You say "gut"...

Obama at Notre Dame

President Obama accepted an honorary doctorate and spoke at the Notre Dame commencement yesterday. 14,000 enthusiastic supporters far outnumbered a handful of rude protesters. As usual, he was graceful, witty, serious, and engaging in his comments, directly addressing the "elephant in the room" by calling for serious dialog and action on the shared goals of reducing the number of abortions and unwanted pregnancies. He echoed the valedictorian's call to challenge our preconceptions, maintain and raise our standards, and apply our ideals even if it is uncomfortable or risks failure. Despite the difference that the protesters highlighted, there was also evident a fundamentally similar world-view, insistence on civility, and mutual respect.

Put it on My Carbon Credit

“Cap and trade” is an approach to reducing greenhouse gasses, especially carbon dioxide (CO2), wherein the total amount released is capped and industries are allowed to trade the right to release them. If a company can reduce CO2 emissions, it can sell a carbon credit to another company to allow it to release more CO2. The idea is to assign a cost to releasing CO2 and impose marketplace discipline to reduce release. It may work, but why limit this to industry? Why should Exxon-Mobile and other massive polluters inherit a windfall of carbon credits that practically rewards them for their past misdeeds and inaction?

Shouldn't every human being have a certain carbon credit? We should credit commuters who take mass transit or walk or bike instead of driving to work. We should credit individuals whose carbon footprint is tiny. A Bangladeshi whose carbon footprint is nonexistent should have the credit to lend or sell to industrial polluters.

If you cap me, do I not breath? If you trade me, do I not drive? Carbon-based units unite! You have nothing to lose but your breath!