Can Global Warming be a winning issue?

[gizmo1979]

Can we win in NOV. by using global warming as a main issue?I think we can.If we have another summer of killer storms and more scientists speak out I think we can really hammer the re pugs on this issue,and fire up the base at the same time.Am I being naive?

[MichiganVote]

1. No, it is not a winner and yes you are naive. But its important...

[im10ashus]

2. I don't think you are naive.

But I think the American people are who don't think it's an issue. A few more Katrina's between now and 2008 may change some minds.

[pitohui]

3. probably naive

i doubt it's a winning issue because i've never heard anyone come up w. a convincing suggestion of what is to be done abt it, most scientists seem to be tactfully suggesting it is too late

if there is nothing to be done, and it's a lost cause, there is a problem because hopelessness does not motivate

there is really no point in undertaking great sacrifice here just so 500 million people in china can drive cars and use energy from coal-fired plants and bring us to the same end on the same day anyway

so there's your problem -- if everyone in the usa was impoverished today, and suddenly lived in a tiny "small footprint" hovel and rode a bike instead of a car -- their sacrifice would be completely wiped out by the swelling ranks of growing chinese and indian middle class -- so we would be destroying what is left of our middle class for absolutely nothing at all -- 300 million people can't stand against the actions of 2 billion, nor can we tell the 2 billion they have no right to a better life w. better housing and personal cars instead of stupid little bikes

it's like all we sacrificed (such as welfare assistance to our poorest and a fair war on poverty) in order to balance the budget -- only to see that money looted and stolen by republicans once they got into office -- balancing the budget was a loser issue for it only meant that we worked so hard and sacrificed so much to give it to the thieves anyway

if there is any suggestion of how global warming could be EFFECTIVELY fought then i'm all ears, but have not heard anything that is real -- and there is your weakness

[gizmo1979]

9. A giant Manhattan project type

effort would create jobs and then you could export that technology actually bringing the trade deficit down.Of course it's a longer term project and the American people aren't patient but I think they care about the future of the planet.

[Solo_in_MD]

4. It may well be a negative

The no warming crowd throws up its speakers and since that is what many want to hear, it gets listened to by many people. At best it becomes "the eggheads have not figured it out yet, so why worry". IMO, using that as a primary thrust would increase the chances of not regaining the house/senate/whitehouse.

[lectrobyte]

5. Not as a main issue. Jobs, War, Economy, Energy seem more like "main"

issues to me.

[crispini]

6. Yes. But the candidate needs to offer a positive vision.

A "New Apollo" project focused on the solution. A complete program which will focus on new techology and the jobs and economic growth that this refocusing will bring.

[gizmo1979]

10. That was the idea I had

A project like that could grab the imaginations of the people.I think if you challange us we will suceed.

[The2ndWheel]

7. Tree huggers

That's all the Republicans would have to say, and the Democrats would let go of the issue.

As a society, we're not going to do anything about it(if there is anything we can do, be the problem natural or man-made). We like the things we have, and as we make things more efficient, the problem will only get worse, because we'll use more stuff. It gets cheaper, more and more people get access to it. Sure, make CAFE standards up to 100 miles per gallon. We'll just create a society where we drive further and further each time we get in the car. Leaving peak oil out of the discussion, just for the sake of argument.

The economy will be tough to win on as well, because you're not going to stop globalization. At least not with the way the system is set up, and I don't see that changing any time soon. It'll collapse eventually, but it won't be stopped voluntarily.

[gizmo1979]

11. People can see tangible results.

People see that there are more tornados at odder times of year and they are bigger.Same with hurricanes and floods.We're seeing un precedented weather events I think that trumps tree huggers argument.

[jwirr]

8. Not alone it won't. Too many people still do not understand

the full concept and ramifications.

[gizmo1979]

12. It's getting out there

even the far right christians are catching on.We'll see what happens this summer.

[terryg11]

13. not a winner

what if real science proves that globl warming is a natural trend and only slightly increased by humans?

FOCUSING ON THE ENVIRONMENT might be the way to go. Espcially in areas that are fighting for drinkable water or are seeing a rise in respiratory problems now that clean air standards are being rolled back or just plain 0ovrlooked

[gizmo1979]

14. I think we're past the natural trend

phase,but I guess not everyone got the memo.