America Is The Problem (As Usual)
Striving to live up to his billing as third choice Secretary of Commerce, Gary Locke has struck gold with an idea that will simultaneously wreak havoc on the US economy and punish ordinary citizens for being such greedy little piggies.
Speaking to the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai (perhaps by mistake, because, as you’ll read, what Gary said would’ve been far more suited to an audience of Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and The Climate Project, etc), Gary stated that,
“… it’s our own consumption activity that’s causing the emission of greenhouse gases, then quite frankly Americans need to pay for that.”
So the American lifestyle, far from being the envy of the world, is apparently the worst in the world, according to left-wing carbon-based calculations.
One small question springs to mind: is there anything of which America is not guilty? Or any global problem that America did not cause?
Because I’m not even an American and I’m pretty tired of constantly hearing of all the evils committed by the Great Satan. The tally so far includes slavery, the destruction of the global environment, the Middle East conflict, famine in Africa, poverty in South America, recession in Europe, genocide in Japan and, my favorite, gun-related crime in Mexico. Amongst countless others.
In accordance with his own misplaced views about the consumption habits of Americans, I expect Gary Locke to henceforth move into a house made of sticks and wear nothing but hemp clothing.
Otherwise, he should shut his trap.
September 16th, 2009 at 22:26
Expecting Americans to pay the real, full costs of our consumption is hardly left wing – this is mainstream environmental economics. I find your analysis here disappointing and spiteful, and we should encourage responsible consumption in America without senseless name-calling.
Also, so you know, Gary Locke is an exceptional individual who has done a lot of good as an honest public servant. Please consider that these are real people with families and careers you are so blithely dismissing.