolish enough to make it part of their campaign would be dismissed as a tree-hugging, hippie commie.

Ah contraire. (I know that's not how you spell it.) Americans, and the rest of the world, are concerned about climate change and are even willing to change their lifestyles to account for it. BBC Link (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7075759.stm)

We don't need to blame the EU for the far left agenda we have enough of them here. Thank you Al Gore, the biggest far left climate hypocrite.

Al Gore is far left now?

Some people said X. Turns out they were wrong. Some totally different people said Y. Lets just assume they're wrong, because the first group of people were. Yes, this makes perfect sense.

My point is crying wolf all the time. Eventually people just tune them out. You expect me to believe people like Al Gore? You expect me to reject the scientists who say there is no global warming?

Al Gore is far left now?

When hasn't he been far left? :confused:

I personally attended an event on Energy Security where Senator McCain was the central participant, in which he directly addressed what he felt needed done about Climate Change. His ideas were imperfect, but at least he recognized that there was a significant problem, and that something needed done about it.

What's so bizarre to me, though, is that so many 'green' policies make great economic sense. High fuel efficiency vehicles, replacing incandescent bulbs, 'green' buildings all save energy and decrease emissions, but at the exact same time, they also save money.

When hasn't he been far left? :confused:

When anybody but you talks about him, that's since when.

When hasn't he been far left? :confused:

Name one of his political stances that is reasonably described as far left.

Name one of his political stances that is reasonably described as far left.

How about; "Health care is a right" http://current.com/items/84987281_health_care_is_a_right, No, the Constitution does not say that. Besides we do not need the government involved in "universal" health insurance..

How about; "Health care is a right" http://current.com/items/84987281_health_care_is_a_right, No, the Constitution does not say that. Besides we do not need the government involved in "universal" health insurance..

So privately run government funded health insurance is far left? What does that make government run universally free health care? Far far left? What would be a centre left opinion on healthcare? Or a centrist opinion? I advocate a system of universal health insurance. I've been called a lot of things in my time, but very rarely have I been described as far left.

How about; "Health care is a right" http://current.com/items/84987281_health_care_is_a_right, No, the Constitution does not say that. Besides we do not need the government involved in "universal" health insurance..

The Constitution does say, though, that it does not include all rights, and just because something doesn't appear in it doesn't mean that it should not be made law. See the 9th Amendment.