Green = Jobs?

It's no secret that unemployment in America is a major problem, many politicians have even based their entire campaign on this issue. There is no disagreement on either side of the political fence that the job situation in America could be improved. The debate lies in deciding how to solve the problem. So, what should or should not be done?

According to James Pethokoukis, a political journalist and major contributor for CNBC, going green falls in the "should not be done" category. In one of his previous blog posts Pethokoukis says, "In fact, as evident in Spain, Germany and even Denmark, over-tough green legislation can destroy the productive capacity of the most enlightened industries." Pethokoukis feels that the strict regulations being placed on businesses in an attempt to reduce harmful pollution is detrimental to the economy and creation of jobs. In fact, Pethokoukis feels that we should steer clear of green legislation as much as possible, and not doing so will destroy many thriving industries. He makes his point clear from the very beginning when he states, "Now the question is whether the president can refocus on jobs. This will take, among other things, backing off the economically ruinous climate change agenda."

This view on the issue may have some merit, this is a legitimate concern but, who is to say that the new industry that may be created by the change in legislation will be any less successful than the current one? We are facing a record high unemployment rate, in part, because for many years these "thriving industries" have been sending jobs overseas in search of cheaper labor. If Americans as a whole can set our sites on a cleaner more prosperous future, jobs will naturally be created. This claim is supported in an article published by the Associated Press, found on MSNBC.com called, "Poll: Fighting Global Warming Good For Economy" the article states, "By increasing the cost of doing business, the cap-and-trade bill and the regulations backed by the White House may mean there would be fewer jobs in coal mining, oil refining and other industries that emit greenhouse gases. But many jobs would probably be replaced by "green jobs" such as making wind turbines, installing solar panels and insulating homes."

Jobs and the economy, although extremely important, are not the only reasons green legislation needs to be enacted. What it ultimately comes down to is what kind of a nation we believe we can be. Do we want to create a cleaner, healthier earth for ourselves and our children or do we want to continue exploiting the earth's non-renewable resources with no concern for the harm we are creating? The fact is that America is a nation full of resilience and perseverance. Throughout history, when faced with adversity, our nation has succeeded and become stronger because of it, we should not be afraid of change, but instead embrace it as a way of becoming an even greater nation.

I for one believe that sustainable living (going green) should become an important goal that Americans should strive to reach. I am not in a position to enact laws and regulations to make this a reality, all I can do is start small and hope that the little bit I can do as an individual will help make a change!




Sources:
http://blogs.reuters.com/james-pethokoukis/2010/04/06/create-jobs-dont-go-green/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34431546/ns/business-going_green/t/poll-fighting-global-warming-good-economy/