The Peanut Gallery
on Commerce, Science & Transport Committee:
Greenhouse gases plus climate change plus global warming equals controversy. Climate change remains one of the most complex issues facing the world. As the world’s largest economy and second largest emitter of greenhouse gases, many believe that it is the United State's role to lead the rest of the world on the green trail. An accurate international climate policy is what the world and the U.S. need to jumpstart the going green program.
A hot issue here is figuring out if spending large amounts of money is necessary and if it is more important to fix the world before we fix ourselves. Will the cap-and-trade law fix the economy as the liberals say, or result in massive job losses and an economic turndown as the conservatives say? The cap-and-trade law would cost taxpayers $200 billion each year, but there are many ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that do not include massive government regulation.
Greenhouse gases plus climate change plus global warming equals controversy. Climate change remains one of the most complex issues facing the world. As the world’s largest economy and second largest emitter of greenhouse gases, many believe that it is the United State's role to lead the rest of the world on the green trail. An accurate international climate policy is what the world and the U.S. need to jumpstart the going green program.
A hot issue here is figuring out if spending large amounts of money is necessary and if it is more important to fix the world before we fix ourselves. Will the cap-and-trade law fix the economy as the liberals say, or result in massive job losses and an economic turndown as the conservatives say? The cap-and-trade law would cost taxpayers $200 billion each year, but there are many ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that do not include massive government regulation.
One of these answers is geoengineering, which could cost much less by switching to a low-carbon society. Scientists would pump some amounts of liquefied sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, which deflects sunlight. As a result, this would cool down the earth. Geoengineering will avoid the heavy costs of restructuring entire economies.
Is it time to put the United States first? Although jobs being created in the new green economy will replace those that will lose their jobs in polluting industries, the greatest fear is the push for increase tax burden on Americans. Being green doesn’t necessarily mean being hard on your wallet. 
