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Originally Posted by Mikhayl
Are you saying that the average conservative is a religious nut that could care less about his own environment ?  |
Not really, but I didn't feel like posting
another ridiculously long treatise on the subject.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Von Tonner
You know guys, they say sarcasm is the last flickering flame of dying intelligence. While I would resist labelling you two with that affliction, neither of you address the issues in the article. Interesting:hmm:
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Firstly, thank you for not just calling us stupid outright.
Secondly, this article does not bring up any "issues". Assuming that it is true and objective, for a conservative, many of these policies are common sense.
Contrary to popular liberal belief, conservatives
do care about the environment. Granted, they care about it less than liberals do, and they care about it for different reasons.
Now, I am someone who would be considered an extremist when it comes to matters of conservative fiscal policy, so I cannot speak for all conservatives, but my concern for the environment lies principally in the area of
sustainable exploitation. That is, economically beneficial use of natural resources whilst maintaining their integrity for future use as much as possible.
This includes many things; aforestation, recycling, aquaculture, modern agricultural methods, nuclear energy, pollution taxes to create incentive for things like industrial carbon scrubbers, so on and so forth.
What we conservatives do not advocate is excessive government intervention in these matters. It is a paradox to us that liberals believe the solution to environmental problems lies in government when the dirtiest countries in the world are socialist.
Also, citing once again my extremist nature, please consider my views on endangered species. I do not believe that the government has a right to forcibly accquire citizens' money and then use it to preserve species that private industry has no interest in preserving.
Plenty of money for such efforts can be gathered from private supporters. Just look at PETA! They're a huge pain in the ass even when they aren't lobbying for ecological legislation.
I, myself, support efforts by charities to protect horses and rescue them from owners that neglect them. But I would never support any legislation to do the same. I don't have any right to force you to hand over money that you earned to support a cause I am fond of, so please don't force me to hand over my earnings to support your causes.
Horses I care about. Polar bears, I do not care about. You support the polar bears if you like and I'll support horses. Don't drag the government into it and try to force me support polar bears.
And finally, the nature that liberals seek to protect is guilty of destroying far more species than mankind ever has. Who are you to value one species or the other besides your own?
On to the issue of climate change, I fear I must reiterate once again.
Yes, it is there. Claiming otherwise would be like saying that the Earth does not revolve around the sun.
But it has not been proven that man has anything to do with it. There have been more extreme climate changes in the past, without the benefit of mankind.
If mankind is causing global climate change, we have a while do so something about it. But the economic harms inflicted by excessive eco-legislation take effect almost immediately.
Countries that have poor economies cannot afford to combat environmental damage. They don't have environmentally-friendly policies now, they never have, and they never will.
Why would liberals plunge wealthy countries like the U.S. into economic poverty in the name of environmentalism?
Liberals do not have the answers. Just like Obama, they continually advocate a message of "change". Ends without means. They trust others to provide means to their goal without considering first that everyone else is just like them. Politicians like Al Gore and environmental activists like those that have joined the ranks of the IPCC have their own agenda. It serves their interests to have a "climate crisis". It allows them to appropriate your money to fund their work, and careers.
Of course they are not intentionally doing something bad. It is easy to justify one's own ends and means when one can cover them in a veil of rightousness.
At least conservatives admit that they are interested in their own benefit and use the profits from their endeavours to invest in business, once again for their own gain. But by doing so they create jobs and wealth. Business, by its' very nature creates wealth. If it didn't it would go out of business.
Look at the "champions" of Liberal philosophy in America. Democratic politicians, film stars, media personalities, rich people, all.
And despite their concern for the disadvantaged and poor, they remain wealthy and live lavish lifestyles.
This is the differnce between conservatives and liberals. Conservative figureheads say " I'm wealthy and I earned it." while Liberal figureheads say "Some people are poor. Everyone else should do something about it."
And don't bother telling me how much important liberal people give to charities. They're still disgustingly rich, and they use legal loopholes to escape the taxes they should be paying. Odd that they are so in favor of taxes for the "common good" when they sidestep them themselves.
In summation, liberals love to tell people that they know what is best for everyone, while conservatives love to let people enjoy success or failure based upon their own merits, and let private charity make up for the shortcomings.
Take a good look at your political philosophy. Are you really so arrogant as to believe that you can serve people's interests better than they could themselves?
Would you support others that do so?
Please, don't support government and inadvertently support business exploitation of the government. Leave it to consumers and the general citizenry to decide whether or not a business is worthy of their patronage.
You don't have a one-size-fits-all solution. Think about that. Neither you, nor any Liberal, can decide what is best for everyone. We are all individuals, with our own beliefs and values. Please do not force me to endorse your beliefs via legislation.
@ August Please back me up with a more moderate view, here.