Newter Newt!

According to the About the Authors on the jacket, Newt Gingrich used to be an environmental studies professor. Whodathunkit?

Anyway, I recently happened upon a copy of this... "book"... and had to put it down. It seemed like every other sentence gave me something to rant about. What follows is a copy of the second chapter (which is basically a summary of the entire book, and bears the same title as the book itself), as well as my annotations.

Warning: Vitriol ahead!



Chapter 2, A Contract with the Earth
Newt Gingrich and Terry L Maple

The sea, the great unifier, is man’s only hope. Now as never before, the old phrase has a literal meaning: We are all in the same boat. - Jacques Yves Cousteau

Our nation’s moral obligation to provide effective environmental leadership will require the formation of new strategic partnerships among nations, nongovernmental organizations, and multinational corporations (any organization whose primary function/goal is to make money [ie, a corporation] cannot be relied upon to go the extra mile and do what’s actually necessary, rather than cutting corners – viz the privatization of airport security) dedicated to protecting and renewing the earth’s [sic] precious resources. International partnerships can only be achieved with presidential leadership and significant bipartisan support in Congress. For too long, the adversarial political climate in America inhibited cooperation, consensus, and action in this domain. Civility, compromise, and unity of purpose are necessary precursors to meaningful global cooperation. In addition, the focused energy, creativity, enthusiasm, and endorsement of the American people will be necessary to achieve the gold standard of a sustainable, renewable world. To reach the new benchmarks in protecting and renewing the environment and guarantee a bright and enduring future for our children and grandchildren, we ask you to join with us to advance the ten commitments of this Contract with the Earth.

Mostly doubletalk, political bullshit and posturing


1 Take the Lead. Let us affirm that America is willing to resume its role as the environmental leader of the world. Further, the burden of leadership requires that Americans help shape an earth [sic] where waste is minimized by reducing, resuing, and recycling (programs that make people think they’re doing something, placate their conscience, so they don’t have to stop driving their SUVs); where water and air meet stringent standards of cleanliness; where fossil fuels have been largely modified for carbon recycling or replaced by carbon neutral alternatives (but where are those “modified” fossil fuels coming from, and at what cost?); where forests, wetlands, lakes, and the world’s oceans have been restored to health; where the pace of plant and animal extinction has been effectively abated and biological diversity regenerated (WTF regenerated? How? From where?); where humanity’s collective impact on the earth [sic] has been moderated by prudent management of our natural resources (our trying to “manage” the natural world is what’s gotten us in this deep) and innovative technologies (technofix) that act to replenish and restore the earth’s [sic] damaged ecosystems; and where the environmental quality of life is no longer in decline but continues to improve for all nations throughout the world.

More management doubletalk, no substance



2 Reward a New Generation of Environmental Entrepreneurs. Acknowledge that we must create the context in which entrepreneurial environmentalists will flourish. Reject the notion that free enterprise and environmentalism are opposing forces. (Free enterprise, alias capitalism, is inherently competitive. Environmentalism is inherently cooperative, or at least, it must be to make any progress. How are those not opposing forces?) Stoke the competitive fire of environmental science and green enterprise through significant investments (giving money to pet projects) that hasten the pace of change and innovation. Focus and nurture environmental business, large and small, throughout the nation, to create and advance a multitude of renewable, sustainable, and restorative technologies. Continue the momentum that has made America a world leader in energy efficiency (since when has the US been a leader in any kind of efficiency?) by providing powerful incentives to cultivate genius and innovation. Reach out to potential collaborators to form diverse and inclusive partnerships to disseminate prosperity and opportunity. Significantly expand the pool of environmental entrepreneurs by ensuring that higher education is available to every American who wants to learn.

Republican rhetoric dressed up green – spin business to be good for the environment, by assuming technology can fix our problems, and prodding people to find new green(er) technologies that will be profitable.


3 Retire or Rejuvenate Old Technologies. Diminish our dependence on environmentally unfriendly and harmful technologies by reforming government and industry, offering compelling alternatives and incentives to invest in (republican buzzwords) and to transfer to better technologies (technofix). Innovation, improved industrial operating standards, and the constant migration to emerging best practices will modify old technologies into acceptable forms (we need to do away with old technologies completely – to quote Quinn in Ishmael not old minds with new programs, but new minds with no programs). Let us commit to change – and lead the change – but not retreat when faced with formidable challenges. By overcoming difficult problems, we are challenged to pay attention, think, and create for a better future (meaningless drivel). We must commit to a future characterized by ubiquitous, clean technologies.

Just see my previous post about technofixes.


4 Transform the Role of Government. Government alone cannot solve complex environmental problems, but government in partnership with organizations and business ensures that thoughtful environmental action will strengthen both the economy and the environment. Government, at all levels, should be a facilitator for entrepreneurial, private-sector innovations and the formation of private-public environmental partnerships, supporting and not suppressing the creativity of entrepreneurial environmentalists. The resources of government should be consistently applied to reduce red tape and facilitate progress. Some regulation will always be necessary, but it should be limited, focused, and reasonable to liberate the full potential of market innovation.

More republican bullshit dressed up green – government giving money to businesses, and deregulating, so the businesses can do whatever they want.


5 Become an Aspirational and Inspirational Nation. Expect that our local, state, and federal governments and their business enterprise partners will be both aspirational and inspirational. Government, industry, and small businesses should advance lofty but achievable goals to improve the environment step by step. (How many contradictions can we cram into one sentence?) The arbitrary power of our federal bureaucracy should not impose or dictate environmental aspirations. Instead, they should emerge from shared values and a consensus established by strategic dialogue among a broad array of stakeholders. We have everything to gain by thinking big and aiming high. Our aspirations will drive us; an inspired political, intellectual, and social process will guide us. To inspire others to achieve, we must continue to express optimism.

Does anything in this paragraph signify anything?


6 Position America to Meet the Challenge. Require our leaders to formulate positive, pragmatic, and proactive policies (nice alliteration) so that looming environmental crises, whether near term or distant, can be identified and averted. We should strive to achieve an enduring consensus on the specific goals for a healthy environment and agree on the policies to achieve them. Leaders should reach out to every citizen and to more than one-half-million elected American officials at all levels of government to chart a course together (million points of light). We must be prepared to anticipate and quickly respond to present and future threats. The high priority of the environment must be affirmed.

More smoke and mirrors


7 Encourage Scientific and Technical Literacy. A dramatically larger workforce of environmental engineers, scientists, and techinically competent entrepreneurs is needed to generate new ideas and new solutions in a world of increasing complexity (technofix). Our community schools must return to an emphasis on math and science (like ID) to educate citizens with the ability to fill this need. New learning technologies (outsourcing the task of education to computers) and a commitment to widespread and consistent mentoring (leaving no child behind) will help us reach this goal. We must provide the financial incentives (because people only ever do things for money) to encourage the development of young environmental scientists and engineers. The National Science Foundation and other relevant federal agencies should be encouraged to “think big” about reforms in public learning. Our nation’s museums, gardens, zoos, and aquariums should be empowered to help stimulate and inspire young people to choose careers in science, math, and engineering and to keep them focused on the priority of the environment.

More faux-revolutionary fluff


8 Invoke the Spirit of Collaboration and Cooperation. A history of adversarial politics and litigation has deferred, delayed, and deterred an adequate response to our growing environmental challenges. Antienvironmental politicians are out of step with the American people as concern for the environment is widely acknowledged as an important component of a patriotic worldview (environmentalism is a much larger scale than patriotism). A mainstream, nonpartisan approach to environmental problem solving will engage America’s citizens in active, pragmatic change without political polarization. We should question how, not whether, the earth [sic] can be renewed. (It will be renewed eventually, but not until civilization has been dismantled, one way or another.) Politicians should compete on the basis of who has the best solutions (as opposed to who puts up the best bullshit?) and be judged by the outcomes of solutions they sponsor (nobody would ever get reelected). We should agree to elevate the environmental debate to a higher plane of civil dialogue. (How about a higher plane of technical dialogue? How about listening to the people who are telling you that you need to act, rather than continue blathering and posturing?) A cessation of shouting is long overdue; it is time to communicate.

More vacuous garbage declarations and potshots at the Democrats who have obstructed Republican projects


9 Support the Environment through Philanthropy and Investment. A coordinated, strategic philanthropy will support the increasing priority of environmental events and issues. We need to enlist America’s most affluent corporations, foundations, and individuals to help solve complex environmental problems (by funding their pet projects, rather than ideas that merit the time, attention and money). The historic generosity of Americans (?!) must be encouraged as it continues to be a major source of our strength and reputation throughout the world. Strategic philanthropy will be an essential tool of entrepreneurial environmentalism in the twenty-first century.

More green justification for republican greed and pork barrel shenanigans


10 Enlist the Nation. It is time to recruit (brainwash) an army of environmental foot soldiers (jack-booted thugs) to tenaciously pursue a new (republican) course for our nation. In addition, executives in government, business, science, and the arts (how many executives are there in science and the arts?) must rally to mobilize all citizens to pursue proactive, environmental policies and practices at home and in the workplace. If America dares to lead on the environment, our elected representatives (and the cronies they appoint) – at local, state, and federal levels – also must be fully committed to the task. This commitment of time and energy is nothing less than a quest to restore trust, teamwork, and cohesion to our nation (which we haven’t seen since the advent of political parties) as we engage a new and comprehensive environmental agenda (no programs). Every one of us, meek and mighty, is needed to reach our goal of a cleaner, healthier Earth.

Vapid, feel-good, motivational piffle


IMPLEMENTING A CONTRACT WITH THE EARTH

In the chapters to follow, we will amplify and explore the ten commitments of the contract. Because promoting a vital environment will always be a work in progress, Americans will need to stay engaged in the same way that we focus daily on the health and welfare of our families and the safety of our communities (actually, that’s a good place to start, we certainly haven’t been paying any attention to those things thus far). We hope the contract will facilitate daily conversations (in other words, it’s OK to just keep talking, we don’t need action yet) about the environment and stimulate new ideas and new information that will lead to new solutions. The examples we present are illustrative but not exhaustive because, literally, thousands of stories are worth telling.

In the months and years ahead, we intend to stay in touch with motivated, entrepreneurial environmentalists like you. After you have read and thought about the contents of this book, we ask you to contact us at www.contractwiththeearth.com so you can share your ideas, offer constructive criticism, and discuss the environmental news of the moment. You are the key to solving the earth’s [sic] environmental problems, and your community is the best place to affirm your commitment to a better world. We look forward to an ever-expanding dialogue with the American people and all others who share our approach to environmental problem solving.

Fuck no! There are already plenty of other successful groups, nations, etc. whose example WE should be following. Our “approach to environmental problem solving” has patently failed to date. Politicians have a hell of a time admitting when they’re wrong, and have a strong drive to stand up and do something different. So this is going to lead once again to big initiatives that gradually lose momentum and stagnate without showing results. Meanwhile, the problems will continue to worsen, both in quantity and quality, making them ever more difficult to resolve.

The challenge ahead is serious, more a marathon than a sprint, but it may be helpful to think beyond ourselves to commit to membership on a global team that is thoroughly green (but American politicians can’t be content with membership, they have to make the US a leader, despite the fact that they have no idea what they’re doing – I saw a button long ago to the effect of “those of you who claim to know what you’re doing are annoying those of us who do”, and that’s exactly where the US government has been going) – a team that transcends political party affiliations or ideological agendas. Cohesion, cooperation, and collaboration are critical features of the new century’s environmental playbook. If we succeed in mobilizing our nation, our experience may become a model for other nations. We may also succeed in uniting the world in a shared mission to shape a green, clean, and safe planet with liberty, justice, and prosperity for all.

The inclusion of “prosperity” there again gives away the republican bias. Capitalism, which the republicans endorse wholeheartedly, inherently creates a few wealthy and an abundance of poor. It’s impossible for everyone to be rich; “rich” implies having more than someone else, which automatically makes them relatively poor. Therefore everyone cannot be “prosperous” in a capitalistic setting. QED



Overall, a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. Some decent ideas, but nothing new. Some new ideas, but nothing decent. And even those bits have to be sifted from the enveloping chaff of political nonsense. But nowhere are there real plans, anything to act on. It’s all vague generalities and political grandstanding.