Vote like your life depends on it

The next few years could be the most important years you vote. Every vote matters, so choose wisely. But what does this near catastrophe we are facing, global warming, have to do with voting?

In the United States we have a two party system, so we are typically stuck with only two choices: Republican or Democrat.

Most issues become party issues and the elected officials you vote into office will usually only vote with their party regardless of the merits of the legislation, whether they like it or not. So, which party you vote for is extremely important. In other words, legislation written by the Democratic party is very likely to be voted Yes by most or all Democratic elected politicians and No by most or all Republican elected politicians.

Democratic Party

The Democratic Party website is very clear where they stand on this issue: climate change is an urgent threat.

Democrats believe that climate change poses a real and urgent threat to our economy, our national security, and our children’s health and futures.

Republican Party

The Republican Party website doesn’t even mention climate change or global warming, as though it isn’t even an issue.

Decades of excessive government regulations and lobbying have cost us tens of billions of dollars, diminished the production of American energy, and wiped out thousands of jobs. Republicans believe that by lifting unreasonable restrictions on American energy production, we can revive our economy, end our dependence on Middle East oil, and still maintain a clean, safe environment for American families. Let’s tap into our country’s own vast resources including oil and natural gas, as well as clean coal, hydropower, solar, wind, geothermal, and nuclear power. By approving the construction of the Keystone and Dakota Access Pipelines, Republicans took a major step toward achieving America’s energy independence.

Secondly, the Republican Party does not want regulations to stand in the way of making “tens of billions of dollars”, and does not want “restrictions” on energy production for oil, natural gas, coal, or any other type of energy source. It doesn’t sound like they plan on doing anything about global warming to me, how about you? They love oil and energy corporations because that’s where the money is, where their campaign contributions come from. Money today is more important than the environment tomorrow.

Coal and Natural Gas make up 98% of all CO2 emissions from the electricity generated in the USA.

There are no guarantees voting for Democrats will help fix global warming. Many Democratic candidates and officials aren’t any better than their Republican counterparts or opposition. However, it is almost certain that voting Republican will only make things worse for the environment. Look at their track records, their actions, what they blatantly express. There is a much higher chance an elected Democrat will do something. Please for the love of god do something…

The Republican Party has, for decades, been borrowing insane amounts of money against future generations. It is the future generations who are going to be absolutely irreversibly screwed by the rising temperatures. Based on their actions, the Republican Party does not care about future generations. Republican politicians can not be trusted to do the right thing to fight global warming. I would argue the Republican party is anti-science. This is an environmental science issue. Republicans defund science programs, claim that “I am not a scientist” when asked what they think about global warming, and favor corporations over people.

Just 100 companies are responsible for 71% of all global emissions.

“The earth is not dying, it is being killed, and those who are killing it have names and addresses” — Utah Phillips

We are on a roller coaster ride, nearing the top of the cliff. Once we reach the top and start going down, there is no way to stop it. We have to prevent the global temperatures from reaching critical mass. According to the IPCC report, we, the world, have less than 12 years to accomplish that goal. If no one does anything to reduce CO2 emissions, what do you expect to change? The IPCC report estimates a 5% chance of success. So there is a chance. But doing nothing gives us no chance at all to stop the permanent temperature increases.

So, what can you do as an individual to help prevent catastrophe?

Vote. If you live in the US and you want elected officials who are going to do something about the global warming crisis, vote Democrat. Democratic Party politicians are the most likely to do something about global warming, to pass or write legislation, or to hold those accountable that are making things worse for the rest of us.

Big impacts you could make on your own to reduce CO2 include having less children, and eating less meat and dairy products. Smaller, but still important changes you can make include replacing lightbulbs with LED bulbs, turning lights off when not using them, recycling and/or reusing products, and planting more trees.

If you want to help prevent the collapse of the insect populations, which could be even more threatening than global warming, you can stop using chemicals such as pesticides on lawns, gardens, and farms, stop tilling or plowing soil, and plant insect friendly and bee friendly plants.

Get Involved.

Help females, especially in developing countries: educate girls about family planning and birth control options, give them the right to choose if and when they want a family, and help them find a way to earn income on their own.

We know that women, given the resources and the choice, will opt for smaller families. If you are concerned about the growth in population… You will be contributing to the most effective solution to the problem without any of the moral baggage.

Don’t be afraid to talk about sensitive issues with friends and family, especially important issues such as global warming. When talking about any sensitive subject you should try to be patient and respectful, try to give facts and not opinions, and talk about why you think the topic is an important issue. At the very least, you might teach someone something they didn’t know. Knowledge is Power.