So... Why not?
If the argument for switching to renewable energy sources ASAP was...
"to sever our dependence on oil from the Middle East and save Americans money, while simultaneously making urban air safer and easier to breathe"
...would it then be easier to agree with/to?
No one can truly prove positively that man is affecting the climate. The best evidence currently available seems to show that this is the case, but again, we've only really got computer models based on information gathered in the past few centuries. Beyond that it's based on inferences.
But here's my question... Since we CAN create enough energy to sustain our lives as we are living them today by wind and solar power alone... why not do it?
The development of a "green" industry based in the United States would create a niche industry, employ millions of Americans, and give us an advantage in relation to the rest of the world...
...just like the Industrial Revolution did in the late 1800's and early 1900's...
...just like our military industrial complex did after WWI and WWII...
...just like our pharmaceutical and medical industry did in the middle of the 20th century...
...just like our computer and technology industry did in the late 20th century.
If we don't find some niche industry to excel at every couple of decades, our economy WILL grow stagnate as the rest of the world catches up to us.
We've been a super power for most of the past 200+ years mainly because of our ability to stay ahead of the game... by spotting or starting the next big trend in the global economy...
The "green" revolution to shift to renewable energy and reduce the amount of waste we create (and subsequently have to live in) IS the next big revolution... it's already started on a global scale. If we don't lead the charge, we'll be buying our green goods and services from the next global super power to attain the status of the former Soviet Union.
And that's not change that we can believe in.
