Lauren RabainoIt seems like only a short time ago that political news coverage was dominated by tales of the pivotal 2006 midterm elections. Nancy Pelosi was presumptuously measuring drapes in Washington and many Americans were just getting to know Barack Obama. I may be dating myself a bit, but I am astonished to think that primary season is already well underway.
As Californians across the state thoughtfully consider their Super Tuesday selections, there is an important thing to bear in mind. Tossing your hat into the ring with a presidential hopeful is not the only way to participate in national politics.
It is nearly impossible to avoid the posters, stakes, flyers and conversations around our campus about next week’s event, “Focus the Nation: Global Warming Solutions for America.” The national event will include several activities on campus, but Focus the Nation organizers have also coordinated a special online voting tool to put participants across the country directly in touch with their representatives.
“Choose Your Future” is a Web site designed by Focus the Nation organizers that allows visitors to vote for five priorities for legislative action on global warming from a list of 10. Each of the 10 choices is described in detail on the Web site and users are able to discuss the options on a message board. The site opened for voting on Jan. 21 and requires an e-mail address, state of residence and zip code to cast a vote. On Feb. 12, voting will end and the results will be broken down into congressional districts. The top five choices of students and citizens from each congressional district will be delivered to their representative’s office Feb. 18.
Creators of the Web site have proposed several legislative strategies for minimizing climate change that I enthusiastically support.
I am for an expansion of the annual federal investment in clean energy technology research. The United States Department of Energy has an annual budget of approximately $23.5 billion, according to data published on their Web site, which is a very small investment in energy technology research and implementation. Energy issues are a deciding factor in the future of American economics, national security and lifestyles. Increased government spending on the emerging technologies of today will pay off in the not-so-distant future as they blossom into workable solutions with environmental and economic benefits.
One idea that has received a particularly large amount of attention in recent press is the creation of a carbon dioxide emissions cap and trade system. Such a system would set a limit on the total emissions allowable in America.
Commercial carbon emitters would be permitted to discharge only a fixed volume of greenhouse gas. Those emitting carbon dioxide in excess of their limit would have to buy “carbon credits” at auctions from other organizations emitting less than their allottment. I am behind such a system because it would effectively place a tax on greenhouse gas emissions. The cap and trade system would provide a market-based incentive for organizations to find new ways of limiting their emissions.
I also support the avoidance of new coal power infrastructure in the United States. Coal plants supply over 50 percent of the power in our country and, by many estimates, account for more than one-third of the carbon dioxide emissions. An increased use of coal is touted by many to be the solution to American dependence on foreign sources of energy. Coal is plentiful in our country and existing infrastructure would make increased coal use relatively easy; however, the resulting additional carbon dioxide emissions would be extremely harmful to the earth.
By reducing our reliance on coal power and shifting American power infrastructure to eco-friendly wind and solar systems, the potentially disastrous effects of continued high rates of carbon dioxide emission can be averted. Additionally, a move away from coal power will help us dodge the harmful environmental effects of coal mining.
These topics are just a few of the many covered on the Choose Your Future Web site. This is a unique opportunity to voice your opinion on these important issues to your congressional representative. A table will be set up with laptops to receive your vote in the University Union on Jan. 31, the day of Focus the Nation. If you cannot make it to the event at Cal Poly, I encourage you to visit Choose Your Future online at http://focusthenation.org/chooseyourfuture.php.
Matt Hutton is an environmental engineering senior, Focus the Nation organizer and Mustang Daily columnist.