Let me just say right now that I have no problem with people being successful and making money. Entrepreneurs helped make this country great. We have, however, come to a place where a person in a position to influence government decisions can have an unfair advantage in the marketplace.
Yesterday's New York Times posted an article in their Energy and Environment Section spotlighting how much money Al Gore has earned by investing in 'green energy' ventures subsidized by the government (while traveling the world promoting green energy and leaving a very large carbon footprint!).
The article points out both sides of the argument:
"Representative Marsha Blackburn, Republican of Tennessee, asserted at a hearing this year that Mr. Gore stood to benefit personally from the energy and climate policies he was urging Congress to adopt.
"Mr. Gore says that he is simply putting his money where his mouth is."
As I said, I have no problem with Mr. Gore's success, I just question his science and his motives.
The article also points out that Al Gore is not unique:
"Other public figures, like Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who have vocally supported government financing of energy-saving technologies, have investments in alternative energy ventures. Some scientists and policy advocates also promote energy policies that personally enrich them."
Somehow, we need to find a place where public policy and lawmaking is based on honest governance--not on personal enrichment.
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