Suspends State law that requires greenhouse gas emissions be reduced to 1990 levels by 2020, until California’s unemployment drops to 5.5 percent or less for four consecutive quarters.?
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/California_Proposition_23_(2010)
I have figured out how this works in California. Unemployment is close to 15%, with eight counties having unemployment rates higher than 20%. 34% of California manufacturing jobs have been lost since 2001.
By keeping everybody unemployed and at home, they can reduce greenhouse gas emissions back to 1990 levels – which will make the Polar bears ecstatically happy.
The argument goes that they need to keep the current greenhouse gas reduction law in place, in order to prop up the burgeoning clean energy industry – which has been and will continue to be the driver of California’s exceptionally fine employment conditions.
In other words, the government of California is run by morons.
Hey Steven!
Congratulations, by the brilliant work.
I ask permission to translate your posts into Portuguese.
We are in great need for objective information.
The church (the seventh day warmers) dominates the media.
I like California …. without a job. (terrible)
Do not get your email.
Sorry.
Many Brahmas …. without caipirinha.
In regard to your stomach.
Thanks!!
Of Course! I sent you a note.
Steve,
having come to the UK and Europe you must notice that our cars are far more fuel efficient.
When I go to the US (which I love) I am constantly shocked at how much waste happens (which is slowly creeping into the UK).
I’m sure the US could become more efficient without much economic damage.
I’m a free market guy. We have motorcycles with occupants who have NO protection whatsoever. So, it’s a bit odd in the USA that 4 wheel autos must be cocoons of total safety. But it is (partly) this regulation that makes US cars less efficient. They are laden with crumple zones and extra structure to eliminate risk. In Europe, I see autos that clearly would not meet US structural requirements. Yes, we could add diesel. That would be a huge improvement. Just a few days ago, a british scientist died in an accident because she occupied an electric vehicle from India. US congressmen would go nuts over this. They would immediately over regulate to eliminate risk.
I am constantly shocked at how much waste happens
In this case waste may be a relative term depending on your paradigm.
The major reason is that most autos manufactured in Europe do not meet the EPA standards set for the U S. Only after adding the emission controls will these vehicles be allowed to be sold here. The result is a significant decrease in mileage, up to 20% less.
Steve, you neglect to mention that the really high unemployment rates are in the counties with large agriculture components. Agriculture is the largest portion of the California economy, and depends to very large degree on irrigation water supplied by snow melt. For this reason, California is one of the states with the most to lose from global warming, which will cause a large reduction of the Sierra snow pack. This will clearly endanger the state’s agriculture.
If the state was run by morons, then California would do nothing on global warming. As it is, here is just a partial list of greentech business growth projects just approved in the last month in California, and made possible by the stimulus package and the California law targeted by proposition 23:
1. Ivanpah CSP plant – Estimated investment of $2.2 billion
2. Blythe Solar Project – Investment exceeding $4 billion, with Chevron as a major partner
3. Calico Solar Plant – $2.1 billion
4. There are at least 3-4 other solar projects in excess of $1B that are likely to be approved this year.
Almost all of these projects are in the counties with the highest unemployment.
In addition, venture capitalists have invested over $1B in green energy and cleantech companies each year in the state for each of the last five years. California companies receive far more VC money in these emerging industries than any other state, primarily due to the receptive environment for these growth industries.
California is saddled with Prop 13, which dumped the cost of the local schools on the state government and resulted in the loss of local control for school districts. No other state pushes the cost of local schools on the state government, which then must be covered by income tax and state sales tax proceeds instead of real estate taxes. This is the biggest problem with California’s current state budget and economy.
The Sierras had near record snow last winter.
It sounds like you are attempting to tie California unemployment in to global warming. That is a total non-starter.
Zinfan:
Those high unemployment rates are directly tied to the psychotic decision to cut off water to the central valley because of declining numbers in the useless delta smelt.
Precipitation in the Sierra Nevadas is explicitly tied to El Nino/La Nina.
You stated: ” If the state was run by morons, nothing would be done for global warming”
But California IS RUN BY MORONS. It isn’t called “The land of Fruits and Nuts” for nothing. California is known for its idiotic legislation. This is why they have AB32.
Venture Capitalists? How about RENT SEEKERS? There is no VENTURE when federal legislation guarantees profit. What a perverted joke.
zinfan 94 says:
October 23, 2010 at 10:15 pm
This is the biggest problem with California’s current state budget and economy.
How about if the California government stops persecuting small businesses? That truly is the biggest problem in California. The problem is not the propaganda you graffitied on this web site.
If these solar projects were a viable investment, private investors would be doing it without any subsidy.
What is more important, fuel efficiency or clean air?
There is plenty of hydrocarbon fuel—it just needs to be tapped. The earth produces many times more hydrocarbons than humans consume. Let’s use it, but let’s keep the real pollution, i.e. particulates, NOx, SO2, CO, O3 and HCN at the lowest possible levels. I don’t mind high clean air standards, as long as they are set to control real pollutants.
London really smells bad, like diesel fuel. Can’t be good for the body.
bubbagyro says:
October 23, 2010 at 10:51 pm
What is more important, fuel efficiency or clean air?
Are those the only two options?
It’s political correctness. If anyone thinks the place they live in is politically correct it’s lightweight compared to California. Normal is abnormal, abnormal is normal there.
Interesting that other comments are being allowed, while mine is stuck in Moderation. I suspect it is because I repeated Mr. Goddards statement about the state being run by persons. Nevertheless, this post makes some really bad errors, primarily by equating the counties with the highest unemployment rates with manufacturing instead of agriculture and the bursting of the housing bubble due to the Bush presidency mistakes in pushing excessive residential real estate projects.
Most posts go through without moderation. Some don’t. I don’t know what the wordpress algorithm is. I just got home. No paranoia is necessary.
Zinfan,
As a libertarian, I believe in live and let live ideology. But many do not know what happened in the economic crisis… they get their education from a media complicit in destroying the only things good about this country.
The economic crisis occurred because of falling real (estate) asset values. Because of the Mark to Market rule, financial institutions had to value assets at whatever the market would bear. When value of those assets became unclear, the market would bear nothing. This created a crisis of asset to liability ratios in financial insitutions, making them insolvent. The BLOATED value of Real Estate occurred specifically because the LEFT pushed legislation that FORCED lenders to toss aside qualifying requirements. Tho he also believed in facilitating new home ownership, George W Bush had little to do with the housing crisis. The repeal of Glass Steagall, (and strengthening of the Community Reinvestment Act) were signed by Bill Clinton. This legislation then did its damage during the following 8 years. Awaken. You can’t trust Olbermann and Matthews to tell you what really happened.
No President (including Obama) is entirely responsible for everything that happens during their tenure. Clinton enjoyed a surplus because he agreed to sign legislation proposed by conservatives. Conservative ideals led to that surplus. Be an adult. Explore. Learn. Think.
It does not take a genius to work out that if California increases business costs, regulation + taxes, some business will go elsewhere, either across state lines or abroad.
Remember that AB32 ( the Global Warming Initiative) is only slowly beginning to take effect. Most of its effect will take effect between now + 2020.
To pretend that California will make any noticeable difference to worldwide temperatures on its own ( even if you accept CO2 is a problem) is silly.
Of course people like Arnie and the Hollywood luvvies won’t suffer – they will still have their swimming pools, private jets, mansions + limousines, but it will salve their consciences.
In other words,
thegovernmentof Californiais run by morons.