Kamala Also Confuses Clean Air and Climate Change
Senator Kamala Harris at hearing for Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett last week
Two weeks ago here on my blog I pointed out that in the televised debate, President Trump took the question from FOX News’ Chris Wallace about climate change, and deflected it to his concern for “clean water and air”, a very different issue. To be politically fair, I noted that this was a common point of confusion and that his opponent, former VP Joe Bidden did nothing to correct the obfuscation.
In the spirit of fairness – and to maintain my public stance of political neutrality – I need to point out that last week, in the Senate hearing for proposed Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, that Senator Kamala Harris made virtually the same erroneous point. She asked the Judge:
“Do you believe in climate change and that it’s threatening the air we breathe and the water we drink?” [In accord with precedent, Judge Barrett declined to answer, on the basis that doing so could compromise her for future cases.]
My point here is that Democrats can be equally responsible as Republicans in confusing the issues of clean air and water, with climate change. Carbon dioxide is completely clear but is well proven to trap extra heat in the atmosphere, warming the oceans, melting the polar ice caps and raising sea level.
In that blog post about President Trump’s confusion, I explained the difference between carbon and carbon dioxide and noted that even many scientific and environmental experts confuse the issue by referring to “taking carbon out of the atmosphere” when they really mean carbon dioxide – CO2 – something totally different.
Public concern and awareness about climate change, sometimes referred to as global warming, has increased tremendously in the last four years. Now a majority of the American public identifies it as a high concern. Our leaders need to help clarify and educate the public. That starts with clear communication. Clean air and water is an important need, but is entirely different from the danger of climate change.
It is important to be educated and to educate others.
It’s also important to vote.