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It's no secret that Fox News has never been a big fan of the climate bill, or moving towards a clean energy economy in general, for that matter. But the organization took their distaste for climate action, renewable energy initiatives, and green jobs to new heights in Glenn Beck's attacks on Van Jones. Those attacks led to the resignation of one of the green movement's true heroes and success stories--and they're evidently just the tip of the iceberg.
As Climate Progress points out, there's a new piece over on FoxNews.com that outlines how nefarious plots like 'green jobs' and 'cap and trade' need to be stopped lest our country fall into the clutches of communistic militants. If it hadn't appeared hot on the heels of Glenn Beck's success in getting Jones to resign, I would dismiss it as pure idiocy. But the truth is, as climate bill debates heat up in the Senate, we can expect more campaigns to distort the truth about the climate bill, cap and trades, and even the seemingly innocuous concept of green jobs--you know, those jobs that somehow benefit the environment.
Before Jones was pressured to resign, I would've thought it all but impossible to slander the idea of creating jobs that both put unemployed people to work and impact the environment positively--solar panel repairmen, wind turbine factory workers, cleantech executives, and so on. Now, I'm not so sure--and those of us concerned with the well being of our skies, health of our ecosystems, and the welfare of our planet in general can no longer afford to take any chances.
We've all got to help ensure that such genuinely good ideas like creating green jobs, funding for renewable energy, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions aren't manipulated by those who would like to see them never come to fruition. And there are plenty who'd like to see them fail:
- the Republican leadership, because they stand to gain politically if the Democrats can't get their bill passed.
- Polluting industries like coal and oil, because they stand to keep profits higher if they don't have to pay for their pollution.
- (Typically) conservative media outlets, because it boosts their ratings when their antics get real traction and attention (see again the unfortunate Glenn Beck/Van Jones saga).
So here's what we've got to do--and it's simple. We've got to stay informed, stay optimistic (it can be tough, I know), and be ready to civilly rebuke outlandish claims about green jobs or climate action. Let your legislators know you support the climate bill, if you can. And don't give up. Fox News and co. may have won the battle--but we're still going to have to try and save the planet anyways.
More on the Climate Bill
How to Follow the Climate Bill Every Step of the Way
How the Climate Bill Will Clean Up Our Beaches
Avoiding a Climate Bill Backlash
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