by David Roberts
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And yet where are the protests? Where are the people in the streets? Where is the popular movement demanding an end to fossil-fuel addiction and promising to eject legislators who stand in its way? I don't see it. Sure I've seen Facebook petitions and the odd cluster of people outside the White House waving signs, but there's no uprising. No politician feels threatened or fears the consequences of voting against a clean energy bill.
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For reasons I've never understood, lots of folks on the left fear that celebrating victories might make people apathetic. They might think the problem is solved, and why fight if you're not losing, right? I once asked a leader of a prominent progressive advocacy group whether he found the constant drumbeat of dissatisfaction and failure depressing and he replied, "I like uphill battles." They energize him! I wanted to ask: How many beyond the circle of lefty activists feel that way? It's not really a matter of speculation. Psychological research shows that the "facts" of failure are disempowering unless accompanied by a compelling and plausible alternative vision. If the situation is dire, everyone is corrupt, and nothing available is worth a spit, what is the route to success? Why bother?
Anyway, the sad-sack nature of the left has been on my mind because, to be frank about it, I've been hugely disappointed by its performance on climate change. I'm going to spend some time in the coming week arguing that the left should mobilize behind the
Kerry-Lieberman climate bill and go all-out to get it passed. For arguing this I will no doubt catch all manner of sh*t. But the fact is, the American Power Act is a result of the balance of power in U.S. politics. The left rejecting the bill won't change the balance of power. Failure and status quo reinforce it. The left will change the balance of power by getting people out in the streets, writing their legislators, and voting for/against candidates based on their climate vision in sufficient numbers to pose a threat.
There's no sign that's happening now, but perhaps it will. Does it make sense to postpone legislation while we wait?
The left is busy cheering on these Senators:
Senator Byron Dorgan, who rocks.
Senator Russell Feingold, who rocks.
Senator Al Franken, who rocks.
Senator Sherrod Brown, who rocks.
Where are these Senators? Well,
standing up for coal.
Still, Mary Landrieu and her ilk
are worse.
I'm with
Al Gore:
“New legislation to limit U.S. greenhouse gases and boost “clean energy” production will be released
May 12, Senators John Kerry and Joseph Lieberman, the authors of the measure, said today.”
“Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat, and Lieberman, a Connecticut independent, said in an e-mailed statement they believe they can “secure the necessary votes to pass this legislation this year.””
We are on the road to passing the most important environmental legislation in a generation. That's why during the next few weeks I’ll be asking for your help to show the Senate that we demand they pass this vital legislation. This is our best opportunity to put America on the path to solving the climate crisis, and I know you’ll get the job done.