Giving Earth its Worth

Despite allegations to the contrary, both Republicans and Democrats live on the same planet Earth. Yet environmental policy and priority is largely seen as a 'blue state' issue. You know the stereotype: we Republicans pollute the air smoking our large cigars while we count our bags of non-recycled paper money and drive our Hummers over baby seals.

I was pleasantly surprised to learn at the recent convention that conservation has, appropriately enough, a conservative Republican legacy - everything from national parks to the EPA occurred under Republican leadership. The Democrats get 'brownie points' (greenie points?) for environmental concern because of the aggressive campaigning on this point, but my generation's lasting legacy won't just be about regulations affecting light bulbs or spotted owls.

Responsible environmental policy stems from responsible individual behavior, not the other way around. Free markets allow common sense, and not bureaucrats, to incentivize fuel-efficient cars or funky lightbulbs. McCain comments on this market-driven change, and shows willingness to consider real solutions to the problem:

"John McCain believes that America's economic and environmental interests are not mutually exclusive, but rather inextricably linked...

He has offered common sense approaches to limit carbon emissions by harnessing market forces that will bring advanced technologies, such as nuclear energy, to the market faster, reduce our dependence on foreign supplies of energy, and see to it that America leads in a way that ensures all nations do their rightful share."

See more about McCain's priorities for protecting our earth here.