Deal with the Devil
Despite everything I’ve said and written, I really don’t believe President Trump is stupid (wow – did you hear that – everyone just clicked off the screen and moved on!!!) I do think he has made some stupid moves, and I do think he is not prepared or suited to be President of the United States. But he’s not stupid.
The facts about climate change are the facts: the climate is growing warmer, we face real consequences that create a long-term crisis for the United States and the world, and Trump (and Tillerson, and Mattis, and Kurshner, and Ivanka) know it too. The Paris Accord set voluntary standards, they don’t force anybody to do anything. If we don’t stay in, we join Syria and Nicaragua as the only countries in the world not to join.
All of the recent studies show that there will be equal or greater job creation in non-carbon energy than in continuing carbon energy. And finally, Exxon-Mobil, BP, Chevron, Cocono-Phillips, and Shell are all IN FAVOR of the Accord (as well as hundreds of other corporations) – if it’s so bad for Carbon and Oil – then how can that be.
President Trump has said amazingly foolish things about climate change. He also said amazingly foolish things about Muslims, NAFTA, and President Obama’s birth. He didn’t say them because he was stupid, he did it as a way to manipulate the “Breitbart Crowd” to his favor. It was “calculated” stupidity, and it worked.
So why then, would he consider withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accords?
Howard Fineman, Editor of the Huffington Post, made a very interesting point today. He suggests that while the Russians are signatories of the Paris Accord, their goal may well be to CONTINUE Global warming, in order to melt the Arctic Ocean further and increase its shipping and drilling utility. Perhaps Trump’s decision will be in part driven by what he may owe Russia.
Huffington Post – Fineman
Or perhaps President Trump realizes he has made a deal with the devil, and the devil (with Bannon as spokesperson) is demanding payment. Trump may well withdraw from the Paris Accord and consummate his deal with the alt-right and Russia. Or he may find some way to not withdraw: either way he will ultimately have to pay the Devil his due.
