A DCL reader who goes by the monicker of MM recently offered a valuable, questioning voice to last week’s post on using cattails to make ethanol. Then MM wrote in again today with this:
Great blog. I really appreciate the tone you take in your writing. I’m a conservative who can’t stand the fact that responsible and sustainable living has become a Democrat vs. Republican issue.
I like to learn about the issues you address, but I’m put off by the smug and condescending tone in so many blogs and news sites (GRIST! – sorry, I see you read them). Anyway, I plan to check back here periodically.
This sort of writing and perspective is what our country needs to bridge the political divides that environmental issues often create.
Keep it up!
Alison writing again: MM’s words feel like gold to me. Yes: I’m interested in joyful, ethical living, not whether anyone is conservative, liberal or politically correct by any definition. MM, I’m honored to have you as a reader, and glad to hear that for you, at least, I’ve steered clear of a smug or condescending tone. I am with you: responsible, sustainable living should not be a Democrat vs. Republican issue. Let’s bridge the false dichotomy. I hope you and my other readers keep commenting; it spurs and improves my writing.
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I was thinking more about this very thing the other day. I think Al Gore did some valuable work in raising awareness about the issue. But I also think he became the face of the effort, which polarized it. He needs to step aside and make room for someone who can be a little closer to politically neutral. Someone like Colin Powell. I feel like he isn’t completely in anyone’s camp. He’s a Republican, but not by much (maybe I misjudge the left’s view of him, though, and I can’t seem to find much on his environmental stances). Or tell Bono he could do more to help Africa by getting out in front of the green movement.
Until we figure this out, we’ll have blocked or watered-down legislation at best providing no more than marginal improvements.
Sometimes I think we need to abandon the “environmental” argument altogether and find it some new clothes. Energy independence is an issue conservatives can rally around, and it’s legitimate, at least in my view. It seems some people are more scared of Hugo Chavez than global warming.
MM, I like the theme of energy independence, too. So many different things we can do contributes to it, and it’s relevant to people of all stripes, for a variety of reasons.
I think that dealing with global warming needs a great multiplicity of faces, way beyond Al Gore’s face and contributions.