Originally Posted by
N2264J
If you want to understand opposition to climate action, follow the money. The economy as a whole wouldn’t be significantly hurt if we put a price on carbon, but certain industries — above all, the coal and oil industries — would. And those industries have mounted a huge disinformation campaign to protect their bottom lines.
Look at the scientists who question the consensus on climate change; look at the organizations pushing fake scandals; look at the think tanks claiming that any effort to limit emissions would cripple the economy. Again and again, you’ll find that they’re on the receiving end of a pipeline of funding that starts with big energy companies, like Exxon Mobil, which has spent tens of millions of dollars promoting climate-change denial, or Koch Industries, which has been sponsoring anti-environmental organizations for two decades.
Or look at the politicians who have been most vociferously opposed to climate action. Where do they get much of their campaign money? You already know the answer.
So it's not a big deal if the coal and oil companies see their profits disappear? What would be the logical next step if YOUR company suddenly lost its profit margin? You would raise prices on your goods/services. And, you know what, I just can't seem to think of ANY industry that doesn't rely on the transportation industry (think fuel for the trucks or airplanes). If transportation costs go up, so do consumer prices for EVERYTHING. That leads to less consumer spending (duh), which equals less demand and leads to less production. Less production leads to less workers required to make products, which equals FIRING people. Firing people leads to the economy going into the crapper...
When it comes to funding sources, you'll also find that the studies that DO support the global warm... er climate change results (whenever you people figure out what to call it, let the rest of us know please), are funded by the same EVIL oil and gas companies that fund the other studies.
As for the politician angle, it is much the same as the above response. Most (see R's, D's, and I's) politicians take money from these EVIL companies. Why? Because politicians as a whole (with few exceptions) are sleazebags. They don't care where money comes from. Hell, they don't even care how much money they get as long as they get elected/re-elected.