The Big River in Africa: Congress Defeats Climate Change Amendment

U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) submitted an amendment to a Republican bill that would have stripped the Environmental Protection Agency’s power to regulate greenhouse gases. Rep. Waxman’s amendment read, in full:

Congress accepts the scientific findings of the Environmental Protection Agency that climate change is occurring, is caused largely by human activities, and poses significant risks for public health and welfare.

The amendment was defeated 184-240.

So Congress, or at least the House of Representatives, is on record as denying anthropogenic climate change is occurring.

Contrast this vote with the undisputed news that the arctic icepack has shrunk to a new record low size, and it is still August. It will shrink still more.

Some kinds of delusional behavior are acceptable. Some are not. Some are ignorant and repulsive; think U.S. Rep. Akin (R, Missouri). When an entire political party is delusional, when it denies reality, and when that denial jeopardizes the future of our country, the delusion may be too dangerous to tolerate.

If our Congress persons are too ignorant to understand the science, they should defer to someone who is smart enough to understand. If they do understand the science and lack the courage to act, they should resign and let the voters choose someone with guts. If they understand the science and are cynically posturing for political advantage, they should be impeached.

There’s not much middle ground left. We only have the one planet.

 

About these ads