On national security, Brian Katulis says progressives need a story to tell, and Matt Yglesias says they need some confidence. On climate change I'd make basically the same points: the progressive line is too much prose and too little poetry, and it's delivered from a defensive posture. I liked Bill Richardson's energy plan, but every time he launched into his list, christ ... cap-and-trade of X percent, fuel economy of Y percent, appliance efficiency of Zzzz ...
To the extent one hears a tune through the notes, the mood is melancholy. Brothers and sisters, we must sacrifice. It's time to pay more for what you use, on behalf of brown people far away and your distant descendents. Won't you send your check today? I guess so, say majorities, dutifully. They don't mean it.
How about a little swagger? How about tapping into some American archetypes? A little bold leadership mixed with steely-eyed determination, flavored with can-do entrepreneurialism and topped with a soupçon of exceptionalist triumphalism. Now that's good eatin'! How about we get excited about doing this? It's the No. 1 task that needs doing in the world right now, and who better than us to kick its ass? When did we become a nation of uptight weenies? Why don't we stride out and slay monsters anymore? People are tired of cowering at home in front of the tv and taking their shoes off at the airport. This old rig's still got some juice -- let's fire it up and go conquer something. Even now, we've got the smarts and the money no one else has got. This time, instead of conquering a country or an army we can conquer a bitch of a problem.
To deliver a story about climate change that intrigues and challenges and galvanizes, the candidates need to really believe that this is a necessary and a great undertaking. They need to believe that it will ennoble and enrich us, that it will make us a nation of history once again. We've become so small. This is how we can become large again -- large of ambition and spirit. Say it like you mean it.
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JMG Posted 2:41 am
24 Jan 2008
Save the world: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions 5% annually.
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Sean Casten Posted 2:46 am
24 Jan 2008
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bookerly Posted 3:03 am
24 Jan 2008
You guys can swagger all you want, we're gonna go look at our Columbine posters again and sew up the black trenchcoats...
While not a bad idea to use more poetry and less prose, David, ummm, did you HAVE to pick those poetic images?? (Conquer, fight, kick ass??).
It will be interesting to see who finds it moving, and who doesn't...
(Anyone for folk songs??) (smile)
patrick (the aging hippie) in Beijing
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Donald Hawkins Posted 3:13 am
24 Jan 2008
Don't read this unless you can handle the truth
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Skyscraper Posted 3:52 am
24 Jan 2008
John F. Kennedy challenged us to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade. JFK articulated a big idea in an aspirational and poetic way, he called for an (outrageously short) timetable, and he challenged Americans to work together to accomplish the goal. And we did!
Contrast this with the whiny pessimism of many liberals. How in the world can you expect to bring anything significant into being without capturing the imagination of the public?
Progressive thinkers are great at working out the details of an idea, but for moving the sentiment of the public, details belong down the page, not in the headline.
Here's an idea.
Let's have energy independence in the United States by 2020. On January 1, 2020 or before, we produce 100% of the energy we use and export the excess. The result: the economy booms (white collar, blue collar, green collar jobs) and we enhance national security by ending our dependence on foreign oil.
Please check out my blog - the New American Village.
http://newamericanvillage.blogspot.com/
James Polk, Architect
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Sean Casten Posted 4:13 am
24 Jan 2008
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TheGreenMiles Posted 4:15 am
24 Jan 2008
Join the discussion on global warming, recycling, and organic beer at The Green Miles!
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Kristina & Jason Makansi Posted 5:25 am
24 Jan 2008
While we can look at the original Apollo program for inspiration,(and appreciate/support the new Apollo Alliance) the reality is that going to the moon was something that the government alone could do--Americans supported that through our taxes, but we didn't sit around the dinner table making rocket components. Today our challenge is that while government and business must address climate change, the real change must come from individuals. Consumption and consumer demand drives most of the energy use. Everything we eat, wear, and use was grown, sewn, or manufactured and must be disposed of with the assistance of electricity. Changing the decisions individuals made every day (bottled water or tap? paper or plastic? bike or drive?) will ultimately make the difference.
The mantra at our household has become Think: Less! it may not rally the troops to action, but it helps to remind us that every decision has a consequence. Anyway, at the end of the day a little more fun would be good...and a little sexier message wouldn't hurt either...
-k
Pearl Street::Jason and Kristina Makansi
Read Lights Out reviews
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amazingdrx Posted 5:30 am
24 Jan 2008
http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog
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apsmith Posted 5:57 am
24 Jan 2008
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Kristina & Jason Makansi Posted 8:18 am
24 Jan 2008
I know it sounds like I'm trivializing the issue and reducing climate change to a tag line, but memorable marketing can make a difference. And that's what we're talking about...how to position the "care about climate change" message. To that end, maybe Grist should sponsor a contest to see who can come up with the best "Ad Council-type campaign" theme reflecting the overall idea that caring about climate change is cool, smart, sexy and absolutely essential. Nothing that advocates a particular approach--no paths, just goals.
-k
Pearl Street::Jason and Kristina Makansi
Read Lights Out reviews
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JMG Posted 12:56 pm
24 Jan 2008
Save the world: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions 5% annually.
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Pangolin Posted 9:35 pm
24 Jan 2008
On the far side of the corner the road merges with train tracks and shoots us into a one-way downhill tunnel. We see a bright light ahead of us and we're STILL accelerating. Downhill.
With the whole population of humans, plants, animals, fish and other biota riding with us.
We haven't even started to reduce the GROWTH in greenhouse gases. We are already feeling the impact of climate-related severe weather events. Species are going extinct every day.
Oh, and all our climate models have gone blind because the damage is past the "worst-case-scenario." So add a thick coat of grease on the windshield.
So what's that happy tune you wanted us to sing again? I recommend "Locomotive Breath" by Jethro Tull.
...In the shuffling madess
of the locomotive breath,
runs the all-time loser,
headlong to his death.
He feels the piston scraping --
steam breaking on his brow --
old Charlie stole the handle and
the train won't stop going --
no way to slow down....
It's got that proper sense of despair and futility along with a great bass line.
It's quite possible to live comfortable exiting, zero carbon lives; for all of us. The whole world's population. I'm not sure we get to do that and still have an overclass of super-wealthy. They control the worlds media and they aren't listening to Jim Hansen. So until the powers that be change their minds......
We're still screwed.
Put the Carbon Back
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