Conservative Failure

The path to a clean energy economy has been blocked by the Bush administration and its conservative allies who scorn the threat posed by global warming and discount the growing economic and security costs of reliance on foreign oil.

Hunters, fishermen and farmers all attest to the startling changes wrought by global warming. After years of denial, President Bush has finally admitted that something is happening, yet his administration continues to cook the books, pressuring government scientists to downplay the data and mislead the public.

In 2006, the public pushed back and installed a new Congress. In 2007 and 2008, congressional leaders tried to change course, proposing to end oil and gas subsidies and invest that revenue into producing renewable energy. With the price of oil breaking $100 a barrel, and ExxonMobil raking in record annual profits of over $40 billion, it made no sense to continue handouts to Big Oil on our dime.

But the new Congress was thwarted by an obstructionist conservative minority, committed to the do-nothing, know-nothing policies of the past. Why buck the people’s will to maintain such an ineffective energy policy? Look no further than campaign contributions. Since 2000, oil interests have funneled 80% of their political giving—more than $80 million—to the Republicans in power.

For too long, conservatives have been subsidizing the disease and starving the cure. We don’t have to continue the failed policies that perpetuate the addiction to oil and put our pocketbooks and planet at risk. We have a choice.