Global Warming: Is Politics Destroying Our Planet?
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I recently read a particularly nasty question in a blog the other day. The question was, “Is it Al Gore stupid or Michael Moore stupid to believe in global warming?” Although the question might be considered distasteful, it is not at all surprising if you have been following the political debates over the environmental movement. It’s become very common for arguments to be riddled with name calling and belittling with no real substance. These attacks fly around the airwaves and on the internet in emails and blogs.
The political arena has turned this very real issue into nothing more than a battle cry and the term “global warming” puts many people into a tailspin. What’s really at stake is the health of our planet and our standard of living. It’s time we stop worrying about the political bickering, stop wasting our efforts and hard earned money and begin dealing with the real facts.
I am a Believer. I understand the natural cycle of climate change. I understand the changes started to increase at the start of the industrial revolution and the changes have been happening much faster in the last few decades with more industry and more cars on the road. In the past these sudden changes only happened as a result of natural disasters but I haven’t heard of Krakatoa erupting lately.
I’m pushing 60 years old and have lived in the Dallas area, off and on, most of my life. I remember when we would have two or three good snowfalls EVERY winter. I remember when people with breathing problems didn’t have to check the ground ozone level before going outside and I could walk outside without getting an “ozone” headache. I remember when being in a drought was a rare thing. I remember when, in most summers, it didn’t get really hot until late July and August. I remember when tap water tasted good and there were never days when it was brown and smelly. There are people who grew up in areas where the air and water are now cleaner. That’s because man-made fixes have cleaned up man-made messes. Although the city is now trying to remedy these problems, in the Dallas area it is quite the opposite.
Global warming has become a purely political debate and has delayed the effort to clean up our planet. Putting the politics of global warming aside, and putting Al Gore and Michael Moore aside, going green is the practical thing to do and it’s a less stressful and more pleasant way to live.
I don’t think it matters at all if you believe in global warming but going green is a much cheaper and more natural way of life. If you want to breathe clean air, stop putting so much junk in the atmosphere. If you want a clean water supply, quit dumping toxic waste into our streams, rivers and lakes. If you want to see a beautiful countryside, stop throwing trash out of your car window. If you want grocery prices to decline, buy local and take your own reusable bags. If you want to increase national security and create more domestic jobs, stop using so much oil and so many oil based products. If you want to improve your health, stop loading your body down with so many chemicals. If someone dumps a big pile of crap in your yard, clean it up. Once you have cleaned it up, dispose of it properly instead of just dumping it into your neighbor’s yard.
No matter if you think the Earth needs saving or not, the answer is not “out there” among the politicians. The answer lies within ourselves. We have the power to clean up our planet and to make our lives better, both as a collective and as individuals. Going green saves money and is a less stressful and more practical way to live. Attacking each other gets us nowhere and waiting on the political debates to be settled is a waste of our money, our precious time and our planet. Take personal responsibility and Go Green.
