Bill McKibben on Climate Change at the Democratic Platform Hearing

[Donkees]

Published on Jun 28, 2016

[Tal Vez]

1. If we elect Clinton and a decent legislature, things like this can get done correctly.

If we don't succeed in November, the problem will grow 4 years larger.

[freedom fighter jh]

4. Yes, if we elect Clinton and a good legislature, we have a chance.

But even with them in office, we need them to recognize that the continued existence of the human race is on the line. They need to set priorities accordingly -- that is, fixing climate change needs to be at the top of the agenda. That will be tough politically, especially since some of the necessary fixes will entail a good deal of sacrifice.

That's why it's a good thing McKibben is on the platform committee. I hope they listen to him.

[Tal Vez]

6. I do hope that people listen to McKibben.

The point that I would like to make, though, is that the purpose of the platform committee and the purpose of the platform is not to educate the presidential candidate about issues. And, it is not about making policy. The purpose of the platform committee is to draft a document that makes it more likely for the candidate to be successful in her campaign.

It is naive to think that Hillary Clinton needs our help in understanding environmental issues. She has access to the best experts and information that exists and fortunately she is the type of person who will use those resources.

Members of the committee are there to create a document that assists the candidate in her campaign. That is why it is such a huge error to appoint someone like Cornel West to that kind of committee. His goal is not to serve the candidate. He is just an ego-tripping connoisseur whose goal is to convince everyone around him that he is more ideologically pure and more spiritually advanced than anyone else in the world. There isn't any platform that he could ever actually agree to because to do that would be to acknowledge that everyone who also agreed to the platform was his moral equal. A good member of that committee will fight to persuade others to create a document that includes content designed to help the nominee win election. A good member will get as much as he can into that document and then sign on to the result. In the end, the goal should be unity with an eye to victory.

The makeup of that kind of committee matters. Team players are needed. Self-interested egomaniacs are of no use to anyone. The goal is victory in November. After victory, we can start talking about doing what is then doable.

[freedom fighter jh]

7. Purpose of a platform

The purpose of the platform committee is to draft a document that makes it more likely for the candidate to be successful in her campaign.

Really? According to Merriam-Webster's dictionary, a platform is
"a declaration of the principles on which a group of persons stands; especially : a declaration of principles and policies adopted by a political party or a candidate" Principles and policies. A blueprint for what she'll do once in office.

Is it *all* about getting elected? Is there no room for principle?

[Tal Vez]

8. If I were to write a definition of the word platform,

I would state that it is a declaration of the political goals that it presents to the public.

And, I believe that just as I do not think that Clinton's campaign commercials should contain a detailed list of my political wishes, I don't think that the party's platform should contain a detailed list of my political wishes. I am not arrogant enough to believe that there aren't people more skilled than I am at designing an attractive platform or television commercial. Choices must be made as to what should be emphasized and what should not be emphasized to attract voters. Victory is about coalitions and coalitions are built by people who have the capacity to think strategically.

No, it isn't "all" about getting elected. It's all about getting elected and then being capable of enacting the goals that you and your party want enacted. If I think that it's vital that other people read my entire wish list of desired policies, I should write a book or write a letter to the editor, but I shouldn't insist that the candidate that I favor hobble her campaign by including it in her advertising.

I am convinced that Hillary Clinton shares most of my goals. That is why I support her. Let Clinton and her political experts decide what best fits her electoral strategy.

[freedom fighter jh]

9. Back to your original reply.

If we elect Clinton and a decent legislature, things *can* get done correctly.

But will they?

Per your last reply, I think we agree at this point that the platform is a statement of what the candidate and party stand for. Clinton has acknowledged that climate change is an issue, but she does not seem to treat it with the gravity appropriate to an existential threat to the human race. The platform is an opportunity to get the Democratic Party to acknowledge that solving this problem has got to be a top priority.

[Uncle Joe]

2. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Donkees.

[Granny M]

3. K&R

"Physics is a very poor negotiating partner."

[Shebear]

5. Nothing significant will get done if we don't get the money out of the system...

...Fracking turns out to be an even bigger source of greenhouse gasses than oil because of the methane leaks. Yet we can't even get a fracking ban on the Dem platform ... why? Money. To the campaigns, or the threat of giving it to rivals.

I love the line ... "physics is a bad negotiator" ...great!