The Inconvenient Truth...

[TimBikes]

OK - as the apparent spokesperson for Global Warming I don't begrudge Gore for using a lot of energy traveling to get his message out. But come on, the electric bill for his 20-room mansion? For the record, he uses about 33 times as much electricity at home as I do.

See BBC story here

[SomervillePrius]

So when we can't attack the subject then let's attack the messenger.

While I would applaud him even more if he lived in a modest house with all conservation techniques available, I find this reporting dishonest, instead of talking about the subject of the movie we talk about the person. It's sad, but expected, and will once again avoid the real debate here in US

[McShemp]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TimBikes @ Feb 27 2007, 02:32 PM) [snapback]397409[/snapback]</div>

OK - as the apparent spokesperson for Global Warming I don't begrudge Gore for using a lot of energy traveling to get his message out. But come on, the electric bill for his 20-room mansion? For the record, he uses about 33 times as much electricity at home as I do.

See BBC story here
[/b]

But he's been buying green credits for three months now. Doesn't that mean something?

[TimBikes]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SomervillePrius @ Feb 27 2007, 12:48 PM) [snapback]397414[/snapback]</div>

So when we can't attack the subject then let's attack the messenger.

While I would applaud him even more if he lived in a modest house with all conservation techniques available, I find this reporting dishonest, instead of talking about the subject of the movie we talk about the person. It's sad, but expected, and will once again avoid the real debate here in US
[/b]

I don't find this reporting dishonest at all. I find it to be honestly refreshing - if he is advocating that people reduce their carbon footprint, why is he not doing it himself? I think it is a completely fair and honest question. Take a look at a guy like Ed Begley Jr, who advocates but also walks the talk, so to speak (drives a Prius, rides a bike, and powers his home with solar energy).

I admire Gore for taking a strong public stand on something he apparently believes in, but I'm just appalled that he lives his private life so far out of sync with what he promotes and so far beyond the consumptive habits of those to whom he preaches.

Kind of like that priest who got caught with the male prostitute recently.

[Devil's Advocate]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SomervillePrius @ Feb 27 2007, 12:48 PM) [snapback]397414[/snapback]</div>

So when we can't attack the subject then let's attack the messenger.

While I would applaud him even more if he lived in a modest house with all conservation techniques available, I find this reporting dishonest, instead of talking about the subject of the movie we talk about the person. It's sad, but expected, and will once again avoid the real debate here in US
[/b]

The exact same tactic Libs use to attack conservatives making some moral stance. What's good for the goose baby. Hypocisy flows both ways.

[tripp]

Now why would a chap like Gore not put PV and solar water heating on the roof? A geothermal heat pump would be a nice addition. He should have all of these things if he's on board with his own program. It would appear that Gore's been a bit slow to act though he may actually be doing something about it.

If he isn't "walking the walk" he should be criticized. 'W' is roundly trashed all the time. Most of the time it's warranted, I think. Gore shouldn't be exempt from the same scrutiny.

[SomervillePrius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TimBikes @ Feb 27 2007, 03:58 PM) [snapback]397418[/snapback]</div>

I don't find this reporting dishonest at all. I find it to be honestly refreshing - if he is advocating that people reduce their carbon footprint, why is he not doing it himself? I think it is a completely fair and honest question. Take a look at a guy like Ed Begley Jr, who advocates but also walks the talk, so to speak (drives a Prius, rides a bike, and powers his home with solar energy).

I admire Gore for taking a strong public stand on something he apparently believes in, but I'm just appalled that he lives his private life so far out of sync with what he promotes and so far beyond the consumptive habits of those to whom he preaches.

Kind of like that priest who got caught with the male prostitute recently.
[/b]

I shouldn't have said dishonest, but rather avoiding the main point of the movie, his belief and attacking something much smaller and simpler. This because Al Gore isn't saying normal people out of the good in their heart should change their heating systems. That's far to slow and modest. What he is calling for are changing laws and regulations that will change how we as a society work.
It's sort of like the tax system. There are things I think we should change (bush's tax cut that we as a family benefit from as an example). I will vote for reverting this tax break but that doesn't stop me personally from planning my taxes as well as I can and make use of this cut. The difference is that we as a society need to change.

Now agreed Gore should be doing more at home, and hopefully this will make him change. That will not change the ammount to CO2 we produce though. What's needed is a society change and to do that we need to change are rules and regulations. Yesterday would be a good day to start!

[viking31]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TimBikes @ Feb 27 2007, 03:32 PM) [snapback]397409[/snapback]</div>

OK - as the apparent spokesperson for Global Warming I don't begrudge Gore for using a lot of energy traveling to get his message out. But come on, the electric bill for his 20-room mansion? For the record, he uses about 33 times as much electricity at home as I do.

See BBC story here
[/b]

Firstly, for the record, I admire Al Gore for all the money and exposure he has gained from the current AGW schemes at our expense. For a man who has less personality and charisma than the wax figure talking Presidents once featured at Walt Disney World he has hit a home run with this one.

The Democrats, true to fashion, mimic the old Russian Oligarchic societal structure. Never mind how we live ("Pay not attention to that man behind the curtain!"), just live and labor for the "good" of the state and the world. While I have no issues with tremendous individual wealth, when one receives the same message from these "leaders" of how YOU must live the simple life to save the world, well, it gets pretty thin.

It is amusing to read time and time again how many devoted fans of Al Gore on this board shower him with blind and blubbering servitude. Please purchase another copy of "An Inconvenient Truth" and don't forget to get your copy of "Soylent Green" while you’re at it...

Rick
#4 2006

[MegansPrius]

I dunno. I expect that house functions a lot more like a place of business (ie., offices, guests) than the houses of most americans.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,254908,00.html

The report describes the Gores' home as a mansion, but Kreider refers to it as a "residence." She did not immediately know how many rooms the residence had, but described the second building on the property as a swimming pool house, adjacent to an outdoor pool.

Kreider said the 60- to 70-year-old house is undergoing renovations to add solar panels to reduce consumption off the power grid, and energy-efficient windows have been installed. The home also uses "compact" fluorescent light bulbs and other energy-saving technology, the Gores drive hybrids and participate in two programs that indirectly reduce carbon emissions.

One is through the local power company — the massive Tennessee Valley Authority — which runs the Green Power Switch program that uses some renewable energy like wind and solar power. The second is through a so-called carbon credit program, in which the Gores pay money to invest in a third party to reduce one ton of carbon emissions for every ton of carbon the Gores emit.

Asked to explain how the Gores use the amount of electricity they do, Kreider said they have a large family and often host guests. Both Al and Tipper Gore also have home offices. And she noted that much of Al Gore's time is spent trying to bring about awareness to the problem of global warming, which as a byproduct uses carbon-emitting power.

And more response at
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/02/26/...nds-to-drudge/
Gore’s family has taken numerous steps to reduce the carbon footprint of their private residence, including signing up for 100 percent green power through Green Power Switch ( http://www.tva.gov/greenpowerswitch/ ), installing solar panels, and using compact fluorescent bulbs and other energy saving technology.

And of course, this story is also a great way to bump the IPCC recommendations to the UN (released today) right off the news. Thanks again Matt Drudge.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/UN_...EMPLATE=DEFAULT

[TimBikes]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SomervillePrius @ Feb 27 2007, 01:21 PM) [snapback]397431[/snapback]</div>

I shouldn't have said dishonest, but rather avoiding the main point of the movie, his belief and attacking something much smaller and simpler. This because Al Gore isn't saying normal people out of the good in their heart should change their heating systems. That's far to slow and modest. What he is calling for are changing laws and regulations that will change how we as a society work.
It's sort of like the tax system. There are things I think we should change (bush's tax cut that we as a family benefit from as an example). I will vote for reverting this tax break but that doesn't stop me personally from planning my taxes as well as I can and make use of this cut. The difference is that we as a society need to change.

Now agreed Gore should be doing more at home, and hopefully this will make him change. That will not change the ammount to CO2 we produce though. What's needed is a society change and to do that we need to change are rules and regulations. Yesterday would be a good day to start!
[/b]

OK - and I agree Gore's home is not our primary CO2 problem. But I do believe in leading by example.

I think laws can help, but often have unintended consequences (that may make the problem worse). In another thread today there was discussion of CA's energy policies and how they are leading the nation. Well, as a Californian I can tell you there is little I am aware of that the state has done that is making me change my energy habits. And the reductions in energy use here have often come at the expense of jobs. These jobs end up in neighboring states (or overseas) so while it may look like the laws worked, in fact they simply "off-shored" our CO2 and energy use.

So the real question is which rules & regulations do you change?

I would start by significantly (but slowly) increasing the gasoline tax (put in a national tax) and funding alternative energy research with 100% the revenue. Secondly, I would foster development of nuclear energy and the use of phase-out of coal-based electricity generation through tax incentives and streamlined approvals as well as encouragement of "mass produced" power plants (i.e., establish one or two designs and build all new nuke plants to those specs). Also I would consider heavily taxing or severely restricting use of incandescent light bulbs (after a bit of research on developing better fluorescents).