Monday, June 30, 2008

If Gore Really Meant It

Congratulations!  Since leaving the White House Al Gore has earned well over $100 million dollars as he has continued his crusade against the evils of man's impact on the world.

I am glad he is doing well and embracing capitalism, seriously!  He grabbed an idea and marketed the hell out of it and some people ate it up.  I don't even begrudge him his home energy usage, other then the hypocrisy of the Goracle being the King of Carbon, after all he buys carbon offset credits from his own company, right?

What I don't understand is why he doesn't actually do something that would not only help solve his signature green issue but would actually improve and prepare America as well? Of course helping America could impact his image and his, "citizen of the world" standing, but I think he could spin the issue to his advantage.

As Mr. Gore knows from the recent upgrades to his home, solar energy is very expensive -- to the point of still being too expensive to be practical for the average home:

FindSolar.com, operated by solar industry interests and the DOE, has a handy Solar Estimator that calculates an estimated cost for a home solar PV system and provides a list of contractors in your area. It uses some curious formulas that I don't quite understand to calculate positive ROI, but it provides some interesting insights.  (...)
Conclusion: While good for the environment (assuming "green" manufacturing practices), residential solar PV systems are still too expensive and not yet cost effective. Expect this to change, however, as R&D produces better and cheaper solar panels and manufacturing ramps up.
Middle class America simply can't afford to install these units, even after tax credits, they are just too expensive.

If Mr. Gore were serious about saving us from ourselves, his carbon offset company would stop paying to plant trees, saving the Rain Forest, or preventing third world advances by pressing green only advancements.

Rather, if Mr. Gore, as the former Vice President of The United States, wanted to do his part for every aspect of American life, from energy independence, to economic stability, and even national security he would use those carbon offsets to purchase and install solar panels here in the states.

Wouldn't the overall impact of such a program be far greater then planting a tree?  Of course it wouldn't encourage the sweeping changes the environmentalists want, but is the goal really the changes or the environment?

He could start with schools and then pledge to have a panel installed on each and every home (that wanted one, not mandated!) by a date certain.  I would sign up for that!  Imagine the impact a lower electric bill would have on the poor each and every month!

The impact would not only be felt today but would help to ensure that our nations electric production capacity were prepared for the demand of the electric vehicles of the future, something that really needs to be addressed if electric ends up being the solution.

I like the idea and would start a company myself if I had the money.  Mr. Gore has the money, how about he put it to work helping rather then just blowing hot air.
DKK

Daily Trek -- June 30, 2008 -- Catch Up

What'd I miss? Everything you need to know to stay informed each day in 5 minutes or less! This is a make up edition of the Daily Trek as I was out having medical tests last week. It also gives me an opportunity to get the format of the Trek down as I am going to make this a regular item.
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A McCain presidency would mean electric cars powered by nuclear plants, clean coal.David Brock on Obama,

"He’s the most effectively political creature we’ve seen in decades. Even Bill Clinton wasn’t smart enough to succeed in politics by pretending to renounce politics." David Brooks

Obama used his own Presidential Seal two weeks ago but scrapped it the following Monday, but was the seal illegal? I don't think so but could be.

Obama's fundraising results have dropped since February and the Reverend Wright issue hit the news, but his spending hasn't. He spent more in May then he brought in.

A compromise has been reached in FISA and Obama decided opposing it wasn't smart, after opposing it.

Mark Shields says Obama couldn't pass a polygraph test.

Why did Obama claim he, "extended health care for wounded troops," when he wasn't there to vote the day that law passed?

President Bush called out the Democrats on Oil production, and rightfully so!

Meanwhile that congress has the lowest approval ratings since they started asking. Compare that to our military and their high ratings!

McCain put out a campaign ad calling Obama Dr. No because he says no to every solution that would get us out of the energy problem. No drilling, no nuclear, no prize for battery -- other then taxes what does Obama want?

If the Democrats don't want to drill because it wouldn't solve an actual problem for 5 years, why are they so dead set on doing everything they can to solve a theoretical problem 100 years from now? How about Medicare and Social Security?

"It's a lethal thing to suddenly raise taxes," he explains. "This would be devastating to the world economy, to the United States, and it would be, I think, political suicide" Robert Mundell, economist. So should the Republicans get a unified message on taxes or would it sound like more of the same in this season of change and non-politics politics?

Obama says Republicans are going to run a racist campaign against him.

It also seems rather humorous that the Presidential candidate who was supposed to be such a "uniter" and transcend race is the one talking about it the most. 

Obama's campaign is making, "homemade," signs for the crowds. You have to admit they know how to work it! If our war propaganda had been half this good Iraq would not be an issue today.
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Lots more later today.
DKK

Update -- Note to bloggers, if you use the draft dashboard don't click on the edit pencil under a post as it loses all formating currently.  I think I have fixed it.
DKK
 
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