on February 28th, 2007 by mark
Off to Los Olivos tomorrow after school to write a profile on Wild Hearts winery…I’ll comment on their wines at a future date. For now–
This post over at HughHewitt.com by guest blogger Dean Barnett is darned funny. You have to see it for its wit. Barnett previously wrote a post in which he, fairly, argues that he doesn’t write about global warming nor Gore’s position on it for the obvious reason that he has not researched or read much about warming. He refuses to engage in debates about which he knows little. I think that is an ethical way to be and I confess I haven’t always adhered to it. But as I have read a lot more, researched a little more, I’m comfortable with the few posts on the issue I’ve made. Where I am ignorant, I admit it. But reading thus far has led me to the previous posts (scroll down).
As for the Vice-President, my brother Jerry points out that he takes Gore at his word, that he thinks him sincere. It has been reported that Gore is putting in solar panels at his mansion and other such greening has been going on, but let’s be honest–Gore has been making this argument for more than 20 years (Barnett says he’s been making it for 6 years. If you count Earth in the Balance as well as previous presentations he’s made, you’ll find it is much more than 6). If he’s known about global warming and the harm to the environment from CO2 and from greenhouse gases, one has to wonder why he didn’t put more effort into greening his own life sooner. And further, one has to wonder why he still allows himself to be ferried about on a private charter jet.
So, while I respect brother Jerry’s opinion, I still have to say that the man’s hypocritical and fraudulent behavior are quite apparent–and to me, that’s pretty important since it really is because of Gore that we have a wide dissemination of the silliness of global warming.
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[...] Original post by markstorer.com [...]
OK, you know, I don’t usually like to cross you…but…you made the one comment that irks me every time I see it. “still allows himself to be ferried about on a private charter jet.”
I’m not going to go dig up the data right now Marcus but the average private jet is approx 2-5 years old. The average commercial jetliner is much much older. In fact, American Airlines still has TWA era MD-80′s with an average fleet age of 13 years. Those rust buckets might as well burn lead considering I don’t know one fuel efficent car, yet alone plane that is 13+ years old.
The average private jet burns less fuel, conserves more energy, and is a cleaner burning engine than virtually all commercial airliners. Now before you counter attack, you should also know that private jet’s generally fly at 40-50k feet. They also do not follow the same flight paths that commercial planes do allowing them to spend less time in the air.
I could go on, but you and I both know its more energy efficient to fly in a private jet across the country than drive a bus. His jet is going to burn less than the 747 you’re hitching a ride in, AND going to be in the air less time — so short of riding a bike cross country or become a hermit, what do you suggest he do? He’s telling us to conserve, not to stop living. He’s telling us to work towards becoming a more green planet, not stop living.
He was Vice President of the United States and a US Senator for a very very long time…the guy understands we can’t just stop living. He understands we have a very mobile dependent economy.
You might also suck it up and start liking good ol’ Gore because if he changes his mind at a 2008 run he’ll win in a landslide and you know it.
Between the years of 2000-2008 Al Gore went to the Oscar’s and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. In the same time George Bush achieved the lowest approval rating since Richard Nixon. At least they both did monumental things.
The sadness I have in Jason’s comment is complete. As for private jets–sure, efficient. Except you forgot to take into account that very simply by flying commercially, you’re putting more people on the plane. That’s why it’s more efficient to do it. Use your math skills now. Don’t be silly.
As for Gore and you–if indeed you’ve become a gw believer, my heart goes out to you. I tried to get you to think for yourself–it didn’t work. Oh well.