Carbon Offsets: You Need Green to be "Green"

For the last few years, Al Gore has been lecturing us on how our comfortable lifestyle here in America is causing global warming. Without going into the scientific details of whether or not global warming is caused by human activity, and if it is whether we can realistically stop it (maybe in another blog, another day), I will say that Gore's intentions are obvious. To him, global warming is nothing more than a tool, a crowbar used to pry Americans from their freedoms and goad them into the trap of higher taxes and a more powerful, intrusive government.

How can we tell whether Gore's concern with global warming is genuine, or if he's just using it as a weapon against capitalism as I claim above? Well, it's logical to assume that if he really were as concerned about it as he claims to be, he would have taken steps to reduce carbon emissions in his own life before laying guilt upon others. But instead, we see him criss-crossing the world in private jets and limos. The icing on the cake was a report last month revealed that Gore's mansion in Tennessee burns through more electricity in a month than most houses do in a year.

Gore says not to worry, he's buying "carbon offsets" to balance out his lavish lifestyle. The idea here is that the carbon emissions from thousands of gallons of jet fuel can be eliminated by planting a few trees halfway around the world. It's kind of like buying indulgences in the middle ages - give the church some money, then go out and sin without guilt. It really is amazing how the same mentality has popped up 700 years later.

Anyway, it struck me how Gore's system of carbon offsets goes against the basic principles of his own party. Specifically, it would widen the gap in standard of living between the rich and the poor. Those with money, like Al Gore, can go on enjoying their mansions and private jets since they can afford whatever carbon offsets they need to be "carbon neutral". The rest of us will be stuck with cramped apartments and public transit. Democrats should be outraged! But of course they are not. Why? Remember, to liberals, global warming is a religion. And in a religion you don't question God... er, Al Gore.