Thread by @sunnshiiny

I’m confounded beyond reason.

Why are “progressive” political parties promoting populist solutions to the greatest existential threat our species has ever faced?

Why a Green New Deal needs a New Green Movement: Part 1 disq.us/t/3dicl6y

Political pressure yes, the average citizen designing policy to either address climate change, resign humanity to doom or destroy the economy? Not so much! Experts please!!

The technical expertise in multiple areas needed to address climate action is extraordinary and immense.

I don’t trust the average citizen to produce the appropriate carbon reduction strategy any more than I trust my mechanic to perform brain surgery.

Reducing carbon is a complex knowledge based action, not a popularity contest or a squeaky wheel that needs attention.

But somehow, Greens and NDP have convinced many of their supporters that their party knows better than the experts how to effectively implement carbon strategies and they just need your vote to empower them to take over the reins of control.

Has the progressive voter lost their mind? This is the same strategy used by CPC to convince their supporters that denial and doubt mean nothing needs to be done. Only the CPC can steer the economy and avoid financial disaster by canceling carbon levies.

Putting your fear aside momentarily will inform you that many considerations are required and many experts are needed. This isn’t a task to be completed on the fly. We don’t have time to learn from our mistakes. Meticulous planning is required.

The sheer magnitude of the products we rely on everyday that are connected to the fossil fuel industry, is substantive and systemically pervasive.

It’s in every facet of our lives.

That’s why the right is resisting so vehemently.

Transitioning to green energy and sustainable products means changing every one of those products and directly impacts the industries and the job status of everyone of the workers connected to the supply chain or manufacture of those products.

We are no where near turning off the taps of oil & natural gas. We are years away.

Recently, an article on the diversification of the Canadian economy was released, reporting a 60% increase in foreign investment.

While nowhere near enough to significantly reduce Canadians reliance on fossil fuels, it’s a step in the right direction, with a few thousand other steps required.

This has led to the lowest unemployment rate in 40 years and the highest youth workforce participation rate ever.

The Canadian Green New Deal doesn’t encompass an economic plan beyond the fossil fuel industry and the workers directly related to resource production.

Canada doesn’t produce a huge amount of the GHG emissions that are contributing to climate change. But we send 60% of crude oil we produce to the nation who is a very large contributor of GHG.

In fact we are beholden to send that percentage through a binding treaty, even if we don’t have enough to sustain our own energy needs. A deal Harper made to secure our reliance on one customer. Until we are ready to transition to green energy, we are limited in options.

Which means the immediate cessation of fracking isn’t an option. That’s how unrealistic and impractical the Green New Deal is. But it doesn’t have to be realistic. Greens know they won’t ever win a majority. So it won’t be their policy that becomes mandated by election.

It’s a populist trick. Promise the moon and stars on a platter. You win more votes, and never have to deliver. But you may win enough votes to force a minority government to refuse your unworkable policy and win even more votes.

Going back to the mechanic analogy, how many consumers have believed a mechanic’s recommendation to do extra work, only to find out you paid hundreds of dollars for unnecessary repairs? Pretty much everyone who isn’t a mechanic.

Populism used by fringe parties does the same on a grand scale. Frame the narrative so that your “solution” sounds the best. It doesn’t have to be realistic, just tell the electorate that simple quick solutions are the plan. It doesn’t matter that you can’t and won’t deliver.

Criticism of the strategy/policy can easily be ignored because you will never have to implement it. By the time the electorate realizes it, the election is over and you’ve increased your political collateral until the next election.

Just like the shifty mechanic laughing all the way to the bank to deposit your financial collateral, Populist politicians make promises they have no intention of keeping and no reasonable way to implement. They just need you to believe in miracles or deny the problem exists.

There are no simple solutions to climate change.

Climate Scientists, Economists & financial analysts have specialized training to analyze the issue, make recommendations, but not to act.

Environmentalists, Oil Corporations, and Politicians have motives of self preservation, profit and maintaining power, the ability to act, but not the technical expertise to recommend action.

Any worthy climate plan will combine the expertise of the two disparate groups of climate actors, rely on scientific data and multiple points of view, and inform the public of the complexity and difficulty of the task.

To determine the validity of a political party’s plan on climate action, the following should be considered:
1. Clear measurable actions and well defined targets.
2. Realistic cost estimates, realistic scope of problem defined.

3. Acknowledgement of & knowledge of the political process to move policy forward.
4. Identification of predictable impediments to achievement and detailed plans to address them.
5. Defined plans to address the reduction of fossil fuels economic contribution in all industries.

Do you choose the brain surgeon who can describe your tumor in detail and how it will be removed, or do you choose the surgeon promising everything will be fine, just have faith?

Here is someone who works in climate change.

Follow her advice and do something about the oil industry who would sooner kill us all than lose profits.

https://twitter.com/SamvgWr/status/1136016195759460352?s=20