The political climate is shifting rapidly
My daily meditation reminds me to stay present, let go of the past, not speculate about the future. But, with the global climate on the brink of collapse, it’s hard not to mourn what could have been, or worry about the future.
In 1979, Jimmy Carter was the first president to use renewable sources, installing solar panels on the White House as a symbol of his faith in “the power of the sun.” Carter’s presidency was limited to one term when the religious right installed Reagan, who promptly removed those solar panels and the Reagan/Bush era marked fierce battles with environmental groups.
In 1997, Clinton/Gore launched the $6.3 billion Climate Change Technology Initiative (CCTI) and helped write the Kyoto Protocol. In 2000, the conservative SCOTUS, assisted by Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, handed the presidency to G.W. Bush, who promptly killed the Kyoto treaty.
In 2006, Al Gore’s Oscar-winning documentary AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, sounded the alarm about climate change. In 2010, Obama restored solar panels to the White House roof, enacted aggressive climate policies and signed the Paris Agreement. In 2017, Trump ended six of Obama’s climate policies and withdrew from the Paris Agreement.
Now 43 years after Jimmy Carter’s solar panels, Senate Democrats passed the largest climate investment in America’s history, with the goal to reduce greenhouse gases to 40% below 2005 levels in 8 years! Zero Republicans voted for it. The bill is headed to the House on Friday and then Biden’s desk. Oh, and on his first day in office, Biden rejoined the Paris Agreement.
Meanwhile, Republicans continue to destroy our institutions, and refuse to vote for life-changing legislation. Their only goal? To harm Democrats. Their annual CPAC featured a speech by white supremist tyrant Viktor Orban who destroyed Hungary’s democracy, and they proudly displayed a banner, “We Are All Domestic Terrorists.”
Just imagine if Al Gore or Hillary had been president… Take a deep breath, let go of the past. Climate Change is a huge issue for Democratic voters. We cannot let Republicans undo our progress again. There’s no turning back now. Vote Democrat up and down ballot in the midterms.
Chicago native Lorraine Evanoff earned her degree in French from DePaul University then became a Certified Financial Manager. She worked as a finance exec in film production for seven years in Paris, then in Silicon Valley during the dot-com era, and later for various Hollywood production companies, notably as CFO of National Lampoon. She is currently living in Los Angeles with her husband.