Who's The Owner of This House?

[Steve Stuck]

I myself do not believe that global warming or other weather shifts are due to pollution from humans. My feeling is that global warming policies that uses government to tax its citizens is a basic ponzi scheme similar to programs like Social Security. I figured I would post this picture to get environmentalists thinking about their leaders they quote from.

This house sits on 7.5 acres of land. The total dimension is 11,000 square feet which probably requires a lot energy to sustain this living structure. You notice a pool in the back and very big garage/storage to the side. The land was bought with an existing home that the people then tore down so they could build this massive mansion.

Many of today's environmentalists are complaining that the US is building way too many homes like this while the world is overpopulated and warming up. Homes like these, many environmentalists say, add to the problems we have today with climate change. They would like to see homes like this with solar panels and other green features to make it more efficient. Just think of how much material was used to build this home and the amount of machine energy that used diesel gasoline to get the product there and to put it up.

This home belongs to Thomas Friedman, author of the man made global warming book: "Hot, Flat, and Crowded". I have yet to read his book, but seen many of his writings and interviews on the climate policy he would like to see. In defense of Thomas Friedman, he somehow tries to defend this land buy and building to preserve the area he lives in from massive home building. If you look at his area, the homes surrounding him sit on nicely proportion size lots. I don't think Beazer homes are flooding the area to build right next to each other.

[Lou Begnel]

Steve, considering I consult for a company with a biofuels application, I would like to see that prevail. My only answer is not that government should do it - I am a scientist - and I want applications for new technologies that are more affordable than existing technologies. But I don't kid myself into believing it gets accomplished without the support of government. My point is, everyone is waiting for someone else to come up with a solution. I strive to be part of the solution not because I believe anything is wrong, or broken, or in a crisis, but because I think we can do better than we currently are. But it takes time and it takes breakthroughs - but society has no patience or faith and demands immediate results from its politicians. Science just doesn't work that way. As you alluded to with your statement about global warming - some scientists do and some don't believe in it. I would rather ask a polar bear.

[Steve Stuck]

@Lou- We know cancer is there, global warming made by humans is still being debated and has been proven wrong numerous times. America is not running out of fuel like many are saying and the list goes on.

Gore and Friedman are not reporters and they are trying to capitalize on fear. Yes, Gore has introduced the idea of taxation by wanting America to sign the Kyote Treaty back in the late 90's when he was VP. Thank god our Senate did not vote it in.

Thats great you want to take chances and harness in this American spirit you type about. The mistakes and adjustments along the way is two fold: Government making the mistakes or the private sector making them. See Lou, when government makes mistakes it keeps going and going and going and there is no stopping it. When private sector makes the mistake, then it gets addressed very quickly.

You seem to write well, but looking back, you are offering no solution like many others have like nuclear, natural gas, drilling on our own shores, turning coal to synthetic gas. That is my point with those who believe in this crisis or fuel shortage or global warming, their only answer is government and then they feel better about themselves.

[Lou Begnel]

@Steve - Friedman and Gore are just reporters (though Gore is a recovering politician). All they did was make the suggestion - someone else in govt. introduced the taxation and regulation laws. One of Friedman's core tenets in the book is that America is so entrenched in bureaucracy and existing infrastructure that some other country will likely discover the next alternative fuel. What would we be able to do if we were China for a day, he asks - I would shudder to think. We are a great society but lately have gotten in our own way.
The main roadblock in all of this is fear - whether you follow Friedman and Gore or O'Reilly and Limbaugh, the message is fear. It is fear that there is an impending crisis but if we act now we can lessen the extent of it. Whether you believe in global warming or national arming, you are doing so out of some fear. It used to be the American dream that the next generation would have better technology and greater prosperity than its predecessor. Now we are waiting for the next generation to pick up the check. If we want to continue to be the America that is recognized for its leadership (placing the first man on the moon instead of the shoe dodging buffoon) we need to take the initiative. This will of course mean making mistakes and adjustments along the way. I would not have wanted researchers to halt cancer, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's cures just because it was a drain on resources. Though my mother died of cancer, in order to prevent another family from experiencing this or my own at a later date, I am willing to make the sacrifice now and donate some money to the cause. Sure, greed will be a big part of capitalizing on this movement as it is with any other undertaking. We as Americans need to be smart enough to challenge before crisis mode but think of it in a rational way, once that consists of incentives not penalties, taxes, and fines. Instead of complaining about every little decision we need a solid plan that accounts for some setbacks along the way.

[Hazel "The Queen" Walker]

The real Ponzie scheme is the carbon credit companies they are starting. I have a couple of multi million dollar friends and they have been investigating starting their own carbon credit company and they are amazed that it is actually legal. It is a shell game according to them.

[Brett Atkin]

Nuclear is the way to go. Steve is correct, the red tape being applied from every angle is crazy. I believe nobody died from the accident at 3 Mile Island, but it set back Nuclear power for almost 30 years now.

We've become a nation of short-term solutions to yesterday's problems. Reactive instead of proactive.

I'm all for saving the environment and I try to do my part. But at some point, we have to worry about self-preservation and the big picture for the future of the U.S. Until we do that, things aren't going to get any better.

[Mark Howard]

the most important thing is our self-esteem, feeling good about ourselves. Al Gore and Tom Friedman have that in spades because they talk and motivate to innovate and save the planet (what could be more important than that?), and yet still live the lavish life of a petrodictator. I must admit, it is brilliant.

[Steve Stuck]

@Lou- The only thing these guys like Al Gore and Friedman have introduced is new taxation. They want this carbon cap -n- trade that will prop up false green economies. At some point, this taxation on the others will start running out and then the green economy will ultimately fail.

I agree I would like to get away from foreign oil, but this environmental movement here in the states is a scam. Try to build a nuclear power plant, your looking at 15 years of government red tape and lawsuits from environmental groups. Try putting up windmills, more government red tape and lawsuits for the potential threat of killing birds. Try anything, and you see the real cause of this movement is money.

India is building a massive oil refinary and Russia is exploring for oil all over the world. The US unfortunately in the next 4 years will be praying to the sun and introducing new taxes to move our industries overseas.

Al Gore and Friedman just want to make money and really could careless about the environment. Gore has many of millions of dollars in the carbon trading business and that is why he is pushing for legislation so much. Friedman just new a bunch of people would buy his book.

[Lou Begnel]

I can agree with you that asking others to sacrifice when you yourself are not is a failure to lead by example. I wouldn't go so far as to say hypocritical, though. If they were abdicating for alternative sources of energy while investing in foreign oil companies, I would say that is hypocritical. A reduced dependency on foreign oil is a start, lest we continue to be a slave to petrodictatorship countries. This is not sustainable long term and is running out at a faster rate than ever with India and China in the mix. There are all sorts of alternative energies from wind power to clean coal to biofuels - none will be the cure all and some will not succeed but we have to make the investment. As for products to date, it is kind of like telling people to invest in the stock market and then asking them how their stocks did this year. It takes time to amount to something and you cannot give up just because changing from the status quo will be difficult. Reminds me of the road construction sign that says, "Temporary Inconvenience, Permanent Improvement".

[Mark Howard]

At least we can agree that they are hippocrites, but the message is so important that it does not matter. excellent summary of: "Do as I say, not as I do".

[Lou Begnel]

At least Tom Friedman and Al Gore are motivating a nation to innovate. I can look past the large houses if, as a result of their efforts, we free ourselves from foreign oil before the point that we run out of it. Would you prefer the petrodictatorship in the Middle East that owns lavish palaces while abusing their power to keep an entire nation from enjoying the prosperity they so richly enjoy?