Al Gore was in Chicago last week, but without his PowerPoint deck. He was part of the Speaker Series, the post-Obama political craze. Gore talked about the role of carbon fuel in the world’s three crises: climate, financial, and security.
Naturally, the crowd was warm to the man who should have been the nation’s 43rd President, especially his campaign manager’s hometown, where he received 73% of the popular vote, contributing well to his national victory. (No, I haven’t gotten over the 2000 election. Have you?) A few people heckled him, yelling “Liar, Liar!”; out front, PETA had its own protest, arguing that Gore doesn’t go far enough.
Now, there are plenty of unknowns about global warming: we don’t know how quickly climate change is happening, what the ultimate effects will be, or how to reverse the damage. (Manhattan may be underwater, but Buffalo, on the shores of the world’s largest freshwater repository, may rise again!) But we do know that the climate is changing, and change is difficult. The joy that may be felt in Buffalo, Detroit, and Duluth will be offset by decimated industries, forced migration, and new dustbowls. The culprit is carbon, and Gore is right about that.
Because the U.S. is dependent on oil, we are also dependent on people who do not have America’s best interests are heart: the Saudis, Hugo Chavez, Sarah Palin. Iraq was a tasty target for the other 43rd President’s military fantasies because it has oil, unlike North Korea. Saddam Hussein was no prize, but neither are a lot of other international leaders. And at least a few of those less savory folks are in Africa, which is also rich in oil. We give these people leverage over us because we need cheap oil, so score another point for Gore. (more…)
