<p>rorosen–You have my most profound respect! …
Allmusic–I think alot of people are doing what they can in many ways, except, perhaps, with the car situation. I’ve been around long enough to recall the 1973 oil embargo and subsequent gas shortage that sent prices soaring and cranky people waiting in line for blocks to refuel. Up to that point, people had been tooling around in gas-guzzling muscle and limo-light cars (like my dad’s Ford LTD) without a care in the world. The '73 shortage caused a sudden and very major change in outlook. All at once, those hideous Volkswagen Rabbits, etc., didn’t look so bad. Obviously, the expense of gasoline these days isn’t discouraging those who would drive 8 mpg vehicles. Long lines might do the trick.</p>
<p>“Seriously, I do think Al Gore has a good message to convey, even if he himself may not be as personally consistent with his advice as he could be.”</p>
<p>I agree completely and am not outraged about it.</p>
<p>" It sounds like you’re doing your part just as I am trying to do. … Even though I’m not good about the thermostat, I recycle like crazy. Do I get points for that?"</p>
<p>You betcha!</p>
<p>
do I take it that Albert has no legislative component to his eco-agenda?</p>
<p>Of course he is trying to alter how we have to live.</p>
<p>Ro,</p>
<p>…as long as there be no chance of off-spring I suppose it is less complicated (dividing of assets and affections), and in that sense, a lesser sin than ole-fashioned run-o-the mill adultery.</p>
<p>What do you think–a solution to monogamy?</p>
<p>Hypocrisy is not high on my list of concerns when it comes to human beings. At least they by definition hold dear a positive value around which to be potentially hypocritical (and no one is perfect). It’s the people who hold nothing valuable and therefore having nothing to be hypocritical about who concern me.</p>
<p>We can all help stop Global Warming (if caused by greenhouse gas emissions)! But, how many of us do?</p>
<p>According to the link below, “More and more people are wondering how they can do their part to help reduce the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. While change won’t happen overnight, here are steps that you can take against global warming.”</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.wikihow.com/Reduce-Your-Greenhouse-Gas-Emissions[/url]”>http://www.wikihow.com/Reduce-Your-Greenhouse-Gas-Emissions</a></p>
<p>sokkermom–Thank you so much for the wonderful link! Number #9 on the list is still one of my weaknesses, but I will try to do better. … I’m assuming from your name that you are a “soccer” mom. So am I. My older daughter is an outside left mid at the College of Wooster.</p>
<p>hereshoping–You’ve offered a different, interesting, and very valid observation on hypocrisy. One that I might not have come up with on my own, but something to think about. Thanks.</p>
<p>"At least they by definition hold dear a positive value around which to be potentially hypocritical (and no one is perfect). "</p>
<p>Can someone truly be said to hold dear a value that he doesn’t make his best effort to live by? Doesn’t that come to the point of “oh that’s nice” but not important enough to work hard at? Not referring to Gore here, at all, but generally speaking most people I know live by their most cherished values.</p>
<p>Hereshoping can undoubtedly speak for herself on this, Zoosermom, but I’d like to add my 2 cents. Gore has a great message; he doesn’t always live by it, which is too bad, but a very human failing. I preach to my teen daughters about the importance of a good, healthy diet–but my own diet is something far less than ideal. (Too much wine, too many snacks, too much food in general.) That makes me a hypocrite in a way, doesn’t it? On the one hand, I’m passionate about instilling the importance of a healthy lifestyle in my daughters, but on the other, I’m not living it. Hmmmm.</p>
<p>“Gore has a great message; he doesn’t always live by it, which is too bad, but a very human failing.”</p>
<p>I agree, but remember, I’m not on the outraged list.</p>
<p>“I preach to my teen daughters about the importance of a good, healthy diet–but my own diet is something far less than ideal. (Too much wine, too many snacks, too much food in general.) That makes me a hypocrite in a way, doesn’t it? On the one hand, I’m passionate about instilling the importance of a healthy lifestyle in my daughters, but on the other, I’m not living it. Hmmmm.”</p>
<p>Are you really passionate about that or is it something that you think would be best for them? I’m talking about serious, life-defining values here, not just things one knows to be best. Like the parents who value education so highly that they sacrifice for that? The couples who feel so strongly about having a parent at home that they sacrifice? I bet we all know lots of parents like that. I have about three priorities that I hold so dear that they impact my life every day, that I make sacrifices for, affirm regularly and wouldn’t be who I am if I didn’t live those things. Can’t most people say that, whatever those priorities might be?</p>
<p>Getting back to global warming - my husband sent me this link:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1434[/url]”>http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1434</a></p>
<p>What do you think?</p>
<p>Excellent points, Zoosermom. No, I only seem to be passionate about a healthy diet/lifestyle when it comes to my girls. I’m one of these (hypocritical?) “do as I say, not as I do” types in this respect. (Don’t get me wrong. I don’t resemble the Goodyear blimp–yet!)
I do have serious values, however. As you mentioned, education is one. … Preserving the planet for future generations in any way I can (except re-setting the thermostat) is another. … Years ago, I exchanged a good job as an editor for a freelance-writing career, in order to have the flexibility to raise my girls in the way my husband and I saw fit. I didn’t home school them, or anything like that, but it just seemed important for me to be there for them when needed. We’ve had to make sacrifices–we live in a sweet but small home and drive '98 and '99 model cars, each with 100,000-plus miles on them–but it has been SO worth it. I guess that’s what you’re talking about when you say “serious, life-defining” values?</p>
<p>The group (Tennessee Center for Policy Research. They dispute that global warming is a serious problem) said that Gore used nearly 221,000 kilowatt hours last year and that his average monthly electric bill was $1,359. Johnson said his group got its figures from Nashville Electric Service.</p>
<p>But company spokeswoman Laurie Parker said the utility never got a request from the policy center and never gave it any information.</p>
<p>swift boating 2007 ???</p>
<p>ag–I’ll read the link you sent, but the problem I noticed when I opened it was the headline. The words “Al Gore’s Convenient Lie” in the headline was a turn-off to me, because it tipped me right away that this was going to be a very slanted piece of “journalism.” But as I said, I’ll read it, and try hard to keep an open mind.</p>
<p>Simba–I believe you started this thread! It’s turned out to be very interesting, don’t you think?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>In the spirit of the Oscars, here is Oscar Wilde on the subject at hand:
“By giving us the opinions of the uneducated, journalism keeps us in touch with the ignorance of the community.”</p>
<p>…like a breath of fresh air.
.</p>
<p>Dorothy–I adore you, but where do you come up with this stuff? I’m a mere peasant, who cannot grab relevant Oscar Wilde quotes out of the air on a whim.</p>
<p>allmusic, seriously a 5 figure bill? like 10,000? ten thousand? do you heat the yard and sky? maybe you are responsible for global warming. please shut the windows and give us back our icebergs!!!</p>
<p>Hindoo: Yes, it is becoming interesting.</p>
<p>I’s obvious isn’t it?</p>
<p>Gore’s running a school for mutants in that mansion of his.</p>
<p>Backed by the mutant army of his, Gore’s going to make us drive smaller cars, run the A/C less and take the train to work. And all the while, he’ll be siphoning off the energy savings so he and his Hollywood buddies can live like kings.</p>
<p>The horror, the horror.</p>