Congressman’s Take on Friedman’s Messages
By Genevieve Angelides and Shirley Gilbert
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Congressman Peter Stark
In reply to four questions posed to Congressman Pete Stark, representative of California’s 13th district, by Fremont Branch’s Genevieve Angelides, the congressman wrote he agreed with many of the ideas in Friedman’s book. However, today’s political climate makes it difficult to make change. Here is Stark’s letter:
“Thank you for contacting my office to ask my opinion of Thomas Friedman’s Hot, Flat and Crowded. I agree with much of what Friedman has to say about climate change and energy policy and I’ve advocated for many of the ideas in his book, such as a carbon tax, for many years. As Friedman notes, addressing climate change is now a political problem and our nation needs leaders who will tackle this problem. Unfortunately, the new Republican majority in the House of Representatives is intent on undermining any efforts to address climate change or craft a sensible energy policy.
During the first two years of President Obama’s term, we were able to make critical investments in clean energy. The Recovery Act provided over $45 billion in clean energy investments, including seed money for research as well as funds for energy efficiency and cleaner forms of transportation. Much of this funding is now under attack in the current Congress.
The best solution to end our addiction to fossil fuels would be to impose a steadily rising carbon tax. This would not only discourage the use of fossil fuels, it would also create market incentives to invest in efficiency and clean and renewable energy sources. The only way such a policy could happen, however, is if there is a ground swell of public support. Right now, the public seems more concerned with the daily fluctuation of gas prices than with what type of world they will be leaving their grandchildren. That mindset has to change if we ever hope to avoid catastrophic climate change.”
Sincerely,
Pete Stark