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Contact Jim: jdipeso@rep.org (253) 740-2066 / 2008 Archive / 2007 Archive / 2006 Archive / 2005 Archive
Just Agree and Don't Ask Why
April 15, 2008
Jim Woolsey, former head of the CIA, energy policy adviser to Senator John McCain, and proud owner of a plug-in hybrid electric car, was at a congressional hearing getting an earful from a Republican congressman upset at Woolsey's ideas for combating climate change.
After the tirade had gone on for a while, Woolsey deftly moved the conversation onto a more productive path. Do you realize, Congressman, that most of the solutions that I'm proposing with respect to climate change are also solutions for building energy security?
Oh, the congressman replied. Well, if that's the reason, then I support your ideas.
In his speeches around the country, Woolsey also tells the story of an imaginary meeting between the ghosts of John Muir, uber preservationist, and General George "Old Blood and Guts" Patton, who find themselves advocating energy solutions such as plug-in hybrid vehicles, rooftop solar panels, and combined heat and power, but for different reasons -- Muir worried about climate change, Patton concerned about fighting terrorists bankrolled with oil revenues.
Woolsey's stories illustrate a curious phenomenon. There is more agreement than meets the eye regarding the energy policy solutions that America should pursue. People of differing political persuasions may have different reasons for supporting them, which is of secondary importance. But differences over reasons have obscured agreement over solutions. Liberals are wary of associating with scary hawks who talk about choking off the flow of oil dollars to Islamic extremists. Conservatives don't want to be seen consorting with hippie-dippie climate change activists, lest their conservative bona fides be "Gored."
Such political tribalism impedes adoption of necessary solutions that have broad support. Ultimately, the reasons why people support those solutions shouldn't matter. If a liberal enviro isn't moved by the dangers of violent extremism, so be it. If a conservative hawk won't accept the science of climate change, that's his prerogative. But if the granola-chewing lefty and the crew-cut right-winger ride together in a plug-in hybrid, who cares why?
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