STEROIDS MAKE YOU STUPID: Arnold Schwarzenegger Comes Out Against Fossil Fuels
Sometimes the answer to the question, “What to write about this week?” is met with an audible abyss. Sometimes, people like Arnold Schwarzenegger drop topics into our laps.
I admire Arnold. He came to America with little money, not speaking a lick of English, and busted his butt whether he was laying brick, working out, or getting into mostly good movies (for their time). From anything I’ve read about him, whatever he was doing he seemed like the hardest working guy in the room, and a respected businessman.
About the latter…
On Monday of this week, Arnold posted a piece on Facebook about climate change with the title “I don’t give a **** if we agree about climate change.” It’s a short read, so give it a go. I’ll wait.
A few responses:
Arnold: First — do you believe it is acceptable that seven million people die every year from pollution? That’s more than murders, suicides, and car accidents — combined.
First, how can you link that many deaths to air pollution? Take a look at the World Health Organization (WHO) list of actual diseases caused by what they claim is outdoor air pollution:
* 40% – ischaemic heart disease
* 40% – stroke
* 11% – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
* 6% – lung cancer
3% – acute lower respiratory infections in children
No one disputes that bad air is bad, but to fail to include diet, activity, and other environmental factors grossly misrepresents these claims.
Arnold: Every day, 19,000 people die from pollution from fossil fuels. Do you accept those deaths?
Typical Leftist language. If you don’t accept your argument, you must be in favor of those deaths. I don’t accept your premise. Nineteen thousand killed every day X 365 days a year equals 6,935,000. Curiously, that’s what WHO claimed die every year from indoor AND outdoor pollution combined. Please restate your premise, or retract the question.
Arnold: Now, my second question: Do you believe coal and oil will be the fuels of the future?
Yes, I actually believe coal and oil are the fuels of the near future. I also heavily support nuclear energy which, while clean and safe, never seems to make it into this debate. Energy density — how much energy exists in a given source — is always an issue, not just in terms of how much but also in cost to produce. Coal, oil, and nuclear energy are all dense and, currently, the cheapest to produce.
Arnold: Besides the fact that fossil fuels destroy our lungs, everyone agrees that eventually they will run out.
What’s your plan then?
Everyone does not agree that fossil fuels destroy our lungs and will eventually run out. And what’s “eventually” — 1,000 years? Did you know new oil reserves are found all the time including Bakken in North Dakota and the Green River Formation in Colorado and Utah — the latter of which could equal the entire world’s oil reserves?
Arnold: A clean energy future is a wise investment, and anyone who tells you otherwise is either wrong, or lying. Either way, I wouldn’t take their investment advice.
Dare I bring Solyndra and the multiple other, failed government experiments in solar into this? If you are an investor in solar energy and your returns are positive, the overwhelming odds are your solar and ancillary companies are succeeding almost exclusively because of the American taxpayer.
Arnold: Renewable energy is great for the economy, and you don’t have to take my word for it…We were an early-adopter of a clean energy future. Our economy has not suffered. In fact, our economy in California is growing faster than the U.S. Economy.
If your claim about California’s economic growth is true, why are millions leaving California for regulation-friendlier states like Texas? Why is California’s debt higher than any other state in the union? Where is the tax revenue?
On your question regarding what room we’d rather be sealed in — one with a running car engine or one with an electric car — I agree, I’d go with the one with the electric engine. Now may I ask you to eat and drink the contents of the batteries in the electric car? Your room question is as stupid.
No, Arnold, in matters of climate change and solar energy, you are not a free-market businessman. If you are a solar investor, in the truest sense of the word you are a welfare recipient. And you should be denied your “benefits” at first opportunity.
This is really sad. From Hollywood badass to a big, global warming, crony capitalist. Can you imagine if our once great hero went vegetarian?
What’s next, The Caitlynater?
Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arnold_Schwarzenegger_2,_2012.jpg