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RE: Apples and oranges
By buying carbon offsets in an amount corresponding to what he emits, he's doing exactly what he preaches.
Ironic that a dude who hates Christianity so much puts any stock in some rich dude buying what amounts to environmental indulgences. If Gore actually believed what he is saying, he'd do something other than paying other folks to reduce his pollution. It's insane! We, the unwashed masses are expected to to the hard work of preventing the coming environmental Apocalypse while Gore is actually polluting even more since the release of An Inconvenient Truth but it's okay 'cause I'm buying indulgences....er...carbon offsets. The Tennessee Valley Authority just installed fifteen new wind machines in the Buffalo Mountain site, bringing that site's production to 29 megawatts of electricity, enough energy for 3,780 homes. Of course, the average home is 2,300 square feet, not 10,000. And since this is a zero-sum game, Gore's mansion is essentially squandering the green, plus (supply and demand) bringing up the cost of green energy for Joe and Jane Schmoe. Gore is the worst kind of hypocrite- the rich kind who can afford to reverse engineer (or whatever) his phat ass mansion to make it a helluva lot greener. Imagine if he massively reduced his carbon footprint and bought carbon offsets equal to his old polluting self-- that would mean he actually gave damn.
RE: Apples and oranges
True, but Bush could not choose how the white house is built, and he had quite a bit to do with how the Crawford house was built. Let us be straight: Bush is a country boy. He loves the outdoors, and loves nature. Unfortunately, he doesn't love science, and doesn't believe in global warming.
Gore needs to 'eat his own dog food'. If you go about saying there is a need for change, you damn well better be walking the walk. Yes, he is saying we as a group need to emit less, but when claiming that you need to take a leadership role - that is, after all, a large part of 'leading a movement'. Buying carbon offsets does not make him practice what he preaches - that slaps in the face the poor man that cannot afford indulgences or a Prius. If he wants to make a statement, stay under the limit and buy indulgences anyway, so that you can prove that you are reducing emissions.
RE: Apples and oranges
home of a wealthy man with the vacation home of another.
Gore travels a lot limiting time at home and a documentary explained Bush spends some 92.3% of his time on vacation. Really not a huge stretch, comparable with caveats.
I just got back from a trip where I got 48.8 mpg in a standard gas car. I did it by making reasonable tradeoffs (and no AC which my wife feels is not reasonable.) As a responsible citizen I think these are just a given, you use the resources you have to the best of your ability. I get ticked when I think of how fast my savings get flushed by that kind of extravagance, don't care if it flicked the definitional switch into "hypocritical."
we, as a group
I'll stick with "wrong" and "bad" if it sounds better but he is telling everyone _else_ to reduce carbon emissions.
by buying carbon offsets
He doesn't buy carbon offsets. They are a free benefit from a company he works/consults for though I have doubts that they actively plant the algae needed to really offset anything.
You could compare Al Gores energy useage to a dysfunctional family unit. I should go on about this for a dozen pages. You could even compare it to drug addiction, this would be so interesting it should be covered for some 20 pages. (Sorry, still have flashbacks from reading Earth in the Balance.)
Bush did good here, Gore is in the wrong. If you want a positive liberal example look to Ed Begley Jr. He walks the walk and believes what he says.
RE: Apples and oranges
The thing is, Bush has no control over living in the White House or Governor's Mansion. His Crawford Ranch is the only residence that he OWNS. Al gore has several homes, all of which use more fossil fuels every month than I do in a year. Just because he pays OTHER people not to pollute does not negate the fact that he's a hypocrite. You are honestly holding the fact that Bush is president and was governor against him. Are you dumb or just stupid? "Well, if he REALLY cared about the environment, he wouldn't be president because the Whitehouse isn't energy efficient?" Al Gore CHOOSES to have several large polluting mansions. Words cannot express just how dumb that argument is. What Gore is saying is what socialists say: "We need more money for the poor but I am not going to contribute unless the government FORCES EVERYONE to contrbute. I make hundreds of times less money than most wealthy politicians (Kennedy has money coming out the nostrils) but I am certain that I give a greater percentage of my time AND money to charity than they do. John Edwards says "we need to be doing more to help the poor" but doesn't actually help poor people with HIS money, he wants to help them with OTHER PEOPLE's money. Carbon regulation is the same thing- Gore wants the government to force OTHER PEOPLE to pollute less without making actual sacrifice himself. He's doing it for the money, you tool.
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Apples and oranges
You're comparing the primary home of a wealthy man with the vacation home of another. Bush hasn't lived in Crawford for years. For the last six he's been in the White House, for the six before that, he lived in the Texas Governor's mansion.
Also, the implied argument is "look at what a hypocrite Gore is" - but Gore isn't saying "hey, emit less carbon, like me", he's saying we, as a group need to control carbon emissions, and the best way to do that is by treating the right to emit carbon as a limited resource. By buying carbon offsets in an amount corresponding to what he emits, he's doing exactly what he preaches.
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