Carbon Offsets: Today's Version of Indulgences?

3/08/07 | Reaganesque

[Reaganesque]

In the early part of the Sixteenth Century, some Catholic priests, mainly in Germany, were accused of selling Indulgences to rich patrons who donated towards the rebuilding of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Indulgences, as practiced by these particular priests, forgave the sinner of his or her sins for a fee. This was a corruption of Catholic doctrine so let's not get into that aspect of this subject; however, it does bring up an interesting point (or analogy) about today's politics.

Today, we have the "Pope" of all Eco-lytes Al "The Benificent" Gore and his minions, handing out carbon offset credits to rich people who do not wish to change their power gobbling lifestyles so they can be "carbon neutral". So what was a perversion of religious doctrine in it's time is now reincarnated to save the souls of the rich Liberal to redeem their souls from Eco-Hell. Just thought that was an interesting parallel.

[Reaganesque]

Please, no Catholic bashing here. This is not meant to criticize anyone other than the man-made Global Warming cultists. Comments?

[theDentist]

That's exacly what it is.

[P-40]

a perversion of religious doctrine

I think that is all it is. It is kind of one of those things that make sense as long as you don't think about it too much...or at all.

[vpintheak]

The good lefty idiots piss away their money on BS feel-good corporations instead of actually helping other people. What a crock of crap.

[Radix]

"Today, we have the "Pope" of all Eco-lytes Al "The Benificent" Gore and his minions, handing out carbon offset credits to rich people who do not wish to change their power gobbling lifestyles so they can be "carbon neutral"."

Pretty good analogy.

[El Laton Caliente]

I'm still trying to figure out where the "carbon credits" are coming from these people are selling/buying... sounds like securities fraud to me...

[Mr. K]

I will gladly sell my carbon credits- and those of all my children and grandchildren in perpetuity

[gridlock]

Iowahawk will grand remission from your sins at a significant discount. Plus, he has nifty bumperstickers available!

[Reaganesque]

Liberalism, today's incarnation of it anyways, is a quasi-religion in and of itself. For the committed Lib, politics is vastly more important than family, friends, God and country.

[Fierce Allegiance]

If anyone neeeds carbon credits, call me, I'll sell you some. $20 a piece. No problem, I can print reams and reams of them!

Sure, they are useless, but then again, so is the whole concept.

[Reaganesque]

LOL!!

[colorado tanker]

The first time I heard about "carbon offsets" I thought about this analogy. You nailed it.

Another analogy occurred to me about Kyoto - to human sacrifice to appease the gods. In the modern version, if the world sacrifices X% of its economy (to be determined by the high priests of the UN) to appease the Goddess Gaia, the warming will stop.

[oyez]

PETA called on Gore to become a vegetarian because eating meat is one of the main reasons for global fraud. Sorry, I mean global warming.

If anyone hears a reply from Al. please let me know.

[oyez]

PETA called on Gore to become a vegetarian because eating meat is one of the main reasons for global fraud. Sorry, I mean global warming.

If anyone hears a reply from Al. please let me know.

[Reaganesque]

That's a good analogy as well. Thanks!

[gridlock]

I could go out and buy a Hummer H2 for my daily commute tomorrow. But if some rich Hollywood type is willing to pay me big bucks to offset the CO2 I would produce, I won't!

[bigbob]

The Catholic Church may have sold indulgences, but in this case Algore is part owner of the church!

[DeFault User]

where the "carbon credits" are coming from

In Al's case, they're bought from his own company, Generation Investment Management, an investment company that charges a fee and buys "green" company stock for you. So he can make a profit from the stocks he buys and his share of fees the company charges.

Sounds kinda like a "circular" version of Amway. He convinces people they're going to kill the earth if they don't use green technology or buy "indulgences" from him. Either way he lines his pockets with profits. Convince people they're sick and sell them medicine to get well.

[L98Fiero]

"Another analogy occurred to me about Kyoto..."

Isn't that what carbon credits are, though? Multiple little micro Kyoto deals?

[gridlock]

If anyone hears a reply from Al. please let me know.

If raising animals is contributing too much to Global Warming, I'm certain Al Gore would be willing to switch to eating people. That way it's two birds with one stone!