Last week the Senate made a decision to halt a climate change and energy bill. Actor and environmental activist, Robert Redford, expressed his disappointment in his blog titled "It's the Opportunity, Stupid!" on HuffingtonPost.com today.
Robert Redford argued that the decision to turn a blind eye to the energy bill is to turn a blind eye to economic growth. According to him, passing this bill would lead to a cleaner air, increases in renewable energy, and creation of jobs. He references polls that were taken by the Wall Street Journal and CNN which show support for reducing oil use and limiting pollution.
He is making his argument towards fellow environmental conscious citizens and I also believe that he is trying to appeal to those who are looking towards economic growth. Robert Redford makes an irrefutable argument by illustrating that the bill would not only provide the world with cleaner energy but it would also stimulate jobs and lessen the hold oil has on our government.
The cleaner climate and energy bill would have provided a cap on greenhouse emissions and transition us towards the use of more renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. There was also a proposal to enact carbon credits but it was evident that no GOP would sign on to a bill that would put a price on carbon.
I agree with the environmental fight. I feel as though there is some lobbying going on with regards to the big oil companies. The energy bill is really only a loss for them and now the focus seems to be turning towards off shore drilling rather than environmentally conscious issues. We have a large reliance on oil and they have a great control over our democracy.
