,,, you've gone off on an interesting tangent and I'd have to say I'm running with you. One of the hallmarks of many conservatives, particularly evidenced on this site is the trashing of environmental thought.
Needless to say, the tag "environmentalist" carries with it a tonne of sixties baggage which has left an indelible mark on anyone speaking for the cause who isn't a greenie or leftie.
I've had this discussion with a woman recently who, like me, votes ACT - the furthest to the right you can vote in New Zealand. She's free market, commonsense and holds all the right wing values you see here on this forum, but, like me, she's making the environmental enquiry. We're totally aware of how the green cause is being used to block progress and tame agendas pertaining to economic advancement, just as we're aware that we do have to live in this world. We've both seen a good number of countries... some it's too late for in this regard and we're lucky enough to be living where we are, so we're probably acutely aware of what's at stake.
Enough people here know how I think on a range of issues, but I thought I'd chip in and let you know you're not alone on this one.
We won't be meeting at any green protest marches, I know! :)
I want to put the conserve back into conservatve.
I assume you're aware of our never ending debate over oil drilling in Alaska. In my case I don't like the idea of drilling in Alaska but don't see that we have much choice. On the other hand I recognize that the oil industry has made great strides in the area of enviromental protection. Pluse theres the fact that enviromental protection has spawned a huge enviromental reclamation industry.
I fully support installing wind farms off Americas coastlines but once again liberals found problems with that clean energy solution. They're worried about migratory birds and who knows what else. Also a lot of wealthy liberals live on our coastlines and don't want windmills where they have to look at them.
Our own liberals have given America a bad name by outright lying and blowing issues out of proportion. When I talk to europeans they have a lot of false preconceptions. They allways assume we're all homophobic and racist. They assume we fall to our knees to praise god at any opportunity. The misconception that bothers me the most is the belief that we've erradicated all traces of wilderness in America. In reality only 2% of our land area is urban.
In any case I keep talking to as many people overseas as possible to promote a worldwide conservative uprising and an attempt to set the record straight.
http://www.worldisround.com/articles/54892/ These are pictures ive taken around home, I send them to people I consider to be friends.
I am an environmental conservative. That means, to me, that we ought to be looking at real science rather than junk science in weighing our actions to take on the environment. And, like I've said countless times before, I think "The Skeptical Environmentalist" by Bjorn Lomborg is mandatory reading for conservatives.
There ARE market-friendly solutions to our environmental problems, if the left just gets out of the practice of making environmental dishonesty a religion, and the government allows the private sector to do what it does best: rewards innovation and creativity. Whenever the government is involved, it becomes too expensive, too cumbersome, and too slow. JMO.