The Green New Deal or Bust: Saturday Political Soap Box 207

What is the Green New Deal?

It is a resolution to come together to formulate a plan to bring about zero emissions by 2050.  That would be the long term goal.

Why do we have to do that?

Because scientific consensus is, that if unchecked, we will have a rise in global temperatures of between 2.5 and 3 degrees, within the next few decades.  Some studies indicate we have less than twelve years before the effects become irreversible.

We don't have to wait twelve years to see the effects of global warming.  You can see it now.  The global temperatures are already rising.  Extreme weather events are occurring now.  Agriculture is already affected.

The Green New Deal proposes to stop or slow this by moving to cleaner energy sources, and by doing so in a way that it improves the economy, and broadens opportunities for EVERYONE, not just a handful of energy gatekeepers.  We need affordable housing and sustainable food for all, not just mansions and caviar for a few.

This is what the Green New Deal will not do -

Ban air travel.

Ban cars.

Ban cows.

Make it so if the wind doesn't blow you can't watch TV.

I could go on and on.  Virtually every negative myth you've heard about the Green New Deal is wrong.  There is one that has an element of truth to it -

It will cost a lot.

But I'm going to tell you a dirty little secret -

It's going to cost a lot more if we do nothing.  Both in terms of money and in human lives.

The cost to clean up after climate change induced extreme weather is rising.  Trillions will have to be spent just to restore the damage that is left in their wake.  And to watch Trump promote tax dollars to repair red state Alabama while denying Puerto Rico what they need, by foully begrudgingly giving them anything - well, that alone is a reason no caring person should ever support or vote for him again.

You're upset by the level of immigration and refugees you see now?  That is a tiny trickle compared to the level of global warming refugees you'll see if we do nothing.  Millions upon millions will have to move away from areas of the planet that will be rendered uninhabitable.

This is a bipartisan issue that all will have to participate in order to secure a livable planet.  Everything is at stake.  Everything.

And yet -

When I looked for pictures to go with this, searching for Facebook for photos of The Green New Deal, 95% or more of what I found was negative memes promoting ugly and horrible lies about the Green New Deal.  The Republicans are working double overtime to create a negative impression about this effort, and in particular, to vilify Congressperson Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

I have never seen such firepower and venom directed at a freshman Congressperson.  Why?

Because they see the future if she is unchallenged.  They fear her.  They know she is speaking directly to the American people, and with such power and force and common sense, that she could rise up the opposition that finally makes the Republicans and their wealthy sponsors irrelevant.  So they have refocused their laser hatred, the same kind used to demean Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi, on trying to break the career trajectory of AOC. 

They want to change the future, even if that costs us the entire planet.  Political demonization is more important to them than the future of Earth.

As brilliant as AOC is, she is nothing without the rest of us.  We have to speak up about wanting the Green New Deal, whatever our political stripe.

This isn't about the career of any politician.  Yes, I am incredibly grateful for AOC leading the way. But in the end, this about the future livability of our planet.

The Green New Deal represents our last, best hope. 

Won't you please set partisanship aside and help us deal with this crisis?

Don't do it for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.  Don't do it for any politician.  Don't do it for me.

Do it for your children.  For your grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

They deserve a livable planet.