Krystyn Heide

Wow, all of a sudden, McCain is green. Ok, so since 2003, he's been around slinging the cap and trade buzz-phrase when the environment comes up. I honestly thought it was a lame campaign strategy -- something borrowed for speeches since he couldn't come up with his own idea. But then a couple days ago, he put on his best Al Gore face and tried to win some treehugger votes -- again with the same old thing he's been riding for five years.

I agree we need something, but I'd hate to see McCain get into office and give this a whirl. Likely, Congress would vote against it, pointing at the financial and regulation nightmare the EU is experiencing and the fact that their plan has had a much smaller effect on carbon emissions than expected.

In America, I suspect it would be worse, given our love for excess and the opportunity for corruption with such a plan. To put it simply, with Cap & Trade, groups that do not pollute are rewarded financially (yay!) by selling their credits to the highest bidder (boo!). The purchasers can then continue to emit pollutants, just at a higher cost. Or, they can move their business to a country without regulations.

Which means, we’ll be paying more, still contributing to Global Warming, and giving away US jobs in the process.

Regardless, he’s still pimping it on the campaign trail, it’s all over his website. It’s like if he says he “thinks green” then that counts for not having a real solution.

A few days ago, he actually said “…you would think that if the polar bears, walruses, and sea birds have the good sense to respond to new conditions and new dangers, then humanity can respond as well.” I smacked my head on the television. Repeatedly.

Of course! Why polar bears “respond” by stranding themselves on ice. The walrus population “responds” by stampeding entire colonies to death and abandoning their pups. And sea birds “respond” by not breeding.

They're onto something! Let's leave those who can’t afford expensive energy costs stranded and kill off businesses that can’t afford to buy credits or change their business model!

Maybe we should all think like Sea Birds and just stop procreating.

But do we think he'll actually try to make it happen if he gets into office? He's waived his green thumb before, yet Carl Pope, executive director of the Sierra Club, called him a liar. "Out of 535 Members of Congress, McCain is the only one who chose to miss every single key environmental vote" he said. "...every other Member who (opposed) at least had the temerity to show up and vote against the environment and clean energy time after time. And unlike John McCain, I doubt any of them would claim to be environmental leaders or champions on global warming."

Ah well, it could be worse. At least he's not the AntiChrist and doesn't blame his flatulence on the dog.