The environmental movement consists primarily of two groups of individuals. The first group are folks who are genuinely concerned about the state of the environment and the future of the planet. Those in the second group are simply out to use fear and dread to make boatloads of cash for themselves. And no two individuals epitomize these two factions better than Ed Begley, Jr. and Al Gore.
Mr. Gore has masterfully managed to con his way into making untold millions off of the “global warming” scare while living in an energy guzzling mansion the size of a small town and flying back and forth between his half-dozen other homes and various cities around the world in a fuel-guzzling jet. Although he talks a good talk, virtually everything he says fits somewhere on the truth meter between greatly exaggerated and outright fraudulent.
Mr. Begley on the other hand is a true believer. He backs up his words with actions by choosing to live in a modest 1600 square foot home that runs primarily on solar and power power. And while he does use some electricity from the grid, his annual electric bill is only around $300 per year, about what many folks pay out in a single month. And while his job as as actor requires occasional travel, he flies only when absolutely necessary, and on the most fuel-efficient plane available at the time. Oh, and he also gets around town either by riding a bicycle or hopping aboard public transportation or into his electric car.
While I think Mr. Begley is a bit fanatical in his belief in global warming and his intense desire to “save the planet”, I also think he is completely sincere. After all, he “practices what he preaches”. Al Gore on the other hand is nothing more than a charlatan who preaches the “religion” of global warming and rakes in mountains of cash while “sinning” with the best of them when church is out.
As for me, while I certainly want to keep the water clean and the air fit to breathe, I have no desire to ruin our economy or live like the Flintstones in an effort to reduce my “carbon footprint”. But if I did, I would be much more likely to listen to Mr. Begley rather than Mr. Gore.