The Carbon Market and Capitalism

According to Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family...

Carbon markets are designed to undermine this right by making it a commodity. By putting an economic value on a stable environment and the release into the atmosphere of harmful greenhouse gasses, we are essentially putting a dollar figure on a basic human right. What's next? The right to free speech? Education? Life?

I just got out of a conference where it was presented that people could take part in the carbon markets through reforestation efforts. I think reforestation efforts are great. When I asked about the moral implications of the carbon market, however, I got the pat answer - It's better than nothing. And hey, money for growing trees!

Meanwhile, the ability of people all over the world is being infringed. Why don't people attack the root of the problem instead hacking at the branches? The heads of the hydra are being lopped off but no cauterization is taking place.

It's the disenfranchised people of the world who will have to bear the burden. Climate change will most greatly affect those who are least well-equipped to handle it. If my house becomes flooded, I move. If my entire country becomes flooded (Bangladesh), where do I go?

I agree that something has to be done. But putting all of the eggs in the carbon market basket is inherently dangerous. The many heads of the hydra must be eliminated systematically and completely. Further, new steps must be taken in place of the out-moded methods we have hitherto relied on. Walkable communities, housing choice, wind and solar energy harvesting, nuclear power, it all must be considered in order for eventual victory to be achieved.

The Beauty of Open Spaces

I am from the mountain west. Thus, being in this area leaves me without the environment that I am accustomed to. The high mountain desert landscape is striking, clean, pure, and picturesque. It is also lethal.

In the words of Edward Abbey:

To those that see our land in that manner, the best reply is, yes, you are right, it is a dangerous and terrible place. Enter at your own risk. Carry water. Avoid the noon day sun. Try to ignore the vultures. Pray frequently.

I think this applies to open spaces everywhere.

Ignore them at your own risk.

Places to remember

Unless you have lived under a rock for the last 50 years, you know who these guys are. The British Invasion in the 60s fomented an entirely different attitude about life and how we treat each other and the world around us. One of the songs I find particularly interesting is In My Life from the Rubber Soul album. It starts out like this:

There are places I'll remember

All my life, though some have changed

Some forever, not for better

Some have gone and some remain

All this places have their moments

With lovers and friends I still can recall

Some are dead and some are living

In my life, I've loved them all

Is it possible to love a place? What is it about that place that makes it so meaningful? Certainly the people you were with make a place important, the activities, the times we have can never be replaced. But there is a power associated with a particular place that helps shape us. I have mentioned before that people are affected by the houses they never enter, the streets they see but never travel, the fields and forests that remain full of intrigue and mystery.

Here in Mont Belvieu we have the chance to do it right. I hope we take advantage of this chance. I hope I am able to help.

Though I know I'll never lose affection

For people and things that went before

I know I'll often stop and think about them

In my life, I love you more

In my life-- I love you more

PS - I really love the Volkswagen Bug in the picture above. If anyone has one that they would like to donate to the "Get Bill to Work in Style" cause, I'd appreciate it. :-)

City Council Meeting Last Night

Last night we had a fabulous meeting here at City Hall. Tempers flared, accusations were made, aspersions were cast, and there was a general melee of words and ideas that permeated the evening. Ah, what passion and fervor. This is why I got into the profession anyway.

Where else can you find such high drama? Where else can someone come and help direct policy that immediately affects people's lives? Where else do you find neighbors and friends come together to help change the way things are done? Only on the local level. It is not only impressive but fun. I truly love it.

I encourage you all to get involved. Come and tell us how you feel. It is only as strong as those who are willing to participate can make it. We need you!

Political Polarization of Our Communities

Ok, so I admit it. I am a NPR listener. I have been listening for years, and I find that the things they talk about are interesting. Yes, I know that there is a definite slant, but at least they aren't as shrill as Rush or Hannity. I can't stand those guys.

I heard this story talked about today (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92292747). I wonder what you think.

The premise is that communities have a basic appeal to people of a certain demographic profile. Liberal democrats will be attracted to certain communities, while conservative republicans will be attracted to others. Is this true in your experience? If so, why do you think this is? I have been told that until very recently this area was strongly Democrat-leaning. Now it is very much Republican. I wonder what fomented the change...

I believe that this kind of separation is not healthy. People need to test their ideas in the crucible of opposition in order to purify and strengthen them. Without conversation about different issues with people with different ideas, what chance is there for growth?

Tomorrow, as we celebrate the independence of the greatest country on earth, I hope we can all pause for just a moment to consider what it is we are all about here and what we enjoy as a birthright:

• we live in a country where a person may be elected president who does not come from a monied elite class, but from a single-parent home
• we live in a country where people can choose for themselves their destiny
• we live in a country where God is mentioned in our pledge of allegiance, acknowledging the Source from which our liberties sprang
• we live in a country where people are free NOT to salute the flag if they wish
• we live in a country where people can believe in God and worship Him according to the dictates of their own consciences
• we live in a country where these ideas and ideals have been tested time and again and have withstood the pressures
• we live in a country where people are willing to go to foreign countries in defense of our ideals and the promotion of an improved and freer way of life
• we live in a country where people can pretty much live the way they want, where laws are enacted to preserve that quality of life, and where we are governed by our peers
• we live in a country where fences are erected not to keep people IN but to regulate the mass of people who would like to come here
• we live in a country where we have a peaceful transfer of power every four to eight years
• we live in a country where our political ideals do not separate us but bring us together in healthy debate (remember, we are not as divided as our politics may seem)
• we live in a country where life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (not capital) are our founding principles
• we live in a country where the family is the basic unit of society, where women are the repository of virtue and men are courageous and valiant, and where children are cherished and nurtured
• we live in a country where these things are under attack, but we struggle on against evils that would overthrow our freedoms, liberties, and ideals

There is no better place to be. Surely we are imperfect, but we laugh at ourselves and move on. And we will persevere and overcome. As Mr. Reagan so eloquently state, we are the shining light on the hill, the beacon of light in a dark world.

I am grateful and proud to be an American.