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The ‘Green Real Deal’ Is a Climate Change Alternative All Republicans Should Support
Townhall.com ^ | April 20, 2019 | Young Voices Advocates

Posted on 04/20/2019 8:05:22 AM PDT by Kaslin

Editor's note: This column was authored by Jordan Lancaster.

unveiled his “Green Real Deal” proposal, a legislative response to the controversial Green New Deal that’s gaining traction among the Democrats. The right has heavily criticized the Green New Deal because of the drastic measures it includes, like a $32 trillion Medicare for All plan and a call to convert the country to 100 percent clean power. Yet Republicans should recognize that their lack of engagement with environmental issues is what creates an opportunity for radical left-wing policies to rise—so the GOP ought to applaud Gaetz’s leadership and initiative on climate change.

When Republicans refuse to discuss the real problem of climate change, radical bills—even ones that would destroy the economy like the Green New Deal—can seem like the only alternative. With only one side dominating the conversation, naturally, proposed solutions will reflect the ideology of only that side. But if Republicans addressed climate change head-on and proposed reasonable solutions, they could reject over-burdensome regulations that stifle American innovation. 

Rep. Gaetz is doing just that. He said at a recent press conference that he wants to shift the conversation from Republicans denying climate change to focusing on how to solve it. “I didn’t come to Congress to argue with a thermometer,” the congressman said.

Gaetz calls his bill a “love letter to the American innovator.” Based around the concept of free market environmentalism, the Green Real Deal has four main pillars: the expansion of American intellectual property; the modernization of our electric grid to allow for renewable power; the opening of federal lands for renewable energy resources like solar cells and hydropower; and a new technology doctrine to eliminate burdensome regulations on things like nuclear energy.

With his bold initiative, the freshman representative has paved the way for free market environmentalism to enter the crucial conversation about climate change. Republicans claim their platform exists to promote free market values—so why shouldn’t free market environmentalism fall under that umbrella? 

After all, the facts are on their side. The government has failed time and time again in this area; as regulations increase but environmental quality lacks improvement.

In 2015, the EPA formally initiated the Clean Power Plan, demanding that businesses reduce their emissions. Yet even with this plan enforcing heavy restrictions, carbon emissions continued to rise, and businesses paid the price. Not only was the Clean Power Plan ineffective, it cost the economy an estimated average of $112 billion annually. 

Instead, Republicans should promote policies that embrace the free and competitive market, voluntary cooperation, and protection of property rights—yet also address valid environmental concerns.

For example, voluntary agreements have shown positive results in the past. The EPA’s voluntary partnership plan has saved $37 billion in taxpayer dollars and prevented 470 million tons of carbon emissions. Voluntary partnerships, like ones proposed by the Green Real Deal, give businesses the individual freedom to decide the best way to reduce emissions for their unique company, encouraging them to grow from positive PR. Most importantly, they reduce emissions and invest in green innovation.

So before laughing at the absurdity of the $93 trillion Green New Deal, the right should ask itself how we got here. 

We’ve allowed the left to dominate the conversation around environmental policy for far too long, leaving us with only radical proposals on the table. While Republicans dismiss climate change as a non-issue, the left dominates the conversation, even though the facts support the kinds of free market solutions Republicans praise. So we should get behind Gaetz’s pioneering of conservative environmentalism, and take back the climate change narrative from the Democrats once and for all.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: energyenvironment; kazspammingeditorial
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1 posted on 04/20/2019 8:05:22 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

The gov’t should provide Free Diesel to all.

It’s a Civil Right....


2 posted on 04/20/2019 8:07:44 AM PDT by Paladin2
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To: Kaslin

The problem with this article is the author is an idiot.


3 posted on 04/20/2019 8:11:11 AM PDT by Jeff Chandler (This Space For Rant)
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To: Kaslin

Should be renamed “Freezing in the dark while hungry” Deal as you utterly destroy your economy.


4 posted on 04/20/2019 8:12:02 AM PDT by 2banana (Were you)
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To: Kaslin

Let’s spend our time and money discussing Unicorn Pollution...


5 posted on 04/20/2019 8:12:27 AM PDT by GOPJ (If illegals voted Republican Pelosi herself would be down at the border laying bricks. freeperbk1000)
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To: Kaslin

They dominate a policy that doesn’t exist, and even if it did, there no way to control it. Easiest solution to this is to role out the new green deal in areas were they are stupid to implement it; the weat coast and NY. Ban coal sales and gas shipment and manufacturing. Watch them turn into red states in 2 weeks.


6 posted on 04/20/2019 8:12:27 AM PDT by Bommer (Help 2ndDivisionVet - https://www.gofundme.com/mvc.php?route=category&term=married-recent-amputecan')
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To: Kaslin

“Yet Republicans should recognize that their lack of engagement with environmental issues is what creates an opportunity for radical left-wing policies to rise—so the GOP ought to applaud Gaetz’s leadership and initiative on climate change.”

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

This is true. If we don’t put forth conservative alternatives on issues of major concerns to the voters, we cede the issue to the radical left.

The same could be said for medical care. If we abandon the issue, and don’t come up with free-market alternatives, we will end up with Govco healthcare.


7 posted on 04/20/2019 8:12:48 AM PDT by Eccl 10:2 (Prov 3:5 --- "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding")
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To: Kaslin

What “ real problem of climate change”?

The climate changes. It has since before the first humans walked the Earth.


8 posted on 04/20/2019 8:12:59 AM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: Kaslin
Yet Republicans should recognize that their lack of engagement with environmental issues

It's a hoax. Why recognize insanity?

9 posted on 04/20/2019 8:14:17 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: Kaslin

The author is recommending Republicans capitulate to the lies and push “socialism lite.” Voters will obviously ask “Why should I buy the lite version when I can vote “D” and get the real deal?”

Get some spine, “Young Voices Advocates,” and at least die fighting.


10 posted on 04/20/2019 8:15:06 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: Eccl 10:2

Come on you can’t cede to a hoax.


11 posted on 04/20/2019 8:15:27 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: BenLurkin

You beat me to it. “The real problem of climate change” is that it keeps changing.


12 posted on 04/20/2019 8:16:40 AM PDT by freefdny
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To: Kaslin
"So before laughing at the absurdity of the $93 trillion Green New Deal, the right should ask itself how we got here."

Let' see... a complete failure of or our government funded leftist school system. An out of control leftist dominated media and entertainment industry. A country that is being flooded with poorly educated leftists from other parts of the world. I am sorry but going along with the nonsense isn't going to help things.

13 posted on 04/20/2019 8:17:00 AM PDT by fireman15
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To: Kaslin

Actually, these are good ideas, especially if they are concurrent with removing all other “global warming” regulations, subsidies, and credits.

It sounds like it mandates nothing of anyone and would better let people find their own ways toward renewable energy, all at their own cost!


14 posted on 04/20/2019 8:17:27 AM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: Kaslin

When Republicans refuse to discuss the real problem of climate change


Unless, of course, there is no problem. Duh.


15 posted on 04/20/2019 8:19:03 AM PDT by cuban leaf
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To: central_va

There is nothing wrong with allowing the free market to innovate. That is all that is being proposed.

If there is a way to efficiently convert the
sun’s energy into usable, competitively priced power, let the free market find it.

I don’t see a problem with that.


16 posted on 04/20/2019 8:20:06 AM PDT by Eccl 10:2 (Prov 3:5 --- "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding")
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To: Kaslin

So before laughing at the absurdity of the $93 trillion Green New Deal, the right should ask itself how we got here.


We got here because the loons controlled the press in the beginning. The MSM is dead, but just doesn’t believe it yet. We’re no longer at the “here” they expected us to be at. We wised up.


17 posted on 04/20/2019 8:20:35 AM PDT by cuban leaf
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To: Kaslin; LS; Liz; Jim Robinson
It is not the Green New Deal...

It is the Green Nuclear Deal. If you don't know who Mark Schneider is and why he is promoting it, maybe it is time to follow this gent.

He is a N-power-plant operator and he does podcast on Twitter and leaped into his current status via Scott Adams noting him on his Podcast.

He is able to explain Gen 4 Nuclear power, how it will eat and recycle all the old fuel and make more a will not melt down. China and Russia might be ahead of us here so it is critical we get on the stick here.

Give him a listen here: https://omny.fm/shows/the-ed-martin-movement/mark-schneider-on-his-green-nuclear-deal-friday-fe

Research Sec Perry giving the go ahead for a test Reactor and Sen Murkowski's (of all people) Bi-Partisan Bill to support Gen 4.

IMHO there is a concurrence of events both on the Gen 4 side and on the Lithium Battery side that will have us with a paradigm changing power generation system and transportation (aka EV's) inflection point that will create a ton of jobs, possibly springboard the markets ( not investment advice ) and neutralize the Carbon Free bla-bla-bla bs because techno solutions are so much better that we don't need to listen to that blather...

Side note...

It is not being denied, but they are acutally speaking about their 4 dr 4wd CUV that is an EV with 370 miles range on a charge, and as the Chairman of the Board of that company says "It will go like hell" and have Mustang DNA in it's front and rear Facia will be here in 2020.. Let that sink in....

Also rumors of PDJT having an electric car pow-wow @ the WH in a week or two, what does he have up his sleeve (IMHO) to cut China's perceived or real dominance in this area and make us top dog...

18 posted on 04/20/2019 8:21:07 AM PDT by taildragger ("Do you hear the people Singing? Singing the Songs of Angry Men!")
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To: Kaslin
Voluntary partnerships, like ones proposed by the Green Real Deal, give businesses the individual freedom to decide the best way to reduce emissions for their unique company
What's stopping them from doing that now? Taxpayer subsidies?

We're not as stupid as you look.

the Green Real Deal, give businesses the individual freedom to decide the best way to reduce emissions
Prove it! There is no "Green New Deal"...It doesn't exist

You're a liar

The Green New Deal is a lie

(man made) Climate change is the ultimate lie.

19 posted on 04/20/2019 8:23:21 AM PDT by lewislynn
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To: Kaslin

“...a new technology doctrine to eliminate burdensome regulations on things like nuclear energy.”

Long time coming


20 posted on 04/20/2019 8:23:37 AM PDT by Eccl 10:2 (Prov 3:5 --- "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding")
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