The eco-Socialists at Treehugger joyfully embraced California Governor Newsom’s unilateral Executive Order. To radically change Californians’ lives by no longer allowing gas-powered vehicles to be sold beginning in 2035. But he also said that gas cars could still be used up to and after that date.
Related: It’s the “How It Is Being Done” That Is Wrong. Right?
To me, this is another “If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor.” The downward death spiral of both the auto and gas industry at the same time.
And I dryly observed that not a single one of them cared that Gavin Newsom, contra the American Experiment in self-government, had regressed to being King:
Nowhere here at TH (or the other Left leaning sites I visit) have said anything as to “Is this legal for him to do so”? Usually, an Executive Order is only in force for the time that Chief Executive is in office AND it must be based on State Law giving that C.E. the Power to issue such an E.O.
Yet, everyone here is all happy dance that Newsom just crowned himself King by assuming the roles of the Chief Executive, the Legislature, and (I’m assuming) the Judiciary by pushing it through the unelected, unaccountable, and unassailable CARB.
Make the change – but no push back from doing it incorrectly
I had hoped to get a response to my comment, and I did. I didn’t expect much from the non-American citizens to whom my writing wouldn’t apply, but I really did hope that another American would have at least said, “yeah, I shoulda thought that.”
Perhaps I am too optimistic in my outlook. I’ll post the responses here, but it is clear these folks JUST. DON’T. CARE.
PaulScott58
I’ll give you my take. By the way, I appreciate where you’re coming from, but I hold a view that has evolved over time. I’ll attempt to nudge you in the same direction.Considering the extraordinary harm that internal combustion engines cause, and considering that there now exists a viable, affordable alternative that does the exact same work without any of the harm, it is inconceivable that a rational government working on behalf of the people would not do everything in its power to force that to happen.
After four years of Trump’s presidency, it’s obvious Republicans have no desire to follow science, nor do they have any empathy toward the millions of people who die every year from air pollution. Further, it’s abundantly clear that the military industrial complex will do whatever it can to foment conflict throughout the world, and oil happens to be the most strategic commodity, so a forever war in the Middle East is easy to keep going. The Trump administration will break any law, cheat in any way on anything related to the environment, and the DOJ looks the other way, so why should our side do everything by the book why our environment is destroyed beyond repair?
Given the damage to our political process that Citizens United brought about when it allowed unlimited dark money in politics, and given that the oil industry spent well over a billion electing Trump in 2016 and are spending double that this election, the fairness of the political process you refer to in your comment simply does not exist.
Newsome’s executive order is a smart move because it sets a bar that millions of people read or heard about. It plants the seed that they need to begin planning to switch to the better option.
And make no mistake, we are definitely trying to kill an entire industry. The internal combustion industry gave us some great work for over a century, but its harm was never accounted for. Now that we have an alternative, that harm has to be paid for, so either we tax the crap out of gasoline to account for the harm, or we pass executive orders and other legislation to encourage and accelerate the transition. One way or the other, we have to do this, and the sooner the better.
GraniteGrok:
When I strip away most of what you said (and yes, I listened), it comes down to this:Present problems trump the precepts of the Constitutional Republic that we have. In short, you’re OK with an “elected” King who can do what s/he wants for their time in office. The end justifies the means.
And now the next EO that Newsom just issued said that California will now put 30% of its land into Conservation by 2030. It only has 22% at this point.
So, two life changing decrees without the Legislative process. Which means that people no longer have the elected representation that has marked our Republic thus far.
I finish with this: if the people who hold the Power no longer believe that Laws apply to them (the Constitutions), why should we little people bother with the Laws they issue?
PaulScott58 GraniteGrok • 15 hours ago
I honestly don’t care what you do, I only care about mitigating the damage that’s coming because of climate change. If you’ve got your knickers in a bunch over the constitutionality of Newsome’s action, I suggest you take it up with him. The rest of us have more important things to do.
Sigh. “I’m getting what I want, and I don’t care how.”
GraniteGrok:
I really don’t even know how to respond other than to say “Be careful for what you wish for” in terms of poor and opaque governance. It’s rather sad that the American Experiment will collapse with nary a whimper.
