The Popcorn Stand: Neutral on climate change, big on clean energy

I came across an op-ed written by Arnold Schwarzenegger (I’m having a hard time refusing to use the “it’s not a tuba” joke again) he wrote last December.

And while I’ll clean up the language in his op-ed (https://www.facebook.com/notes/arnold-schwarzenegger/i-dont-give-a-if-we-agree-about-climate-change/10153855713574658/ Schwarzenegger), Schwarzenegger says he doesn’t care if you believe in climate change or not, he’s committed to a clean energy future.

As far as my belief on climate change, I believe God is omnipotent (all-powerful) — but I also believe in God’s perfect will and in his permissive will and I believe God created an earth that could withstand anything man dishes out to it. Without getting into my or anyone else’s beliefs any further I would say this — the earth has the ability to be here after we’re long gone.

So the earth has no problem with climate change. WE’RE the ones who deal with the climate. Was that neutral enough? OK, end of sermon.

So I totally agree with Schwarzenegger. We should totally be investing in clean, renewable energy. I know that makes me a liberal heretic to some. But again, it’s a phrase I keep using, I just think it makes me a bottom line guy.

To paraphrase Schwarzenegger: “I want you to know that I hear you. Even those of you who say renewable energy is a conspiracy. Even those who say climate change is a hoax. Even those of you who use four letter words.

Let’s put climate change aside for a minute. In fact, let’s assume you’re right.

Do you believe coal and oil will be the fuels of the future?

Besides the fact that fossil fuels destroy our lungs, everyone agrees that eventually they will run out. What’s your plan then?

I, personally, want a plan. I don’t want to be like the last horse and buggy salesman (I actually used the Danny DeVito line for “Other People’s Money” in which he referred to the last one who made the buggy whip and he was sure it was the best darn buggy whip there was) who was holding out as cars took over the roads. I don’t want to be the last investor in Blockbuster as Netflix emerged.

To use one of the four-letter words all of you commentators love, I don’t give a damn (OK I didn’t clean up the language) if you believe in climate change. I couldn’t care less if you’re concerned about temperatures rising or melting glaciers. It doesn’t matter to me which of us is right about the science.

I just hope that you’ll join me in opening Door Number Two, to a smarter, cleaner, healthier, more profitable energy future.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

— Charles Whisnand