August 18th, 2009
Jobs: green or gone?
While the media focus on the battle over the American medical industry, there is a simmering and soon-to-be fought war over energy and climate change. The House-passed Waxman-Markey bill has not vanished. The anti-government forces just came out with their scare tactic: this new law would destory millions of jobs. The opponents also want the cap-and-trade to be called a “tax.” Here’s a look at some some of the opponents are organized to try to kille any version of Waxman-Markey. Cap and trade is really freaking out materials and energy firms. There’ll be millions spent to kill it. Of course, they have cap and trade in Europe to no great avail. And we wouldn’t wanna copy them, France and Germany are already out of their recession. They’re just show-offs.
Right now there’s an investigation of fake letters written by a coal lobbying group, purporting to be from real voters and asking Congress members to stop Waxman-Markey. With trillions at stake the ugliness is only beginning.
The pro-legislation forces argue the bill would create as many jobs as the opponents say it would kill. And the pro-side gets to point to the recent warning from the Pentagon that global warming is a strategic threat. Pay now, or pay later, said the military summary.
I suspect the job projections are all loaded for political purposes. Who predicted that cash for clunkers would re-create jobs? First the government had to hire more clerks, now General Motoes is bringing back over a thousand workers to build more cars.
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A newsman since 1969, Harry Fuller has worked for CBS, ABC, CNBC Europe, CNET and was founding news director at TechTV. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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