"Bring it on."

There have been many legitimate criticisms of the Green New Deal (GND).  It is non-binding and it lacks policy detail.  More, it is clearly unrealistic.  It envisions decarbonizing 100% in under a decade.  That's not only electricity.  It includes retrofitting every home in America within ten years, replacing every automobile within ten years, eliminating jetliners within ten years...

However, I think we must recognize the powerful rallying point the GND is serving.  People are angry at the growing wealth disparity fueled by fossil fuel oligarchs who KNOW they are stealing our livable climate to fuel their greed.

As someone that has lived, eaten and breathed climate and worked directly for bipartisan solutions for years, I agree with these assessments of the scope of the infrastructure challenge. We cannot possibly decarbonize in a decade, especially if we close nuclear plants.

Not only are the infrastructure goals unrealistic, the GND is also politically unrealistic. If we are to have an enduring solution, we must have most of the nation on board. Australia is a cautionary tale. They got a carbon tax only to flip the government immediately afterward and it was revoked. Think of the ongoing saga of the ACA here.

It's been over 30 years.

If we are going to address climate, technological limitations and political limitations demand much more than a non-binding, undefined resolution.

In that context, I offer this. We have tried to do this without screaming bloody murder. We have remained rational...ever since 1988 when James Hansen testified in Congress and earlier.

Nancy Pelosi is ROCKING IT.

Those who are passionate but not clear-eyed must rally.  We need them to rally. Thank goodness we have Nancy Pelosi, who is giving them room to explode on the scene, while creating room for “sensible” alternatives to emerge from the climate change hearings.

I am partial to Senator Sheldon Whitehouse’s response to Mitch McConnell’s forcing of a Senate vote on the GND.  Whitehouse is a fiscal conservative climate hawk who has placed carbon pricing solutions at the top of the list. He has been offering to talk with GOPs on climate for years. When McConnell announced he was bringing the GND to the floor to vote "no" on it, Whitehouse responded with a cynical laugh and said “this is what you have to offer after having nothing for years? I can hardly wait for this discussion.  Bring it on.  Please.”  (Paraphrased).

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse

Here’s a moderate, business-minded climate hawk Senator who will use this vote as a chance to slam the GOP for failing to offer anything of substance.  For failing to offer anything of substance for DECADES.

Here is his 10 minute response, one of his regular weekly talks on the Senate floor dedicated to climate.


For me, the bottom line is this.  We must rally.  But we also must ensure that we do not let the GND be a litmus test.  Let us allow for folks to say “I support the goals of the GND, so let’s sit down and hammer out policies to actually move toward those goals.”

And let us also use the political moment to demand everyone offer something better.

It is time for the conversation.  Bring it on.  Please.