CA Governor Jerry Brown (Source: Neon Tommy)California Governor Jerry Brown
wrapped up another international tourney, talking up one of his pet agendas:
climate change. Attending
the Climate Change Summit of the Americas, California’s Governor met with
government officials from the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec in
Toronto. In an article entitled, World
is on a collision course with fossil fuels, Gov. Jerry Brown says, The Los Angeles Times reported
:Jerry BrownDarren Calabrese /
Associated PrGov. Jerry Brown
speaks to reporters at the Climate Summit of the Americas in Toronto on JAfter two days of rubbing shoulders with an international
collection of politicians, Gov. Jerry Brown emerged from a climate-change conference
here with new partnerships in the fight against global warming. Interesting
how the Times’ reporter identified
the progressive liberal agenda to reduce carbon emissions as “global warming”
even though Brown and his elected Democratic peers have opted for the more general
and vague “climate change”.
During a
speech Wednesday, Brown took aim at opponents to his climate change agenda:He criticized politicians, particularly Republicans in
Congress, who refuse to take action.”We have a lot of troglodytes south of the border,” he said. For
clarification, a “troglodyte” according to
Merriam-Webster, is
1: a member of any of
various peoples (as in antiquity) who lived or were reputed to live chiefly in
caves
2: a person
characterized by reclusive habits or outmoded or reactionary attitudes. In this
context, it is not clear whether Brown was blasting politicians or Americans
who in general do not see climate change as a serious threat.
Before his
an ad hominem invective against climate change challengers, Brown explained
what reforms would have to take place in order to prevent the proliferation of
carbon emissions:
“We have to redesign
our cities, our homes, our cars, our electrical generation, our grids — all
those things,” Brown said. “And it can be done with intelligence. We can get
more value from less material.”Governor
Brown offered little information or insight on how these massive,
transformative changes would take place.
He also
targeted the modern conveniences for change or removal – i. e. the innovations
which have allowed civilized people to move out of caves and live in safety,
prosperity, and luxury:
“Oil, gas, coal has created the wealth we enjoy,” he said.
“What was the source of our wealth now becomes the challenge of our future.”The article
also cited the political conflicts from Sacramento lawmakers and lobbyists toward
the governor’s climate change proposals: Brown is fighting his own legislative battle to reduce
gasoline use, increase energy efficiency and boost renewable energy. The bill
is pending in the state Assembly, facing opposition from oil companies and
skepticism from utilities.
Asked whether he thinks it will pass, Brown said, “I never
want to predict, but there’s some very strong legislative leadership in support
of these climate goals.”The Times described the conference as a pep
rally for green-minded government”, but Brown offered that the Climate Change Summit
would command more attention from national leaders to “build up the support
level” for the Green Agenda. Inquiries
to Governor Brown’s office on the “troglodyte” remark were not answered at
press time.
