As Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats delayed economic relief during this time of uncertainty, it’s no wonder that climate activists rarely if ever achieve their objectives. If you’re confused by what one has to do with the other, look no further than Pelosi’s previously proposed relief plan.
While millions of hardworking people are worried about how they’ll make it through an impending recession, House Democrats took every opportunity to use them as pawns in a political game. Rather than alleviate the direct threats posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, they chose to use this as an opportunity to reshape the economy. Cramming as much of their left-wing agenda as possible into an emergency plan, progressives showed us where their priorities are.
The wish-list items in Pelosi’s proposal included student debt cancellation, new emissions standards for airlines, and tax credits for solar and wind. There’s no doubt proposals are worth debating, but right now, they’re slowing help to those who need it. Our environmental progress must not come at the cost of human suffering. As people are quarantined away in their homes, Congress uses the urgency of their hardships to push an unrelated agenda and score political points, all the while running with the narrative that Republicans are delaying aid.
In the words of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, this is “actually a fascinating progressive moment.” Never let a crisis go to waste, they say.
While the Senate worked in a highly bipartisan fashion to craft a plan that works now and could be passed, House Democrats have flipped relief efforts on their head. As the adults in the room work to tackle the challenge in front of us, uncompromising progressives demand more. This attempt to restructure the very workings of our nation while in a crisis is reminiscent of the tactics climate activists have used and continue to use in their push for reforms. Instead of promoting pragmatic, actionable climate policy, they demand radical change with little regard for the systems currently in place. As the Green New Deal sought to bulldoze the economy, Democrats seek to use this global crisis to step into a new fantastical framework for civilization.
In both the case of COVID-19 as well as with climate change, this “all-or-nothing” approach delays real progress and allows the problems we face to get worse as we bicker over unrelated items that “must” be included in a plan of action. Protesting climate change while blocking traffic and causing people to be late for work and idle in their cars does nothing to reduce emissions. Holding aid hostage from anxious workers on the condition that your environmental demands are met does little to convince people you take the pandemic seriously, and it certainly does not recruit people to your environmental cause.
This dysfunction harms the most vulnerable citizens and communities among us. In both instances, there is no time to waste. Direct and rapid action is needed to put us on the right track to slow the spread of this virus and to reduce emissions. Unfortunately, with the games many on the Left are playing, we will get neither in either instance.
For those who wish to help people, the path forward is clear. Focus on the task at hand, and work in good faith with those across the aisle. Set aside matters of desire and prioritize those of necessity. It shouldn’t need to be said.
Danielle Butcher (@DaniSButcher) is the chief operating officer of the American Conservation Coalition.
