[Intro]
Yo! Can you hear here?
Hear here!
[Verse 1]
Track down people
From all around
Tell ’em
What’s going down
[Bridge]
In their hometown
It should astound
[Chorus]
Politicians, the climate clowns
How will their county fare?
Climate clowns, track ’em down
Free-dumb unaware
[Instrumental, Guitar Solo, Drum Fills]
[Verse 2]
Under the steeple
The flock of sheeple
Never quite reach
What they preach
[Bridge]
In their hometown
It should astound
[Chorus]
Politicians, the climate clowns
How will their county fare?
Climate clowns, track ’em down
Free-dumb unaware
[Instrumental, Harmonica Solo, Piano]
[Verse 3]
Track down everyone
From everywhere
Tell ’em
What’s comin’
[Bridge]
In their hometown
It should astound
[Chorus]
Politicians, the climate clowns
How will their county fare?
Climate clowns, track ’em down
Free-dumb unaware
[Instrumental, Guitar Solo, Drum Fills]
[Instrumental, Harmonica Solo, Piano]
[Bridge]
In their hometown
It should astound
[Instrumental, Harmonica Solo, Piano]
[Chorus]
Politicians, the climate clowns
How will their county fare?
Climate clowns, track ’em down
Free-dumb unaware
[Instrumental, Harmonica Solo, Piano]
[Outro]
Politicians, the climate clowns
How will their county fare?
Climate clowns, track ’em down
Free-dumb unaware
A SCIENCE NOTE
Politicians in conservative, rural parts of the USA have often hindered progress in the fight against climate change due to several reasons:
1. Denial of Climate Science
Many conservative politicians in rural areas deny the existence or severity of climate change, dismissing it as a hoax or exaggerated. This denial stems from skepticism about scientific consensus and the influence of fossil fuel industries.
- Example: Some politicians have publicly questioned the validity of climate science, which undermines efforts to implement necessary policies to address climate change .
2. Legislative Actions
Conservative lawmakers have taken legislative actions that block or roll back environmental regulations. This includes efforts to:
- Weaken EPA Regulations: Attempting to reduce the power and funding of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which is responsible for enforcing environmental laws and regulations .
- Oppose Renewable Energy Initiatives: Blocking or limiting subsidies and incentives for renewable energy projects such as wind and solar power, which are essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions .
3. Support for Fossil Fuels
Many conservative politicians support the fossil fuel industry, which is a significant contributor to climate change. This support manifests in various ways:
- Subsidies and Tax Breaks: Providing substantial subsidies and tax breaks to coal, oil, and gas companies, making it financially easier for them to continue their operations .
- Blocking Clean Energy Legislation: Opposing legislation that aims to reduce carbon emissions or promote clean energy alternatives. This includes resisting carbon pricing mechanisms like carbon taxes or cap-and-trade systems .
4. Cultural and Economic Factors
In many rural areas, fossil fuel industries are major employers and economic contributors. Politicians in these regions often prioritize short-term economic gains over long-term environmental benefits.
- Job Protection: Fear of job losses in coal mining, oil drilling, and related industries leads politicians to resist policies that might threaten these jobs, despite the potential for green jobs in renewable energy sectors .
- Cultural Identity: There is a strong cultural attachment to traditional industries and a skepticism towards perceived “elite” climate policies that are seen as disconnected from rural realities .
5. Public Opinion
Public opinion in many conservative, rural areas tends to be less supportive of climate change policies compared to urban or liberal areas. Politicians often reflect the views of their constituents.
- Voter Pressure: Politicians face pressure from their voter base to oppose climate action, particularly when climate policies are framed as harmful to the local economy or way of life .
Conclusion
The combination of climate change denial, legislative actions that favor fossil fuels, cultural and economic priorities, and public opinion in conservative, rural areas of the USA has significantly hindered progress in the fight against climate change. Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach, including education, economic transition plans for affected communities, and bipartisan cooperation to develop sustainable solutions.
The Need for Urgency
Human-induced climate change is a dynamic component of an intricate and unordered system, as per chaos theory. This implies that global warming is accelerating exponentially in a complex manner. Over the period from 1992 to 2023, we have presented compelling evidence, proposed remedies to mitigate climate change, and amassed valuable information through the engagement of millions with this climate model. Your participation has been invaluable. The incontrovertible data underscores that human-induced climate change is rapidly deteriorating our habitat.
Our climate model / experiment employs chaos theory to comprehensively consider human impacts and projects a potential global average temperature increase of 9℃ above pre-industrial levels. Global warming is a consequence of elevated thermal energy in the climate system, which comprises various subsystems. Chaos theory underscores the intricate and nonlinear nature of dynamic systems. Human well-being is compromised above a 1.5-degree temperature rise, rendering much of the Earth uninhabitable. A 9-degree Celsius increase would bring the Earth close to a wet-bulb temperature incapable of sustaining human life.
References
- National Geographic. Climate Change Denial.
- The Guardian. EPA Regulations.
- Forbes. Renewable Energy Policies.
- Center for American Progress. Fossil Fuel Subsidies.
- The New York Times. Public Opinion and Climate Policies.
From the album “Solid State” by Daniel