The Wake

Illustration by Dustin Nelson

In anticipation of the 2008 election, many serious yet oft-ignored issues have reemerged and exposed themselves to the voting public. There are the perpetually unresolved cases of abortion, religion, states’ rights, education… frankly, the list could go on indefinitely. However, one seemingly played-out but absolutely crucial issue that I think many people are still far too divided over is that of global warming and, by extension, environmental preservation. Unfortunately, people tend to avert their eyes when the “e” word comes up and act as if it’s something that will just disappear. Even worse, they will settle into the irresponsible frame of mind that these catastrophic effects will not take place during their own lifetime, so why worry?

All in all, I am utterly fed up with the way much of the population has chosen to turn a blind eye to the world they inhabit. Anyone who has seen ‘An Inconvenient Truth,’ watched ‘Planet Earth,’ or Discovery Channel at any point in the last few years will know that this thing called “global warming” is real and it’s happening at an unprecedented rate. For reference, Minnesota’s climate will become equivalent to that of Kansas over the next 50 years- if not sooner. Basically, what I’m wondering is why it seems as though the only people taking political action to reverse this impending disaster are the Democrats and for what reasons.

People who say that political action won’t do anything are sorely wrong. Through scientific research in Antarctica we know that when the U.S. passed the Clean Air Act in 1990, the beneficial effects were visible through the ice’s chemical composition. Fortunately, the vote was passed with an 88% majority in favor of the act, but two-thirds of those who voted against the act were Republicans. Statistics like this made me curious as to why so many Republicans put the environment on the back burner when it comes time to vote. I don’t think it’s because they believe that global warming isn’t a reality. However, there are those in Washington with strong religious beliefs against evolution, and therefore any evidence having to do with science whatsoever. In order to “clear the air” (no pun intended) about why many Republicans feel this way, I decided to ask around and try to understand their rationale.

What comes up continually in posing this question is that it all comes down to priorities. When discussing this with a friend, he reinforced this idea by telling me that Republicans are more concerned with the economy than they are with the environment. They will continually base other issues on the issue they value most, meaning that the future of the environment in the eyes of many Republicans is dependent on how it can be utilized to best support our economic and corporate endeavors. Personally, I had no problem understanding this justification, especially as the U.S. dollar continues to plummet and our national debt accumulates rapidly. However, I think that along with this argument comes a serious case of tunnel vision.

If one stops and ponders the economic implications of the wilting environment for even a minute, it becomes apparent that there is more than one solution to the loss of a major economic powerhouse, like the oil industry. Yes, initially the loss of a major industry will take a large toll on a nation and its citizens, but sometimes people need to just rid themselves of the constant need for instant gratification and think about the long term and even short term effects that could derive from new energy efficient industries.

Everyone has heard of the positive effects of hybrid cars, ethanol fuel, solar, wind, and biomass energy. I sometimes think that people do not actually think about how many jobs these resources would create; it could eventually be more than that of the oil industry. However, another friend pointed to the fact that “Republicans are focused on protecting large business corporations in support of capitalism.” Business dealings definitely focus on the future, but seem to use more of their energy to build success immediately. This is why liberals have such a hard time convincing them that the “eventual prosperity” of new money, jobs and businesses will be worth short-term economic downturn. People like comfort and familiarity, but change is necessary for progression.

To Democrats and Republicans alike: there will be obstacles that you may not want to overcome on the highway to change. But if you give delayed gratification a chance and put the environment high on your list of priorities, you will thank yourself later and so will generations to come. Ignore the political party you belong to when addressing the environment, because our planet isn’t partisan. After all, Earth does not endorse a political candidate.