And I will keep my comments directed at the USA. We are, by far, the cleanest (to a fault) industrialized nation in the world. We have developed techniques that allow for the clean use of the dirtiest of fuels. And yet, we have folks that want to regress to a time when the only energy was fire and water. Could America attained such greatness without fossil fuels? Could we have fought and won two world wars? Or created a standard of living that is second to none? The answer is simply no. All of the things we take for granted is due to inexpensive fuels. From the variety of food and clothes that are found in our stores, to the terrific trifecta of transportation that allows us all to enjoy longer vacations, and more job opportunities: Planes trains and automobiles. Yup think wagons, horses, and balloons would provide the same ultra-convenient life style?
This is not to say we can’t incorporate wind,water, and solar power into our lives. Heck, I think all new homes should have solar panels. Nothing wrong with tossing a few windmills on the mountain tops. But it is societal suicide to suspend, or retard the use of fuels that helped build, and would take us beyond the already altitudinous standard of leaving we now have. We have more natural gas, and crude under our feet, than has ever been extracted from the entire planet to date. If we would develop the industry, we would be able to pay our national bills, with enough left over to appease the 53% of the population who likes to give crap away to those who don’t do crap to earn it. How is this not a win win, win situation?
theconservativehillbilly 
Dec 04, 2012 @ 13:54:51
It is a tough balance between basic economics and environmental protection. Each concern advances at the expense of the other. The particulate pollution in the upper atmosphere prohibits the sun’s heat from reflecting normally hence the green house effect. I find people’s denial of this clear visible occurrence astonishing.
Dec 04, 2012 @ 14:22:49
Carl, the Earth is the biggest polluter of all. Throughout history, the volcanic fallout has wreaked havoc on the environment.
Dec 08, 2012 @ 08:02:51
is California going to fine the fires that burn hundreds of thousands of aces each year, will Alaska or Hawaii ban their volcano’s or any other nation in one day in one small eruption on little volcano can expel enough carbon gas with other matter which exceeds what man has done in fifty thousand years.so we must ban the earth its self to stop the biggest carbon polluter of all. trees produce an equal amount of carbon and oxygen, we are a carbon based life form should we Ban our selves? Pro-choice does doesn’t it…in closing we must remember we do not control the forces of nature we can only react to or prepare for what we think may happen. here is a clue for the none chriatian earth quaker wars famine and pestilance will increase more and more in the time just before the coming of the Lord. Its happening but still man shakes his fist and says show me then I’ll believe.
Dec 05, 2012 @ 09:37:12
Oh yes that is true 100% My point is that we are helping it in last 200 years whereas human footprint insignificant prior. I was reading that climate change dramatic over centuries can be caused by explosions on the sun and that it wobbles over centuries which may be another cause.
Dec 05, 2012 @ 10:41:13
Carl, our current footprint ain’t that bad, but yet we are led to believe it is, and for the wrong reasons. It is a power and control grab that is attempting to bring America’s influence through out the world down. It is just a tool of those who are currently in power in the WH, and the evil forces that pull their strings.
If you want to talk ablout some countries that are hard on the environment, start with China and India.
Dec 08, 2012 @ 07:51:43
Its an unwelcome truth for Al Gor-em-all to admit but he left out and they in the scientific community supporting his money maker global warning discount a a mini ice age it seems this comes about every few thousand years as does the effect of warming. during these NATURAL cycles land masses rise and fall depending upon the weight of ice.If we have lost fifty percent of the ice then why is Bangladesh still here it sits a zero sea level. its not global warming causing the islands to be washed away but natural wave action. along our coasts we have eliminated the buffer zones of marshes Florida still exists.. odd if they were so right why do so many of them keep investing? its as all things in mans world money honey and who can tell the biggest lie they the fools will by; Henny Penny is alive and well. the sky ain’t falling but the peoples intelligence level sure is.