Protesting Power Plants on Public Payroll

NASA "climate modeler" James Hansen says the democratic process isn't working to solve carbon emissions and climate change problems.

So his solution?

Protest and direct action could be the only way to tackle soaring carbon emissions, a leading climate scientist has said.

James Hansen, a climate modeller with Nasa, told the Guardian today that corporate lobbying has undermined democratic attempts to curb carbon pollution. "The democratic process doesn't quite seem to be working," he said. [SNIP]

"The democratic process is supposed to be one person one vote, but it turns out that money is talking louder than the votes. So, I'm not surprised that people are getting frustrated. I think that peaceful demonstration is not out of order, because we're running out of time."

So Hansen is in the United Kingdom as a protester against a new coal-fired electrical generation plant.

I've had my fill of Hansen. He's being paid a salary with American taxpayer dollars but he's over in a foreign country protesting, for crying out loud. If there isn't some restriction against that sort of activism, there ought to be.

And what does Hansen mean by "direct action"? Is his next stunt to be lying down in front of bulldozers?

Hansen is already sniping at the Obama administration, which is preparing to push legislation for "cap-and-trade" systems that could cost American consumers up to $2 trillion. He says this just isn't enough.

He said he was growing "concerned" over the stance taken by the new US adminstration on global warming. "It's not clear what their intentions are yet, but if they are going to support cap and trade then unfortunately i think that will be another case of greenwash. It's going to take stronger action than that."

Stronger action? There already exists the possibility that in the not-so-distant future Americans will be looking for caves to take advantage of the natural warmth of the earth, because they will not be able to afford their utility bills. How much suffering does Hansen wish to inflict in order to avoid a couple of degrees of warming? (That's assuming you accept his premise.)

NASA, fire this goof-ball!