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Post by FloggingSully on Mar 2, 2007 12:55:34 GMT -5
Gore is called a hypocrite because this house uses 20 times the energy of the average person, the article states that all of this electrical energy comes from renewable sources (solar, wind, etc), the offsets he purchases are for other energy expenditures.
What does Gore being rich have to do with him being a hypocrite, he says people should limit their carbon emissions (which he does), is it easier for him to do this because he is rich? yes it is, does that make him a hypocrite? no it doesn't.
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Post by Big on Mar 2, 2007 13:05:25 GMT -5
My only comment would be if the energy becomes more expensive for people when Gore's plan is implemented, it would hurt many regular folks but Gore will not feel most of the price increase.
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Post by Flop the Nuts on Mar 2, 2007 13:08:00 GMT -5
Sully, his electricity doesn't come from renewable sources, he cuts a check to alternative energy sources to "offset" his spending on electricity. He is essentially paying twice what he should be, by investing in alternate sources in addition to the traditional sources. The theory is similar to planting a little tree every time you cut down an old growth redwood. On a purely mathematical basis, you have the same number of trees.
Rich people can do this shell game, poor people just have to cut back on consumption if they want to be green.
If a drug dealer kept selling the same amount of drugs, but also invested in rehab clinics, would that make him any less of a drug dealer?
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Post by FloggingSully on Mar 2, 2007 13:43:13 GMT -5
From the article: "Gore purchases enough energy from renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and methane gas to balance 100 percent of his electricity costs." -This is akwardly worded, but it seems to me that it says his electric costs come from re-newable engery
"To balance out OTHER carbon emissions, the Gores invest money in projects to reduce energy consumption" -He has other energy costs besides electricity (his jet, etc) that he offsets with these investments.
Again, is it easier for him to do this because he is rich? yes. Does that make him a hypocrite? no.
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Post by FloggingSully on Mar 2, 2007 13:44:55 GMT -5
Big, what is Gore's plan? Reducing consumption on non-renewable energy? if there is less consumption then there is less demand which would, in theory, drive prices down.
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Post by Big on Mar 2, 2007 13:55:23 GMT -5
How do you reduce consumption of one type of energy? Probably he means by increasing alternative energy uses. Well, those other energy sources might be more expensive.
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Post by Flop the Nuts on Mar 2, 2007 13:57:15 GMT -5
From the article: "Gore purchases enough energy from renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and methane gas to balance 100 percent of his electricity costs." -This is akwardly worded, but it seems to me that it says his electric costs come from re-newable engery
Do you have a checkbox on your utility bill where you can designate "renewable sources of energy"? No, and neither does Gore. If we could just check a box, wouldn't we all do that? He is paying for the electricity from non-renewable sources, just like the rest of us. If he pays $1,000 on electricity, then he writes a check for $1,000 (or whatever amount) to some other renewable energy source. Unless he has a windfarm in his back yard, and he is selling his own electricity to other sources, that is what "offsetting" is all about.
To balance out OTHER carbon emissions, the Gores invest money in projects to reduce energy consumption -He has other energy costs besides electricity (his jet, etc) that he offsets with these investments.
Again, is it easier for him to do this because he is rich? yes. Does that make him a hypocrite? no.
It's hypocritical for a guy to preach energy conservation, and rail against big oil, and ask for people to make sacrifices, when he is doing none of the above. He has a fat wallet, so he just writes a check. It's easier for him to write a check than to make the sort of sacrifices he expects the rest of us to make. The general definition of hypocrisy is telling others to do something, and then not doing it yourself, right?
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Post by FloggingSully on Mar 2, 2007 14:07:04 GMT -5
Big, There are plenty of ways to reduce the consumption of one type of energy, increaseing other energy uses (as you state), makeing current methods of energy use more efficient, reducing the need to use energy, etc. Which of these does Gore's plan call for? I'm serious, I don't know what Gore's plan is, I assume you do since you mentioned it in your previous post.
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Post by Big on Mar 2, 2007 14:08:51 GMT -5
I don't know his plan. He might have a great plan. I was just pointing things out. Hence, I started my post above with"My only comment...."
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Post by FloggingSully on Mar 2, 2007 14:20:49 GMT -5
Flop, I concede your point, I'm sure not all of the renewable energy Al purchases goes directly to his house. But that renewable energy must go somewhere right, if he buys 1million watts of solar electricity, that energy is used to power something. That something is now run on solar energy instead of some non-renewable energy source.
"It's hypocritical for a guy to ... ask for people to make sacrifices, when he is doing none of the above" -What sacrifices is he asking people to make? use renewable energy? he is (indirectly) doing that
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Post by Big on Mar 2, 2007 14:25:37 GMT -5
Gore wants to become President. He uses Global Warming as his main point. He even wins awards for his Global Warming agenda. Still seems a drop in the bucket for Gore to pay a few dollars for renewable energy for all the benefits he is getting on the issue.
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Post by FloggingSully on Mar 2, 2007 14:33:39 GMT -5
I didn't know Gore was running for president.
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Post by Big on Mar 2, 2007 14:38:36 GMT -5
He never said for sure one way or the other.
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Post by Big on Mar 2, 2007 14:42:09 GMT -5
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Post by FloggingSully on Mar 2, 2007 15:08:44 GMT -5
"Gore wants to become President" "He never said for sure one way or the other"
Which one is it?
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