Pepperdine University: Global Warming
Lessen global warming restrictions - 10/05/06
On Sept. 27, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger visited Pepperdine to sign Assembly Bill 32, the California Climate Act of 2006, into law. Basically the bill would combat global warming threats by restricting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from California businesses. While global warming is a threat, and needs to be solved, the answer is not through more regulations on businesses, which in turn, leads to more taxes on the citizens.
The government cannot solve this problem by restricting businesses. Restricting businesses may seem like an obvious answer, but it is only a short-term fix to the problem. What the government needs to do is step aside and let concerned citizens step up and lead fellow citizens; concerned citizens such as Sir Richard Branson, owner of Virgin Atlantic, who has pledged $3 billion to support research into clean energy sources.
The more the government restricts, the harder it is for business owners to produce and make a profit. By allowing for a free-market economy, businesses would be forced to evolve their products and practices to agree with the conscience of consumers.
The public who opposes the proliferation of Global Warming has to be vocal and proactive about the situation. If they follow through, and make the decision to spend their money and time on more environmentally friendly products, the businesses will have no choice but to follow, or go out of business.
This is the kind of free-market response that is needed - not more government regulations. This gives the power to the people, allowing them to spend their hard-earned money on what they want and think is right, such as a new hybrid car, manufactured at an environmentally friendly plant, instead of a new Hummer H3.
