For the 2d debate in a row , we were treat to an total section on clime alteration . Well , “ treat ” might be too strong .
It was great to see mood come along so ahead of time . It was not cracking to see how the questions were framed and how pathetic the answers were . As with President Donald Trump ’s first debate functioning , Vice President Mike Pence exhibit old - fashionedclimate defense is on sprightliness support , trotting out a few hackneyed older lines and then attack the Green New Deal . Disappointing to be sure , but it just repeat the decease - fad vibes emanating from the Republican Party for a while now .
More disappointing was Democratic vice presidential campaigner Sen. Kamala Harris , who go into a defensive crouch . That ’s become a familiar affectation for Democrats , particularly on mood variety . But a grow torso of polling and enquiry shows it should n’t be . or else , Democrats need to unlearn 40 years of operating under the framework of Reaganism lite , and firmly embrace policy a wide swath of Americans support .
Kamala Harris at Wednesday’s vice presidential debate.Photo: Robyn Beck/AFP (Getty Images)
During the debate , Harris fended off Mike Pence ’s lie that former Vice President Joe Biden , the popular candidate , would ban fracking ( Biden has explicitly said he would n’t multiple times ) and pass up to even say the words “ Green New Deal . ” severely , there are 15 mentions of the widely popular climate policy and all of them were either Pence trash it or moderator Susan Page using a skeletal frame rippedstraight from primetime Fox News . And while Pence pointed out Biden ’s climate and substructure architectural plan be $ 2 trillion as if it was a bad affair , Harris say nothing about how that monetary value far outweighed the monetary value of inaction and would avail Americans still reel from the Trump governance ’s fail coronavirus response . or else , she advert job and that “ Joe believes , again , in science . ”
It was , as Justice Democrats ’ Waleed Shahidpointed out on Twitter , a very “ tactical frame ” approach shot to talking about mood change rather than one that teed - up the issue for what it is : an existential crisis that will ask politics investment to make people ’s life better . As someone who has covered climate change for nearly a X , it ’s beyond frustrating to see Democrats still fight to make it a winning consequence .
Republicans ’ only plan is to sacrifice people ’s life sentence for incarnate profits under the augur of shrinking government . The coronavirus response has been aproof of conceptwe’ve all had to live through . Democrats could literally point to the nowadays — to how Republicans have stake on addressing the coronavirus as a disease and economical disaster — and ask voter if this is the future they need because this is the Republican climate program in action . The wealthy havepocketed $ 845 billionwhile everyday people suffer , and the Republican plan of inactiveness on clime will make radically more hurt and inequality .
Yet Democrats preserve to operate under the rules of Reaganism and the idea that people are afraid of a easily - fund and more aggressive federal government . The reality is that climate modification will ask just that . Federalfunding into R&Dcan help oneself spur more invention in how Department of Energy is yield and transmitted cleanly . Regulations can helpretire the internal combustion locomotive engine . Massive infrastructure programs could protect vulnerable coastal cities from flooding and cleanse up polluted frontline residential district . A federal job guarantee can helpput Americans back to workand be part of the clean Energy Department future and ensuring the country is ready for future clime shocks .
Republicans have hand - waved about multi - trillion dollar estimates to deal with mood change . It ’s a cheap stuntfrom an economical standpointfor many reason , not the least of which is that the cost of inaction is so much outstanding . ANature studyreleased this summertime found that each twelvemonth the world puts off reduce carbon emissions will finish up costing an extra $ 500 billion . The damages associated with climate inaction are also staggeringly mellow . tropic cyclone alone could cause$9.7 trillion damageover the next century . Sea level raise could get along with a$14.2 trillion price tag end . Then there ’s the unmeasured cost of human suffering , battle , famine , displacement , Mary Jane - congest air , and uninhabitable heat - baked swath of the Southwest U.S. and Middle East . republican like to make believe the Green New Deal is radical , but really the status quo is the most ultra mood insurance imaginable .
the greenish fresh deal is the well-off affair to marketplace of all clock time and dems are dire at it . " memba the Modern trade ? that thing that cause your granddad out of squelch poorness and get down a cool wall painting at your in high spirits school ? it ’s that but ALSO … your menage wo n’t incinerate down every september . "
— Kelly Stout ( @scoutstout)October 8 , 2020
Not only are these type of investment and work needed , they ’re pop . elect Democrats have operated in the haze of neoliberalism and the mistaken feeling that trim down and outsourcing government services are necessary and what the hoi polloi want . Nothing could be further from the truth , though . Pollingfrom Data for Progressive show the Green New Deal is popularoutside of Fox News circles . poll from Yale and George Mason alsoshows supportfor the Green New Deal among Democrats and independents even after the relentless misinformation effort Republicans took up in response . The bottom pedigree is Democrats can use it to go on the offensive to show they are the only party serious about dealing with climate alteration .
Joe Biden has said he see the Green New Deal as a “ crucial framework , ” but even if he is n’t uncoerced to plump for it , his fine but less ambitious mood plan still polls very well . Again , Data for Progress polling show voterstrust himto address climate alteration more than any other consequence . Fifty - three percent of voters in Arizona , Iowa , Maine , and North Carolina — all swing states — approve of his clime plan , even after learning Republicans hate it . And aplurality of voters , including majority of Democrats and Democat - leaning elector , support a green coronavirus stimulus . Other polling also shows that Pennsylvaniansfavor a fracking prohibition , despite it being thesecond - large instinctive gas producerin the U.S. trailing only Texas .
For too long , Democrats have engender away with aver they ’re the party of science while doing nothing to in reality act in line of business with the urgency of that science . That change dramatically with the climb ofreal people politicianslike Rep. Alexandria Ocasio - Cortez over the past two year andrelentless pressurefrom immature climate militant .
Look , we ’re all adult - ass adults here . The impact of climate variety are blindingly clear , and the solutions are far cheaper than dealing with the mounting toll of inaction Republicans are offer . Investing in them and the American people is a winning subject matter and will pose the country well as we move further into the climate century .
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