"To show you how stupid the Left is..."

I ran across an Outside magazine interview with Newt Gingrich the other day about his new book, A Contract with the Earth, and "green conservatism." In it he asserted that the only feasible way to protect the Earth is by using market-oriented and entrepreneurial incentives. To follow this more closely, I searched for available videos on youtube.com. There is one video featuring Gingrich talking about "green conservatism." In it he starts, "The environment is not inherently a liberal issue. Virtually every American would like to see biodiversity... clean air... would like to make sure that we do not have unnecessary climate change," quickly adding "recognizing that the climate changes all the time" and describing climate change as "a natural geological rhythm." Minus this last ignorant part of his statement, you'd expect that maybe Newt is trying to reach across political boundaries and reaching for a bi-partisan, free-market solution to environmental problems. However, moments later, the video transitions to Gingrich starting a new thought with "To show you how stupid the Left is..." Wow! We're back to partisan politics and mudslinging. In his magazine interview, Gingrich writes "The left focuses on punishing people, and we need a strategy that rewards people." We're pushing the environment into the economic realm, and along with the benefits exist some negative implications. (Note: I originally wrote "frightening implications" but was reminded by Newt that the stereotypical radical Leftists and Al Gore are hysterical and use scare-tactics; I don't want to be associated with that if I can use facts and accepted theories to make a point.) If natural resources are simplified as commodities, they are then substitutable--the opposite of "sustainable." It is true that market forces are pretty powerful, and consumers ideally have the ability to influence how the market operates. But truthfully, most products available on market shelves do not reflect all costs (i.e. pollution, waste, etc.). As far as I understand it, gasoline and food are extremely and unfairly cheap for Americans. In the interview, Gingrich says, "We believe that markets work, and have historically created more choices, of higher quality, lower cost, and greater convenience." It is true and it is amazing.

Determined not to be discouraged by Gingrich's derailment of leftist idealism, I found another article by David Roberts that critiques A Contract with the Earth. Let me jump to Roberts' rebuttal to Gingrich's belittling of the liberal approach: "For many years now, the most innovative market-based environmental strategies have come from greens [liberal environmentalists]... The difference is not that greens oppose tax shifting and market mechanisms -- the difference is that greens also support legislative, regulatory, and legal strategies. Their primary concern is solving the problems, not with the mechanisms for doing so. After all, why fight with one hand tied behind your back?"
This lifted my spirits. I consider myself an environmentalist more than a liberal, and find reason behind both strategies. I think all corporations and businesses should convert to environmentally friendly technologies and products, but that doesn't make materialism and over-consumption acceptable. Furthermore, we can't expect the Market to shift as quickly as recommended by many scientists. And I think a precautionary approach is responsible. This is a value issue, and when money is the end-all/be-all, the environment will not be valued for its beauty and importance. If we turn to history, we will not only see the Market has provided wealth and opportunity, but it has also led to crippling of countries and people and has historically provided class systems and inequality. Social responsibility needs to be a goal at the same time--and competition works against that. So Gingrich needs to stop trying to bottle environmentalism for Conservatives and turning the tables against environmentalists that are irritating his paranoia. Let's make this a bi-partisan issue, involving market-based incentives and regulations.

Outside magazine interview Link

David Roberts editorial Link

Youtube video "Green Conservatism" Link