The Patriot Post® · O'Rourke Introduces His 'Last Chance' Climate Plan

By Political Editors ·
https://patriotpost.us/articles/62698-orourke-introduces-his-last-chance-climate-plan-2019-05-01

In an attempt to grab a little lime light away from the crowded field of Democrat presidential candidates vying for the Leftmedia spotlight, Beto O'Rourke released his own climate plan — a plan that is distinct from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal — that he hopes is “woke” enough to garner the support of the hard Left. Evoking the apocalyptic language of climate alarmists, O'Rourke asserted, “We have one last chance to unleash the ingenuity and political will of hundreds of millions of Americans to meet this moment before it’s too late.” Which raises the question: Just how many of these “last chances” opportunities to “combat climate change” does the country have left? But we digress.

When questioned about his climate plan, O'Rourke explained “that we make this transition in the 10 years we have left to us as the science and scientists tell us to make the kind of bold change that we need.” Wow, dude… like no way, bro…

Let’s get this straight: AOC claims we have only 12 years left, while O'Rourke’s “science” puts that number at 10 years. So, what’s his plan to save the planet? And how does it differ from AOC’s GND?

If elected president, O'Rourke’s first order of business would be to introduce legislation establishing a “legally enforceable standard” to ensure that the country makes it halfway to the goal of zero emissions by 2030. But doesn’t the country only have 10 years left? How does half way fit into the 10-year window? No word on that calculation.

O'Rourke also tackles the question of cost, one of the myriad of factors that have made the GND and its $93 trillion price tag the laughing stock of recent public-policy plans. He claims his plan to get to “net zero emissions” will “only” cost taxpayers $5 trillion over a 10-year period, while trillions more will be “mobilized” from the private sector. “We will harness the power of the market, but also recognize that the market needs rules in order to function equitably and efficiently — not just incentives, but accountability.”

The fact of the matter is, like the GND, all O'Rourke’s plan would really accomplish is to advance socialism. Using little more than hip “woke” terminology, O'Rourke attempts to sell himself as the one candidate who will “mobilize” the nation to tackle the problem of climate change. A “problem” the majority of the American public don’t see as a pressing issue or even something we can meaningfully influence.