Changes

* In 1979, [[Jimmy Carter]] adopted an [[energy]] policy in an effort to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, demanding a 50% cut in the use of oil to generate electricity and replace it with [[coal]].  This policy was unveiled in his 1979 "malaise" speech.<ref>http://www.rightwingnews.com/speeches/carter.php</ref>  This caused a 40% increase in the use of coal as a power source<ref>Huber, Peter and Mills, Mark. ''The Bottomless Well''.  Basic Books, 2005.</ref>, pumping millions of tons of additional [[greenhouse gases]] into the atmosphere.  Indeed, global mean temperatures were dropping from 1940 to the late 1970s but this cooling trend reversed after 1978 and became a warming trend.

* In 1979, [[Jimmy Carter]] adopted an [[energy]] policy in an effort to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, demanding a 50% cut in the use of oil to generate electricity and replace it with [[coal]].  This policy was unveiled in his 1979 "malaise" speech.<ref>http://www.rightwingnews.com/speeches/carter.php</ref>  This caused a 40% increase in the use of coal as a power source<ref>Huber, Peter and Mills, Mark. ''The Bottomless Well''.  Basic Books, 2005.</ref>, pumping millions of tons of additional [[greenhouse gases]] into the atmosphere.  Indeed, global mean temperatures were dropping from 1940 to the late 1970s but this cooling trend reversed after 1978 and became a warming trend.

* Environmentalists have been opposed to [[nuclear power]] since the 1970s.  Their cause gained more public support after the 1979 [[Three Mile Island]] accident.  As a result of this opposition, no new nuclear power plants have been commissioned in the United States since.  In conjunction with Carter's energy policy, this led to coal becoming the default electricity-producing fuel.  See above for the consequences.  Nuclear power, by contrast, does not produce any air pollution at all.

* Environmentalists have been opposed to [[nuclear power]] since the 1970s.  Their cause gained more public support after the 1979 [[Three Mile Island]] accident.  As a result of this opposition, no new nuclear power plants have been commissioned in the United States since.  In conjunction with Carter's energy policy, this led to coal becoming the default electricity-producing fuel.  See above for the consequences.  Nuclear power, by contrast, does not produce any air pollution at all.

* [[Aerosol]]s are known to have an atmospheric cooling effect, possibly masking any man-made warming effects from greenhouse gases, assuming there is such a thing.  Liberal environmentalists campaigned heavily against consumer use of aerosols starting in 1974 after an environmental scare hit the news that aerosol sprays could be harmful to the [[ozone layer]].  See above for the consequences.  Global mean temperatures began rising again in the late 1970s.

* [[Aerosol]]s are known to have an atmospheric cooling effect, possibly masking any man-made warming effects from greenhouse gases, assuming there is such a thing.<ref>http://www.enn.com/pollution/article/39303</ref> Liberal environmentalists campaigned heavily against consumer use of aerosols starting in 1974 after an environmental scare hit the news that aerosol sprays could be harmful to the [[ozone layer]].<ref>http://www.predictweather.co.nz/assets/articles/article_resources.php?id=36</ref> See above for the consequences.  Global mean temperatures began rising again in the late 1970s.

* The ban on [[DDT]] has led to millions of deaths from [[malaria]] in the developing world.<ref>Murray, Iain.  ''The Really Inconvenient Truths''.  Regnery Publishing, 2008.</ref> The popularity of Rachel Carson's ''[[Silent Spring]]'' was a significant factor in bringing about a ban on the use of DDT.  Replacement pesticides adopted after the DDT ban have proven to be less effective at eradicating [[mosquito]]es, and more harmful to the environment.  When properly used DDT's ecological impact is negligible.<ref>Lomborg, Bjorn.  ''Cool It'', pg 98.  Vintage Books, 2008.</ref>

* The ban on [[DDT]] has led to millions of deaths from [[malaria]] in the developing world.<ref>Murray, Iain.  ''The Really Inconvenient Truths''.  Regnery Publishing, 2008.</ref> The popularity of Rachel Carson's ''[[Silent Spring]]'' was a significant factor in bringing about a ban on the use of DDT.  Replacement pesticides adopted after the DDT ban have proven to be less effective at eradicating [[mosquito]]es, and more harmful to the environment.  When properly used DDT's ecological impact is negligible.<ref>Lomborg, Bjorn.  ''Cool It'', pg 98.  Vintage Books, 2008.</ref>

* Liberal [[immigration]] policies adopted in the United States due to the passage of the 1965 Immigration Act, opened the floodgates to unsustainable population growth in the United States which continues to this day.  Had immigration levels been left at pre-1965 levels, U.S. population would have likely stabilized at around 240 million by now.  Instead it is over 300 million, and expected to reach 468 million by the year 2060<ref>http://www.cis.org/impact_on_population.html</ref>, mostly due to mass immigration.  The U.S. ecology cannot handle this rate of population growth.

* Liberal [[immigration]] policies adopted in the United States due to the passage of the 1965 Immigration Act, opened the floodgates to unsustainable population growth in the United States which continues to this day.  Had immigration levels been left at pre-1965 levels, U.S. population would have likely stabilized at around 240 million by now.  Instead it is over 300 million, and expected to reach 468 million by the year 2060<ref>http://www.cis.org/impact_on_population.html</ref>, mostly due to mass immigration.  The U.S. ecology cannot handle this rate of population growth.<ref>http://balance.org/alerts/alert122004.html</ref>

* Likewise, the ecology of U.S. National Parks and Monuments bordering [[Mexico]] has been trampled and is severely at risk from the [[illegal alien]]s coming into the U.S. who enter through those parks (such as Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument).  Liberal environmental groups responded to this threat, not by supporting the [[border fence]], but by filing lawsuits against the fence claiming it would disrupt [[animal]] habitats.  When in fact, the flood of illegal aliens already did disrupt those animal habitats.<ref>http://www.desertinvasion.us/</ref>

* Likewise, the ecology of U.S. National Parks and Monuments bordering [[Mexico]] has been trampled and is severely at risk from the [[illegal alien]]s coming into the U.S. who enter through those parks (such as Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument).  Liberal environmental groups responded to this threat, not by supporting the [[border fence]], but by filing lawsuits against the fence claiming it would disrupt [[animal]] habitats.  When in fact, the flood of illegal aliens already did disrupt those animal habitats.<ref>http://www.desertinvasion.us/</ref>

* Liberal environmentalist demands for cleaner burning [[gasoline]] led to the addition of MTBE (methyl tert-butyl ether) into gasoline starting in 1979, with higher levels of MTBE mandated after 1992 to comply with the demands of the [[Clean Air Act]].  The leakage of MTBE from tens of thousands of storage tanks has contaminated tens of thousands of water wells throughout the U.S.  An even small release of MTBE can render a large supply of water unpotable.  MTBE was finally banned in some states in 2004-2005, but the damage has already been done.  The cost of environmental cleanup and lawsuits  from its use range upwards of $30 billion.

* Liberal environmentalist demands for cleaner burning [[gasoline]] led to the addition of MTBE (methyl tert-butyl ether) into gasoline starting in 1979, with higher levels of MTBE mandated after 1992 to comply with the demands of the [[Clean Air Act]].  The leakage of MTBE from tens of thousands of storage tanks has contaminated tens of thousands of water wells throughout the U.S.  An even small release of MTBE can render a large supply of water unpotable.  MTBE was finally banned in some states in 2004-2005, but the damage has already been done.  The cost of environmental cleanup and lawsuits  from its use range upwards of $30 billion.