Our problem is institutional.  Our institutions were designed to exploit people and resources, and protect the exploiters and despoilers.  What we have just seen is our institutions dispensing with their duties exactly as that bunch of slaver owners, indian hunters, and real estate speculators who founded this country intended. 

Put down your nature manual, crack open some history books and learn about what we are really facing.  Then you will realize it could've been far worse, and will probably be so after the aristocrats in the Senate get through messing with it.  The mighty do as they will.  The weak do as they must.  Guess which camp we are in?  And that is what we must correct.

Randy Cunningham       An actual activist

Time to roll up your sleeves, Ed, and set you studied and naieve cynicism aside. We have only a few months to build a grass roots movement capable of overcoming the aristocratic inertia we're likely to encounter in the Senate. Or if you prefer sitting on the sidelines being snooty and maligning what you call "Big Green," imagine the conversation you're likely to have with our descendants when they ask you what you did to solve the problem. I have no difficulty imagining that conversation myself, nor, do I suspect will Randino.

I agree with veritone: "we have between 96 and 120 months to make major changes." Yes, note: major changes. We'll be just as fried with the 4% emission cuts this bill calls for as with none at all.

Dennis KucinichI oppose H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009.  The reason is simple.  It won’t address the problem.  In fact, it might make the problem worse.

“It sets targets that are too weak, especially in the short term, and sets about meeting those targets through Enron-style accounting methods.  It gives new life to one of the primary sources of the problem that should be on its way out– coal – by giving it record subsidies.  And it is rounded out with massive corporate giveaways at taxpayer expense.  There is $60 billion for a single technology which may or may not work, but which enables coal power plants to keep warming the planet at least another 20 years.

Bill McKibben (Greenpeace interview)...  You can't do what needs to be done with the current constellation of political forces. I was in the White House a month ago and the clear message was 'Make us do it.' Build us a movement that gives us the room to do the things that we want to do. Because they don't have it now.

Climate Change Activists Dismayed by Some of Bill's Provisions (Washington Post)
many green groups seem to be supporting the bill -- now stuffed with benefits for emitters such as utilities, manufacturers and farmers -- while holding their nose. "We're not saying, 'Kill the bill,' " said Frank O'Donnell, of the group Clean Air Watch. "But we're saying it sure as heck ought to get better in the Senate, or it's going to be a sorry day."

Bart / Energy Bulletin

The ACES Act won't solve the whole problem of GHG emissions in America, let alone the problem of political institutions that favor the wealthy elite and make progress extremely difficult.

ACES is just a step down the road.

Some say that taking that step is traitorous, that the only place to step is the end of the road, and immediately.

Those people are delusional. 

There is only one way to get down this road.  Taking step, after step, after step. 

We need to get started now.  Pass the ACES bill into law.  Improve it afterwards.  And take further steps, quickly.