Believe it or not, the Republican Party once had a very strong pillar of environmental protection to its platform. It's no coincidence that "conservative" and "conservation" have the same root word: Conserve.
Fast-forward a few decades, and you'll find that the current Republican Party rejects any notion of environmental conservation, regardless of whether the economy is roaring ahead or in the crapper like it is today (thanks to the banking deregulation brought to you by -- you guessed it -- the Republicans).
Conservative political parties exist all over the world, but no other party in any modern democracy is arguing against the very existence of global climate change like today's GOP, argues Ronald Brownstein in the National Journal.
"...Republicans in this country are coalescing around a uniquely dismissive position on climate change. The GOP is stampeding toward an absolutist rejection of climate science that appears unmatched among major political parties around the globe, even conservative ones," Brownstein says.
So this election season, when some Sarah Palin-backed Teabagger tells you that climate change is a hoax, or the answer to our energy needs is to "drill, baby, drill," or pollution is the sign of a healthy economy, tell that politician to be more ... Conservative.
Comments
Oh, Marc. You are very quick to bash the Republicans and Conservatives, and, like many Democrats, you spout simplistic “facts” that are skewed. Your editorial is so weak and incorrect. Blaming the banking deregulation solely on Republicans is just wrong, wrong, wrong. And Republicans don’t “reject any notion of environmental conservation.” You need to do much more research, get your facts straight and think much deeper. Your knee-jerk reactions and the blame games you and your like-minded friends play are embarrassing.
I am a proud registered Republican, a conservative thinker and also a conserving person. Stop lumping everyone from one political party in a negative pile. Speaking of a pile, I have an active compost pile in my yard, I spearhead conservation projects at home and church, and am eco-friendly everywhere I can be. Guess I don’t fit your stereotype.
And by the way, the term is not Teabagger but Tea Party member. Teabagger means something totally different—look it up.
As a former teacher, I suggest you go back and re-write your essay. Perhaps this was your first draft. I give your essay a C- for effort and an F for facts (lack thereof).
Have a green day!
Karen
Marc,
I bookmarked this site for the info on 7 natural cleaners, because I like to reduce the amount of harsh chemicals I use and to save money. Today I read your rant about your political views. You’re misusing this forum and subjecting readers to your unsolicited opinion.
I think it would be more constructive for someone with a national forum to be more objective & to refrain from slurs on former presidents and current political figures. It demeans you, not them.
I am an anomaly, I suppose: tree-hugging & fiscally conservative; a Libertarian on social issues, and (generally) a proponent of less government.
The lack of steady, unemotional reasoning in your post prevents you from being taken seriously in this case, just as Al Gore’s lack of education in science detracts from his argument. I am open to learning more about the climate, but I will look to educated, respected scientists for information, not someone with a B.A. in journalism who couldn’t succeed in divinity school or law school.
Tea Party members have a right to articulate their desire for reasonable taxation, controlled spending, and healthy economic growth. That shouldn’t threaten you.
Thank you, ladies, for your comments. I can always count on a stream of condescending, ill-informed messages each time I use the words “Sarah Palin” in a blog post. You can go back to your caves now, Mama Grizzlies. It’s time to hibernate.
Marc, Since all you got was a bashing, I will write you a more positive comment. While it is true most deregulation started with the republicans, President Clinton took up the cause to compromise while he was in office. Of course most republicans want to blame the democrats for everything that has gone wrong, if you look back to oh, let’s say President Ronald Regean, we have had more republican leadership than democratic leadership. And as for Sarah Palin, she quit. I truely think she needs to go to Alaska and just stay there, never to be seen from or heard from again!
You go Marc, keep up the good work.