Yes, The Oil Companies Actually Do Have a Corruptive Influence in Washington
Frequent commenter MarcoPolo takes exception to my claim the oil companies have a corrupting influence on the U.S. law-making process. I respond:
Either you’re not paying attention or you’re willfully ignoring the evidence.
There are 188 climate deniers in Congress, including 38 (out of 100) senators. Does that strike you as a coincidence as we enter 2017 and the scientific research on the subject is totally overwhelming?
Texas-based ExxonMobil’s lobbying budget is among the largest in the U.S.
The attorneys general in a few states want to investigate the facts surrounding Exxon’s knowledge, gained through its own research in the 1970s, of the eventual catastrophic impacts of climate change and their subsequent decision to spend tens of millions of dollars on disinformation campaigns to convince legislators and voters that global warming is a hoax. These investigations have been totally gummed up with the legal wranglings initiated by Senator Lamar Smith (R-TX). Smith’s largest campaign contribution came from the oil and gas sector. Again, are we to consider it coincidental that this obstruction of justice is coming out of Texas, driven by a man who’s plainly in the pockets of the fossil fuel industry?
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Ed Rendell, the ex-governor of Pennsylvania, who’s spent a great deal of time in Washington. Here’s an excerpt from what I wrote a few years ago:
Rendell is on a crusade to see a renewable portfolio standard (i.e., a mandate to get to a certain minimum mix of clean energy) at the federal level. “Through years of experience at the state level, we’ve proven that clean energy mandates create payoffs in terms of a large number of good, well-paying jobs. We need a stable policy to support this at the national level – and it has to be permanent; it can’t flip-flop every four years.
So why, precisely, is this not happening? According to Rendell: “There are too many special interests arrayed against it. Over 90% of Democratic voters are in favor of Congress passing legislation that prioritizes clean energy. In fact, over 75% of Republican voters are in favor of the exact same thing. Clearly, the will of the American people is being frustrated by special interests.”
“Together, we can do this,” Rendell fairly bellowed in summary. “But we can’t do it inside the Beltway. The lobbyists are raising campaign money for our senators and representatives in Washington seven days a week. It never stops. It never stops. There are fund-raisers happening literally every night. If change is going to happen, it needs to take place in hometown America. Your leaders have to hear it from you.”
Koch Industries and Exxon Mobil are key contributors to the Heartland Institute, a group heavily involved in purveying climate disinformation, including the charming, fair-minded ad above.
If you want to respond to what I’ve written here, that’s fine, but I’m checking out of this conversation; it’s a waste of my time. And yours, btw. Intelligent people don’t debate the validity of the theory of evolution or special relativity, simply because the volume of scientific evidence has removed all doubt from these discussions. The case here is the same. See you around.
Craig,
Given your previous statement, I’m surprised you replied at all !
If you recall this discourse began with my expressing concern over the general public’s growing exasperation with arrogant and intolerant advocates who when challenged resort to condescension, abuse or dismissive tactics to silence debate or scrutiny of the validity of their claims.
This is unfortunate as it limits your influence to those who are already believers, while sowing doubt in the minds of the undecided. Science doesn’t discourage open-minded debate that’s the prerogative demanded by fanatic’s and faith based organizations.
It’s not “corrupt” to dissent ! It’s not “corrupt” for any industry, organization or interest group to seek a voice in the political dynamics of a country.
The Oil Industry exerts it’s right to be heard, commensurate with it’s contribution to the economy. That’s not “corrupt”.
Nor is the Oil industry alone. The heavily funded politicians and lobbyists representing the Renewable Energy Industry, including the US environmentally harmful US corn ethanol industry, vastly outweigh and outspend the Oil Industry, yet you remain silent about their self interest and lobbying activities.
What is Joe Public to derive from that anomaly ? The only conclusion is when your chosen enemies exercise their political rights it’s “evil and corrupt”, but not when your chosen political allies do so !!!!?
(Incidentally, the RFA and allies lobbying efforts outspend the oil industry several times over and include some of the worlds wealthiest corporations, but their contribution to the economy and tax revenue is minuscule in comparison to oil).
I’m glad you named one of your heroes on Mt Olympus !
I’ve also met ex Governor Rendell, (an ardent believer in capital punishment who eagerly signed 78 execution warrants during his term, 32 of whom were later found to be in error).
Ed Rendell is obviously a talented and influential Democrat politician . So influential he got Clinton to appoint his wife to the Federal Bench.
Influential he certainly is ! Well, you would expect an ex-politician turned high fee lobbyist to have some influence to sell, or what use would he be to NBC News and MSNBC, investment bankers Greenhill & (Philadelphia-based cleantech investment company Element Partners, etc ?
An example of how influential, is his ability to by pass normal procedures to negotiate a settlement between oil and gas developers, Range Resources Corp and US EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, in a Texas water contamination case.
Although his six figure fee was paid by the oil and gas company, it was at the insistence of Lisa Jackson that he became the negotiator !
Oh well, I guess everything’s okay if you dwell on Mt Olympus !
That’s the trouble with Olympian gods, they often have feet of clay !
That’s also the problem with demonizing your enemies and politicizing environmental issues. At the best it looks impotent and hypocritical.
To the vast majority of those who don’t belong to your small congregation of the faithful, when the hear an impassioned sermon vilifying the oil industry, and witnessing the Preacher at the fuel pump filling his vehicle, in the words of Tennessee Williams they “small the stench of Mendacity and hypocrisy” !
I think that would be a shame, because the world needs more clean tech advocates. At your best, you are a very admirable and influential advocate for clean technology.
Why limit that influence by indulging in questionable and divisive political ideology ?
Thank for listening….