THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2012
Trying to understand the underlying motivations and implications of the state’s Article X energy policy, I revisited Lester Brown’s 2008 book “Plan B 3.0,” a compelling account of the imminent dangers facing our civilization and our world. Brown embraces the theory of man-made global warming and suggests a “great mobilization” aimed at creating a new global economy, with a warp- speed conversion to supposedly carbon-free renewable energy sources leading the way to environmental salvation.
His writings have become a holy grail to the environmental, political and corporate movement dedicated to the promotion of industrial-scale wind turbines and other alternative technologies. He asserts that our fate relies on individual commitment and participation on a global level.
Does Article X embody that philosophy, or is it an all-too-real manifestation of Orwell’s 1984 omnipresent and omnipotent “Big Brother”? Did Brown envision a society stripped of its ability to determine its own destiny by oppressive governmental intrusion, manipulated and compromised by corporate interests in the guise of environmental preservation? Did he envision a persistent pursuit of real science and logic to guide us on this quest, or did he envision the erosion of basic principles, such as objectivity, ethical conduct, sound economics, democracy, honesty, civility, neighborliness, fairness and trust, all leading to fractured communities?
Did he envision that duly elected representatives, at all levels, would willingly subvert our regulatory system, trample and manipulate existing guidelines for development, or that advocates for environmental justice would ignore or marginalize real-life threats that industrial-scale wind energy pose? Could he possibly have envisioned local leaders fearful to implement policies that adequately reflect and safeguard the values and assets of their own community? Did he honestly envision that we would embrace a technology as the solution to our global demise without objectively gauging its effectiveness, impact or cost? Could he have imagined citizens imploring state governments to usurp their constitutional rights for their own personal profit?
Article X represents an alarming abrogation of self-governance. It displays an arrogance of bureaucracy and reveals a disturbing glimpse of a society willing to abandon many of the fundamental principles that have shaped our history and thousands have died to preserve. I can’t believe the vision of Lester Brown and his avid followers embraces or accepts this departure from reason, principle and democratic process, if indeed it recognizes the inherent danger it manifests.
Article X must be opposed.
David LaMora
Cape Vincent
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