Regarding AOC, and the importance of selling green politics

[Frodo]

I'm not a Climate Denier, and I believe that Global Warming is due, at least in part, to human behavior.  But I'd also point out that while we have ALTERNATIVES to fossil fuels, we do not have a SUBSTITUTE for fossil fuels, at least not as of now.  And we're not on the brink of having a substitute, either.  Green New Deals need to go forward with that reality.

We actually have common ground for once!  And greens are misreading the public mood by calling for phasing out meat-eating, planes, and cars.  Most people (myself included) have absolutely no intention of changing our lifestyles, nor do we wish to pay higher prices for electricity due to a carbon tax.  Anyone calling for these changes will risk political suicide at the ballot box, if not during the primary, then most definitely in November.  


Just ask former PM Julia Gillard of Australia how her carbon tax ultimately fared.   

[Frodo]

I'm not a Climate Denier, and I believe that Global Warming is due, at least in part, to human behavior.  But I'd also point out that while we have ALTERNATIVES to fossil fuels, we do not have a SUBSTITUTE for fossil fuels, at least not as of now.  And we're not on the brink of having a substitute, either.  Green New Deals need to go forward with that reality.

We actually have common ground for once!  And greens are misreading the public mood by calling for phasing out meat-eating, planes, and cars.  Most people (myself included) have absolutely no intention of changing our lifestyles, nor do we wish to pay higher prices for electricity due to a carbon tax.  Anyone calling for these changes will risk political suicide at the ballot box, if not during the primary, then most definitely in November.    

The true culprit really isn’t personal consumption, but the work of about 200 or so multinational firms unwilling to invest the capital to make the pollution byproduct lessen during commercial activity. One of the reasons why environmentalists need to move toward structural change of our economic reality to achieve tangible results.

Even so, if you are unwilling to take some small hit for such an issue, humanity risks dying a slow and painful extinction.

I am generally skeptical of apocalyptic 'the end is nigh!' rhetoric.  Moreover, until I see people like Al Gore actually walk the talk, why should I do the same?