Carbon Footprint = Pathetic Scam
By ParaTed2k
@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
March 31, 2008 1:41am CST
The reason I say, "Carbon Footprint = Pathetic Scam" sometimes puts those who are concerned with the environment on the defensive. They see it as a personal attack, or at least an attack on their causes.
I see "Carbon Footprint" as nothing more than an exuse. As long as a person boasts a "neutral" carbon footprint, they act like they are actually accomplishing something.
The concept reminds me of a good concept called "low impact camping". Low impact camping means that you do all you can to leave the campsite the way you found it (or better than you found it). A low impact camper will pack out everything they packed in. They will clean the coals, partially burnt wood, and other debris out of the fire pit. They don't cut down trees, dig holes without refilling them, or clear the ground cover from a spot without cover it up again.
If low impact campers followed the "carbon footprint" model, they wouldn't care what they did with the campsite, as long as they "made up for it" other ways. If they biked or hiked in, they wouldn't feel quilty for leaving food behind because "hey, we didn't pollute on the way here, and besides the animals can eat that food we left." They would feel justified in leaving a hole they dug, as long as they covered it with leaves to prevent erosion.
For anyone who cares about the environment, "carbon neutral" should be a joke.
The ONLY thing that helps the environment is Reducing our impact on it. If you decide to walk when you can, that is awesome! But what good did you do the environment if all it means to you is, now it's ok for you to continue doing something destructive?
If you're "carbon footprint" is "zero", but you are burning 20 gallons of gasoline more than necessary, wouldn't it be better to continue what you are doing that brought your footprint down, but then quit burning unnecessary fuel also?
And if you say you care about the environment, but buy "carbon credits", you are just a liar... especially to yourself.
5 people like this
6 responses
@Destiny007 (5805)
• United States
31 Mar 08
Yes, it is a scam for a few reasons.
The belief that man is responsible for global warming is losing ground all of the time as science learns more.
CO2 is now decreasingly believed to be a big factor in global warming as science has come to acknowledge that the biggest factors are the Sun and water vapor.
There is even some doubt as to the actual global warming since the earth has been in a cooling trend since 1998... however the liberal politicians and the environmental lobby are really hoping no one notices that because they have pending legislation and tax increases and grants and stuff that they really want to get passed while they can.
Al Gore is hoping no one notices the cooling as well, because he stands to make a nice fortune off of carbon credits, and he already has a company set up for that purpose.
The pending Lieberman-Warner Global Warming Bill includes language that establishes the carbon trading plan which would allow Gore's company to benefit.
I wonder how many of these politicians have an interest in that company?
It is a big scam, and what makes it even worse is that this will severely hurt our economy... so if you think it is bad now, well it is about to get a lot worse.
4 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
31 Mar 08
yup, a double whammy of a scam.
2 people like this
@gewcew23 (8007)
• United States
31 Mar 08
I believe that Al Gore and other that have started Carbon credit companies are committing consumer fraud. These companies tell there customers that send me money and I will make your crbon footprint go away. Carbon Credit companies would make a wonderful infocommercial. Imagine if you will Al Gore buying a 30 minuted time slot at 4 o'clock in the morning selling this as a product. The founder of the Weather Channel has made a statment that he would me interrested in the idea of a lawsuit against Al Gore on Consumer Fraud. I wish he would, because Al would have to defend the science behind Carbon Credits, and Global Warming.
3 people like this
@visitorinvasion (7709)
• United States
1 Apr 08
There are 20,000+ scientists disagreeing with Gore.
You are 100% right. Global Warming and this carbon tax bulls..t are consumer fraud, and worse. Some schools are forcing children to watch that movie or not graduate.
What kind of facist crap is that?
This season it has snowed in Baghdad, Hawaii, California and Texas, that I know of. What kind of Global Warming is that? The kind that brings snow?
2 people like this
@visitorinvasion (7709)
• United States
5 Apr 08
Yes, and if the tax us for it, it fixes everything.
:P
@AD11RGUY (1265)
• United States
3 Apr 08
"This season it has snowed in Baghdad, Hawaii, California and Texas, that I know of. What kind of Global Warming is that? The kind that brings snow?"
Well, obviously Al has confused heat with temperature. As we all know, a bathtub full of ice has more heat than a thimble of boiling water, thus all this snow adds to global warming - in entropy. 
2 people like this
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
31 Mar 08
Another fact that helps some people to understand you are correct concerns the failed, fraudulant, criminal corporation, ENRON.
Yep, you guessed. Some of the earliest big time supporters, boosters, and enthusiasts for the selling and trading of 'carbon credits' were the crooks at ENRON. What they did for the buying and selling of fraudulent energy contracts and derivatives (exploiting people's energy needs and artificially increasing electric costs), they wanted to do with 'carbon credits'. Why? These world class crooks knew a world class scam when they saw it.
3 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
31 Mar 08
No wonder the Democrats went after ENRON, they were playing the Democrats side of the street. ;~D
2 people like this
@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
31 Mar 08
Hello ParaTed,
Great topic!
What perhaps troubles me most about this is the springboard for minimizing the importance of personal responsibility.
The message I see from it is: Go ahead and soil our planet. Though, make sure to pay somebody else who will plant a tree on your behalf.
Instead, we all ought to make a point to: Pick up our trash. Financially support organizations & companies that make a commitment to minimizing pollution. Plant that tree ourselves. Essentially, commit our own selves to responsible stewardship of the land. Don't cough up a few bucks, and expect someone else to do it for us! It simply does not work, unless we all do our part.
From my perspective: These scam brokers need to figure out another way to make their millions.
I will moreso respect the person who has the courage to tell me that it is my own responsibility to be a steward of the environment. Not the man who says that if I make him rich, he'll do it for me. This is utter foolishness!
2 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
31 Mar 08
I don't think Personal Responsibility and Liberalism have ever met.
2 people like this
@visitorinvasion (7709)
• United States
31 Mar 08
Well, I'm not a tree hugger, tho I do love nature in small doses. Sure, we need to not litter, etc., but I'll leave the environmental fighting to those who enjoy it.
This is the first I've heard of "carbon footprint," and I know absolutely nothing about it whatsoever.
I do not camp, therefore no one has to worry about me polluting the woods or whatever. I do have to drive tho, and will continue driving as long as the gas prices allow.
If I'm reading into your satire correctly, this is basically a rant about hypocritical people that are trying to justify their "sins" against the environment by naming off all the "little" things they do to help.
Some things can't be helped.
Gotta eat, gotta work, gotta drive.
Other things can be helped.
Don't gotta joyride in a V-8 4-barrel, don't gotta litter, don't gotta be wasteful.
Good rant.
2 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
31 Mar 08
Who I'm talking about are the people who tell the rest of us that we aren't doing enough. Then they drive off in their V-8s, but pay for "carbon offsets" to make themselves feel like they're helping anything at all.
4 people like this
@Myrrdin (3599)
• Canada
31 Mar 08
Believe it or not, but some people who fully support environmental causes agree with you. The idea of the carbon footprint was initially supposed to be equivalent to the low impact camping, but became something else as you could basically pay for damage by doing something that makes you feel good. On an individual basis its not too bad, but once you get on an international level and have the carbon trading stuff it is a little silly. Individually its not bad because if you are planting trees to clean the air that's still a good thing, doesn't mean you should feel good about driving an SUV that sucks though gas, but its still better then driving an SUV and NOT planting the trees. Outright buying carbon credits is just a feel good action and not an environmental one.
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
31 Mar 08
That's something I wondered. How much of what has become "environmental pop culture" is supported by those trying to live more environmentally friendly lives, and how much just want them to go strangle somemone. ;~D
2 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
31 Mar 08
AlexWander: "Carbon Credits" are nothing more than the "buying of indulgences" in the Cult of Man Caused Global Warming.
1 person likes this
@alexwander (170)
• Canada
31 Mar 08
Just want to add some comments and thoughts about the carbon trading. Government can give tax credits to companies who reduce pollution and fine the "bad polluters". Instead, carbon credits are given so "good companies" can cash in their effort. Bad polluters then buy carbon credits instead of paying fines.
Theoretically, government withdraw and lets the market do the work. Does it really help the environment? Honestly I don't know.
