Posted on 06/18/2018 9:47:36 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
It’s no secret—conservatives have fallen behind on environmental issues for the past decade. In issues like clean energy and conservation, we have lost sight of the legacy of environmental stewardship left to us by conservative trailblazers like Ronald Reagan.
A report from Duke University in 2014 detailed why many conservatives ignore the issue: solution aversion.
Solution aversion is the notion that if someone does not like the solution to a problem, they will ignore the problem completely. This can be seen firsthand with conservatives and the environment. Conservatives see green policies as curtailing the rights and values they care about most, like property rights, limited government, and free-market solutions. This is because the environmental movement has failed to acknowledge the importance of these fundamental American values. Far-reaching alarmism promoted by the environmental community has lead to intrusive, anti-business, and big-government proposals that turn conservatives away.
As a result, many conservative leaders have jumped to the farthest opposing side possible, suggesting irrational plans such as bailing out the coal industry or drilling within our cherished National Parks. It is understandable for our movement to be against the Left’s policies, but it is irresponsible to refuse a pro-environmental platform of our own. The conservative movement has been against the left’s policies, rather than for our own ideals. Instead of advocating for our own solutions, the anti-left dialogue is rampant within the conservative movement on this issue and it has been incredibly damaging to the movement and environment.
The Millennial generation is taking notice. Most recent studies show that environmental issues are the most significant for Millennial voters, who may be the largest voting bloc in the 2018 midterms. In fact, a recent poll from the American Conservation Coalition (ACC) and Conservative Energy Network (CEN) showed that 92% of young Americans want to prioritize clean energy. Aside from the obvious moral implications of being environmentally apathetic, conservatives’ lack of emphasis on the environment is hurting them politically as well. Largely because of these issues, Democrats hold a two-to-one advantage over Republicans with Millennial voters.
More importantly, the lack of conservative ideas in environmental politics threatens the planet. It has been difficult to pass meaningful legislation without conservative voices in the mix. The majority of recent environmental laws have consisted of feel-good rhetoric and little substantive action, wasting energy and failing to take account of important sources of clean energy like nuclear power. They punish instead of incentivize, and they disincentivize crucial hands-on conservation practices.
In order to win over and retain important Millennial voters and protect the God-given land all of us cherish, conservatives must make the environment a priority. Thankfully, a new wave of young conservative leaders are attempting to do just that. In Congress, Representatives Carlos Curbelo, Mike Gallagher, Elise Stefanik, and Mia Love are pursuing common-sense environmental policies from a conservative perspective.
College Republicans across the country are joining together to support clean energy and conservation as a priority, with 38 state chairpeople signing onto a letter from the American Conservation Coalition. Additionally, this past Earth Day, conservative organizations like the American Conservation Coalition, College Republicans, Turning Point USA, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions, RepublicEn, and Conservative Energy Network called on conservatives to prioritize the environment by participating in Earth Day celebrations across the country.
However, this new wave of young conservative leadership will not be enough for meaningful reform unless the GOP steps up and makes the environment a priority.
As Ronald Reagan once said: “Preservation of our environment is not a liberal or conservative challenge, it’s common sense.” It’s time for conservatives to live up to that ideal and push forth our own ideals on the subject. If we don’t, our Earth, livelihoods, and the conservative movement will suffer.
“Clean energy” is code for CO2/globull warming fake science.
Science utilizes the scientific method.
The scientific method requires the conduct of controlled, reproducible experiments.
Climate “science” does not utilize the conduct of controlled, reproducible experiments.
Since climate “science” does not utilize the conduct of controlled, reproducible experiments it does not utilize the scientific method and is therefore not science.
Liberal telling conservatives what to do. Never accept their premise.
Conservatives have been addressing environmental issues my entire life (I’m 64). They just don’t go leftist whackjob on it.
To use an example, it is the difference to be concerned about animal welfare vs being concerned about animal rights.
I’m having a hard time seeing Benji as a Conservative.
The ol’ “It’s time for Conservatives to ...” trope usually shows up when someone means, “It’s time everyone shuts up and just agrees to do what the communists want”. I’m never a fan of that.
Environmental “issues” are concocted by the environmental “movement” to incite hysteria resulting in more governmental control.
An American Immigration Policy
Or deny, that the Left uses environmental concerns as a distraction from other issues, when it suits them!
He can't bring himself to say them aloud. But as you point out, that is what it is all about. I read this passage below:
"...As a result, many conservative leaders have jumped to the farthest opposing side possible, suggesting irrational plans such as bailing out the coal industry or drilling within our cherished National Parks..."
Well. We know what he is talking about now...pipelines, drilling in Anwar, and taking advantage of our considerable reserves of coal.
It is a FAIL for him on this. "Clean Energy" is a nice sounding phrase, but I am certain it means no oil, no coal, and no nuclear.
Which means an energy policy for the party based on that is a stillborn idea, because it is not viable.
If he doesn't know that, he has no brains.
If he does know that, he has no guts.
There are very real environmental issues that are no doubt human caused, and require human solutions.... and yes the conservative movement sadly has been lacking on many of them.
Not all environmental issues are boogiemen.
I live in W. PA, I see first hand the impact of Acid Mine Runoff, and the fact that remediation of it is a low priority and has huge impact. Plastic in the water and food cycles is another completely man made problem that should be getting priority to solve but isn’t... and yes some of those solutions may require the involvement of bans to stop making the damn things that are causing the problems.
Phosphates were banned, life went on and water quality drastically imrpoved. Lead based additives were banned from gasoline and the entire world is better for it. Lead has been banned from household paints since 1978 and that’s a good thing.
The knee jerk reaction, by some, to actions that are clearly needed when it comes to the environment is truly disheartening. When its things that are based on false and manipulated data, and unprovable claims... no, that’s not a reason for drastic measures, but when something is undeniably causing health and environmental issues, government action is required.
Good Stewardship of God’s Creation is our duty, and in our own self interest. Sadly, real issues, don’t get dealt with because one side is trying to scream about something that isn’t true, and the other is screaming things that are true aren’t.
Bite me Benji.
>>common-sense environmental policies
In Washington, a common-sense policy always lacks common sense.
The most serious environmental issue is wacko environmentalists.
We must do soomething to curtail and cancel their everlasting whining.
Mindless young women insistant on making a difference are detrimental to the country
CONSERVATIVES are true stewards of the environment. Very few libtarded enviro-Nazis could survive the natural world. The liberals are nastier, dirtier and more foul than animals.
You say that Conservatives should work toward solutions for appropriate issues.
I agree.
Benji identifies these problems:
irrational plans such as bailing out the coal industry or drilling within our cherished National Parks
I say that the Clintons and Obamas of the world tried to kill the US coal industry and this was a bad mistake. Trump is trying to revive Coal. I'm not sure "bailing out" is an appropriate term. But I want US Coal to thrive.
And I have NO PROBLEM with drilling in National Parks.
Do you think Benji is making good points? Or are you just saying the Environment matters?
Valid point, but I seriously doubt that is what the author refers to.
When he says "Clean Energy" that is a proxy for the climate change crowd. I doubt he is talking about things like phosphates in detergent or even lead in gasoline.
The fact he meticulously avoided either of those phrases in his article is enough to give it the context I do.
Americans and W. Europeans are the most environmentally-conscious people on earth.
That said, the best policy on the environment would be
1. dissolve one EPA
2. devolve environmental standards to states and localities
3. resolve environmental issues as the free market makes it clear: people moving into areas that do a good job with the environment, and moving away from areas that don’t.
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