Posted on 02/13/2009 8:09:05 PM PST by nysuperdoodle
Blaring hypocrisy by the enviro-whackos is nothing new, but liberal European politicians noticing it sure is. Prince Charles is taking heat from MP's in the UK over his decision to charter a private jumbo jet to ferry him and his staff of 14 on a globe-trotting tour of South America to tell everyone there good "common-sense" things like buy electric cars and "if it's yellow, let it mellow...if it's brown flush it down."
(Excerpt) Read more at evilconservativeonline.com ...
OK - so should US Vice Presidents travel commercially as well?
When the Prince travels as a representative of the United Kingdom, security considerations as well as the need to move a fairly substantial staff, basically make using personal aircraft the only viable choice.
Until quite recently, the Prince also used to take the controls of those aircraft himself at some point in the flight. I don’t believe he does that anymore, but it’s another reason why he liked travelling the way he does.
Maybe he could just Webex.... if he’s so concerned about the environment
He is concerned about the environment - and has been since long before it became a fashionable cause. But he’s also smart enough to know that individual gestures don’t make any real difference. Trying to present his case (whether you agree with it or not) to as wide an audience as possible does make a difference. He has an almost unique ability to get people to listen to him. Where he can, he uses it. Unfortunately, he’s constitutionally limited in what he can talk about as heir to the throne, so he tends to focus on fairly fringe areas.
Wow...I had no idea his PR team maintained an account on FR...kewl!!
I’m not part of his PR team. I am, however, his friend. And when it’s appropriate I speak up to defend the man I know from people who has seen the media’s caricature of him and apparently believed it.
That’s cool. And I don’t mean to be snippy with you, but degenerate European royalty are one of the big reasons our forefathers created this republic. As an American, I have no need for royalty of any sort, and I’m not embarassed to show my disdain for them. I am sure he feels justified in jetsetting all over the world to tell us lower beings that we should be using bicycles. Frankly, I am not sure what message some prince could deliver that I WOULD give a damn to hear, under any circumstances. A lot of great men fought and died to make me free from the yoke of such self-important riff-raff. Cheers
I can understand why Americans (and indeed, a lot of my own countrymen) have no time for the idea of royalty as having any role in government.
But there’s a difference between that and attacking the individuals involved. The Prince of Wales didn’t ask to be born into the position he is in. He didn’t get a choice. But he has spent his entire life in the service of his nation, often putting his individual desires aside to serve his people. He couldn’t marry the woman he wanted to. He couldn’t do the job he wanted to. He carries out hundreds of official engagements a year, the vast majority of which bore him beyond belief. His entire life has been one of service to his country.
I’ve stood metres from the man as somebody charged towards him firing a pistol and he didn’t flinch. Afterwards he was the calmest, most collected person around.
Yes, he represents an outmoded tradition in many ways - but he didn’t choose that role. But he chose not to betray his country by abandoning it.
He’s a phony pushing a phony issue.
Anyone with half a brain know what the man made global warming issue is really about.
I have no problem with royalty or presidents ect traveling on private aircraft. The point is he is doing it to preach his global warming junk science to the unwashed masses.
I agree with you . So what does that have to do with him using a private jet to preach global warming?You don’t see the hypocrisy in that at all?
He's betraying his country by his constant fawning over Islam.
He really has no choice but to travel by private jet. Security arrangements - not just his own, but those of his entire country - demand that type of travel.
A lot of people don’t understand the potential role he plays in government. Let us consider what would happen if, while he was overseas, some sort of terrorist nuclear device was set off in London killing the Queen, and the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Charles would instantly become King in that situation - and Commander-In-Chief of all British forces. He would also be the only person with power under British Constitutional law to commission a new Prime Minister and begin restoring the government. Protecting his life and ensuring he is in constant contact with the British military and government is every bit as important to constitutional rule in the United Kingdom as protecting the Vice President of the United States and ensuring he has instant communication with American military forces, in the event of the sudden death of the President.
You really can’t have the Prince of Wales travelling on a normal commerical flight, even without considering the issues of the fact that his presence on such a flight might well endanger other passengers in the not impossible event he is a target.
Symbolically, yes, it’s a little embarassing. But not as embarassing as sitting around on his backside and doing nothing except wait for his mother to die. He has an almost unique position available to him to speak and have others listen. It might well be the only thing he finds worthwhile about his role.
No, he is not. The fact that somebody put it on the internet doesn’t make it true.
Obviously you didn’t read what I wrote. I agree he can’t get on a jet with the general public.BUT , what the hell does that have to do with the fact that he’s pushing a phony cause and he’s telling people not to pollute while he flies around the world polluting.You don’t see it do you ?
Global Warming is all bullshit !
Thank you sonic109, I was losing patience with this guy. The hypocrisy of the trip was the point of the article... I don’t think there was any mention of him flying commercial except by naturalman... it’s not that he his flying in a private aircraft that irks me.. it’s what he is flying to do. And yes, his constant butt-kissing of Islam is another reason to loathe him
Leave aside global warming for a moment - that’s one supposed environmental issue. It’s not environmentalism in general.
Do you think there is no such thing as air pollution? Do you think there is no such thing as water pollution? Do you think that there’s no such thing as deforestation? Do you believe there’s no such thing as man ever having any negative impact on the environment under any circumstances?
The Prince of Wales has been interested in environmental issues since, to my certain knowledge, the 1970s. Well before all the ‘climate change’ and ‘global warming’ ideas became current. His emphasis on environmental issues goes well beyond that single issue.
As far as I know, he does believe climate change is a real issue - I disagree with him, as it happens - but his work on trying to get environmental issues taken seriously goes well beyond that single issue.
Where practical, he does seek to reduce the use of fossil fuels, by the way - his cars run on bioethanol and used cooking oil - but when it comes to flying there’s no viable alternative at this point.
And he does have to travel on official business - should he only travel on issues that matter to the Foreign Office, and eschew travel on issues that matter to him personally?
So he should only travel when and where the Foreign Office tells him to?
It amazes me - people criticise him for being royal, but at the same time seek to deprive him of the right to travel and speak as an individual person as well.
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