Introducing the Conservative Green New Deal

[pbrower2a]

(08-05-2022, 04:12 PM)JasonBlack Wrote: As most of you know, I'm sympathetic to the goals of environmentalism, but I despise the misanthropic luddites and anti-natalist hippies that tend to spearhead them. As such, I think we need to define a new environmental infrastructure deal on our terms. 

First off...how a re we going to pay for it? 
1) Double the estate tax owed on foreign-owned, residential homes (that's right. those friggin Chinese commies better pay up for gtfo).

They have as much right to invest here as we do. They may need to live in such housing if their political orders implode

Quote:2) Good ol' legalize-n-tax weed.

 

That's good for starting plenty of small businesses in Michigan, where it is legal. 

Quote:3) Add a national tax on high fructose corn syrup.

That stuff is awful for contributi8ng to diabetes and gout. 

Quote:4) Require that all donors to political campaigns or parties pay an equal, corresponding amount to infrastructure projects.

 
I'm more concerned with the Dark Money that creates ads that mindlessly demonize anyone who fails to believe that those who own the assets rightly own the political process. 
 

Quote:5) Decrease agricultural subsidies by 30% 

The small farmers have largely been driven off, so those subsidies largely reward people who bought out the small farms and established Junker-like estates. 

Now then, let's begin:

Quote:1) Begin construction of high speed rail all across the country. If necessary, eminent domain will pay out 125% of market value for all property seized. 

People ought to be priced out of driving very long distances. Rail is far less expensive.  

Quote:2) Where possible, begin construction of underground tunnel highways in major metropolitan areas

That is expensive, but much less disruptive.
 

Quote:3) Where possible increase interstate highways to 4 lanes, urban highways to 6 lanes and dense, metropolitan highways to 8 policies. Additionally, individual states may apply for grants to increase country backroads from 1 to 2 lanes. 

There's a huge difference between I-94 between Detroit and Chicago (in rural stretches)  and I-94 in North Dakota or Montana. Two lanes on each side are adequate in ranch country in which population centers are far apart. I know well the congestion on I-94 in the Battle Creek-Kalamazoo area (the middle of I-94 between Detroit and Chicago. I am surprised that this highway has not been widened in the rural areas between I-69 and US-131 (a US highway that between Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids looks much like a heavily-traveled urban road. 

Quote:4) Add at least one nuclear power plant to every major metropolitan center, and at least 2 more per state. 

If you need the energy, then no more of this NIMBY stuff. Florida could use some refineries. 

Quote:5) Increase funding for alternative energy-related R&D by 500%

We need this. But this also goes with rail. 

Quote:6) Pay homeless people to plant trees and shrubs. Appoint a team of ecologists to oversee the operation to ensure this is done in a way that mirrors the ratios of native flora. 

Good idea. Also give them access to showers and laundries. 

Quote:7) Set up charging stations for electric vehicles around the country.

Yes. Of course we will need a subsidy to get people out of their gas buggies and get their gas buggies to the scrap yard. Maybe GM and Ford could put classic bodies on the newfangled electric cars:





Exact duplications might be inapt, and front-wheel drive is a good idea.  Both cars above are from 1957, when cars were cars.