February 10, 2019
Democratic Socialist Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez is proving to be a fantastic asset, just not in the way she intends. From her ignorant gaffes, and factually incorrect boldly spoken claims, she has been a gift to the Republican party. Her recently released “Green New Deal” does not disappoint anyone hoping for across the board massive tax increases, massive government intrusion and regulations, and the destruction of our thriving economy; or anyone hoping to keep the GOP in power.
The Green New Deal, is a non-binding resolution, (meaning that even if it were to pass it wouldn’t actually create any new programs, because it’s not law), lays out goals which would require government central planning and spending on a scale never before seen in the United States.
To save the world, because it will end in 12 years if climate change is not addressed, at least this is what Ocasio-Cortez recently said during an interview at the MLK Now event, she and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) have compiled a fully detailed fleshed out plan to save the world. Just kidding, but they did outline some very interesting goals that would appear to be a parody of the Democrat agenda, except it’s not.
Apparently fossil fuels, along with nuclear power, are so bad that within ten years they need to be completely banned from usage in the United States. That sounds like it could be very costly and devastating to our economy, but no worries, according to Markey their plan will “save all of creation by engaging in massive job creation.”
The GND claims that this resolution is a plan to achieve “net-zero greenhouse emissions and create economic prosperity for all”. Ooh- sounds good…until you take off your rainbow colored glasses.
Reality
Outlawing fossil fuels would require taking every single car with an internal combustion engine off the road. That would amount to the removal of 99% of the cars in the U.S.
No worries, Ocasio-Cortez and Markley have the perfect solution- charging stations will be built “everywhere”.
Air travel will also be a thing of the past under this plan. But, again they have the perfect solution- high speed railroads will criss- cross the country. Perfect… as long as no one ever desires to leave the island of Hawaii, or travel anywhere requiring crossing an ocean. Along with cars and planes, boats with combustion engines would also be abolished. Taking a sailboat across the Atlantic Ocean to travel to Europe sounds wonderfully progressive.
The GND also proposes to reduce ALL greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is released by cows, and has a warming potential 345 higher than carbon dioxide. According to the Environmental Defense Fund methane is responsible for around 25% of manmade global warming. Looks like cows will have to be banned. That shouldn’t be a problem for the 97% of the country who like hamburgers, steak, dairy products, or just like cows!
Meeting 100% of the power demand in the U.S. through clean renewable and zero- emission energy sources will also require that every home and building be retrofitted or replaced to comply with the new energy guidelines. There’s about 150 million houses and approximately 8 million buildings in the U.S.
Currently only about 13% of the energy needs in the U.S. are met by clean renewable sources. According to a 2015 Stanford study, to produce 100% of our electricity through renewable and zero emission sources would require 328,000 new onshore wind turbines,156,200 off-shore turbines, 46,480 solar power plants, 2,273 utility-scale power plants, 75.2 million residential rooftop systems, 2.75 million commercial rooftop systems, 208,100 Geothermal plants, 36,050 wave devices, 8,800 tidal turbines, and 3 new hydroelectric power plants. And of course the plan calls for the government to finance it all, and only hire union members who are paid “prevailing wages”.
While they call this a proposal to stop climate change this is only part of the goal, other intentions include the government commandeering vast segments of the economy. Under the GND the government will guarantee everyone a home, food, a job with “family sustaining wages”, job training and education, Medicare for all, and “economic security for all who are unable or UNWILLING to work”. What does massively expanding the welfare state have to do with mitigating climate change? Nothing!
Ocasio-Cortez often refers to the proposals in her resolution as “our moonshot”. However, although the cost of the GND would be so enormous it’s difficult to quantify and predict, it would undoubtedly cost multiple trillions, which would be more costly (even in inflation-adjusted numbers) than the Apollo moon program, the Interstate Highway Program, and the New Deal.
As with most other “good intentions” proposed by the left there are no details as to how this plan would be implemented. Further, other than taking a page out of Venezuela’s economic playbook and suggesting that the U.S. government could print money, there are no plans regarding funding. Undoubtedly since the GND would require a significant increase in government spending, it would in turn necessitate across the board massive tax increases for all working Americans, (those who don’t choose the free route option) not just the social justice warriors’ favorite villains- the rich.
Illustrative of just how far-left the Democrat party is moving, 70 Democrats have endorsed the GND. Numerous presidential candidates from the party including Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Amy Klobuchar have also signed on as co-sponsors.
Interestingly, in defense of this resolution, which will require government intervention as never before seen in the U.S., Ocasio-Cortez claims that the private sector has had 40 years to solve this problem and has failed. Someone needs to inform her that for the ninth year in a row the U.S. has had the largest decline in greenhouse gas emissions in the world.
This reduction can be largely owed to hydraulic fracturing (fracking), drilling technology used to extract natural gas from deep underground, which was established and developed by the private sector. As a result of fracking, natural gas, which emits 50% less CO2 than coal, has displaced coal in electricity generation.
However, it’s clear to anyone that has read the proposals in the GND, abolishing greenhouse gas emissions is only one objective. The other equally important goals in the GND are social justice, wealth redistribution and government control of the economy. Welcome to socialism.
Conservatives, and everyone who prefers capitalism and freedom over socialism and tyranny needn’t worry. The GND may just turn out to be great for our country. Not because of its implementation, but because it exposes just how far-left the Democrat party and its presidential hopefuls are, clearing the path for Trump’s 2020 reelection.
