Current Event #4: Democrats’ Climate Plan Attacked

The article, “GOP attacks Democrats' climate plan,” explains how and why Republicans are so upset with the plan that Democrats crafted in efforts to fight climate change. Indiana Governor, Mitch Daniels, was the highlight of the article as he talked about how the climate plan would do more hurt to jobs and raise costs than do anything to help the deteriorating situation of the Earth, especially in his home state. In Indiana, thousands of steel- and car-making factory workers and coal miners would be removed from their jobs, according to the plan, and farmers and livestock producers would face a huge increase in costs. The solution Daniels proposed would help save the environment, keep energy costs low, save and create more jobs, and prevent tax increases. His solution was the development and expansion of domestic oil and gas. Any profits made would be then used for the development of nuclear and renewable energy and for carbon capture research.

The author of the article did a good job in present the issue to readers, but it did get a bit boring. That’s probably because it was a bit long and there was information in there that I already knew of. Besides that, though, I hadn’t known about the Republican argument against the Democratic climate plan so it was still interesting to read. I disagree with Governor Daniels about the plan only taking away jobs instead of making more. The last time I checked, the plan definitely included the creation of “green” jobs. Also, I knew that the plan would be costly, but it seemed like Daniels was exaggerating some. I did notice that while he was complaining about higher costs, what type of costs that were going to be raised was not mentioned anywhere in the article. I’m not sure. I was sure that the plan’s cap-and-trade program would not only help protect the environment, but also lower energy costs. I never read anywhere about tax increases. Anyway, I would really like to know what the Democrats had to say in response to this refute against their plan. Maybe I’ll keep an on this issue.