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Opening Arguments

Bill's world

Everyone else has been focusing on Bill Clinton's foray into race-baiting on the campaign trail. I think his display of economic ignorance is far more interesting:

Former President Bill Clinton was in Denver, Colorado, stumping for his wife yesterday.

In a long, and interesting speech, he characterized what the U.S. and other industrialized nations need to do to combat global warming this way: "We just have to slow down our economy and cut back our greenhouse gas emissions 'cause we have to save the planet for our grandchildren."

At a time that the nation is worried about a recession is that really the characterization his wife would want him making? "Slow down our economy"?

This is the standard liberal line, that growth means we are callously and carelessly using up the Earth's resources. But economic growth means greater prosperity, which means we have greater resources to devote to things like pollution and more inclination to look beyond our immediate survival needs. Which country spends more time on environmental concerns -- the U.S or Mexico?

Comments

Bob G.
Mon, 02/04/2008 - 11:49am

You're being too kind, Leo...

ONLY "economic ignorance"?

;)

B.G.

tim zank
Mon, 02/04/2008 - 12:16pm

Keeping in mind the liberal mantra is never based on common sense, but on emotion and the ability to "feel good".

Memekiller
Mon, 02/04/2008 - 3:31pm

You need to run a correction. Your editorial,

Leo Morris
Mon, 02/04/2008 - 4:21pm

You're right. Jake Tapper took the quote out of context, but reading the whole post makes it appear he misunderstood what Clinton was saying rather than deliberately twisted it. As to what Clinton said in full, it's not much better than the abbreviated quote. He says we must "get back in the fight" againsty global warming, which will enable us to create "millions and millions of jobs" by being Earth friendly, presumably by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Inf fact, that would do more than "slow down" the economy. It would kill it dead. (If you want to watch the video of Clinton's speech, go here. The global warming stuff is near the end of Part 1.)

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