It was only a matter of time before Planet Gore got around to the most famous bit of disinformation.
The big lie is to tout the fact that the air has gotten cleaner in recent decades while conveniently ignoring the fact that the reason for this achievement is environmental activism leading to tough air pollution standards. Progressives must push back hard on this big lie (something John Kerry failed to do with George Bush in the second Presidential debate).
Planet Gore proclaims proudly today:
Imagine this headline on page A1 today: “The environment is getting cleaner.”
Given the daily state of fear in America’s media, that would be news to most Americans. But as Joel M. Schwartz reveals in a National Center for Policy Analysis study “pollutants have been reducing steadily for the past several decades.”
The post goes on to cite the sharp reduction in lead, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and fine particulates–and then marvels: “All this improvement has come at a time of increased motor vehicle use, energy production and economic growth.”
Needless to say, PG does not go on to thank environmentalists or the EPA for this impressive achievement. No, for PG, it was all magic. The final paragraph is the height of chutzpah:
Of course, enviro-activists and their press allies will tell you none of this as their power relies on keeping the public spooked. But it also explains why Greens are trying to get carbon dioxide classified as a pollutant — because real pollutants are getting scarcer and scarcer.
Have they no shame? Real pollutants are getting scarcer thanks to clean air regulations. That’s why we need to set greenhouse gas emissions standards — so we can achieve the same “magical” reductions in climate-destroying pollutants. Note the other clever disinformation–The Supreme Court has already decided carbon dioxide classified as a pollutant. The Greenies have won that round, thankfully
Progressives must push back on this Big Lie whenever it comes up. And we must speak up for the environmental standards that have given us the clean air that everyone, including the dirty dozen at PG, are so thankful for.
Previous in TP Climate Progress
Joe,
Re: Big Lie..
Yes, I’d agree with what you are saying but ask you please also consider that these guys are running a Bush line on emissions intensity.
From what I’ve seen of the Brits’ experience – where it was pushed between 2002 and September 2006 the EI line includes all GHGs plus ozone – six of them from memory – which have declined whereas we otherwise know that anthropo-C has increased..
The primary aspect of this EI line, however, is to suggest that ‘overall CO2′ has declined even as anthropo-C increased along with growth economic activity.
These things you know, but my point is to have you also aware of the smoke and mirrors nature we are confronted by.
Given a little time I may be able to set out a more substantive blog or two in the not too distant future..
cheers
“environmental activism leading to tough air pollution standards”
Yes, but let’s not forget that we also exported a whole bunch of it. Coal in China, anyone?
Wotzi — post here when you do a blog.