Why be SURE to Vote NO on 23....

Today's post: Wednesday, 10-20-2010

We need an 80% reduction in fossil fuel use by 2050 to avoid the worst global warming effects. And, practically speaking, we need to also double our electricity generation and double the useful work done per unit of electricity & other energy sources as well during that same time to have a decent economy.

At some point, the oil that we’ve been using to power much of our economy will begin to run low enough that our world economy will shrink due to lack of supply or excessive costs or both. Kuwaiti scientists recently predicted peak oil in 2014 – just 4 years from now.

And, once the demand for oil picks up again with the apparent economic recovery or supply begins to plateau or drop, the prices will again go back up. That will cause more hard times economically unless we have enough alternative sources of energy to turn to.

Today’s post: Why be SURE to Vote NO on 23

1. There are jobs in clean energy at stake if 23 passes. Not only that many of these are jobs where young people are wanted and can do well.

The backers say 23 will prevent jobs from being lost. But the people who actually did the study the backers pointed to came out in the paper saying that their study found that the number of old industry jobs would likely remain constant instead. The backers made up the lost jobs claim to scare the uninformed in other words.

2. The backers have refineries in California now that already release pollutants that the regulations now say they should not and refuse to pay to clean up the mess. Now, they ARE spending money on 23 to cut back on the regulations so they can spend even less and pollute more.

I live clear on the other side of the San Francisco Bay from the refineries and some mornings, they release so much I can smell the pollution now. If 23 passes that might get even worse.

3. Adding more clean energy will put more money into the economy by giving us alternatives to oil. So when oil begins to go way back up in price, we will still have energy sources and sources that are cheaper. And, when oil begins to run out, maybe our economy will survive without collapsing.

Voting against 23 makes sense. The people who think otherwise are mostly ignorant or believe the lies they've been told.

If enough of us vote and vote against 23, we can have a better economy, safer air, and more jobs.