Political Cortex: Brain Food for the Body Politic

What I mean by that is, it lays out the answers to all of our moral dilemmas and the walls we put up to block progress. If we were to follow the plan outlined in this book which includes alternate energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, etc. along with sustainable agriculture, reforestation, and a progressive direct tax on carbon that holds polluters accountable where consumers benefit, we would also be on our way to solving the crises of pollution, poverty, food and water scarcity, and perhaps even war.

Before I go any further though I must mention that I have been reading and commenting on Mr. Gore's books for about 18 years now. My first experience was reading Earth In The Balance where then Senator Gore laid out a Global Marshall Plan for the environment and stated correctly that it must be our central goal. He has never wavered on this conviction and as we are now seeing he was absolutely correct in that assessment as the environment impacts so many other facets of our lives. In the time since that groundbreaking book we have seen the erosion of our planet take place through natural processes being exacerbated by human forcings that are now bringing it to a precipice. The burning of excessive amounts of Co2 and other greenhouse gases such as methane, nitrous oxide, and sulfur dioxide are now rendering Earth and the species of our world victims to the ravages of those excesses. Our Choice as laid out in Mr. Gore's new book is simply this: Do we continue along this path that will surely lead to our destruction, or do we choose the path that may seem harder but where the rewards are greater?

Our Choice is the result of thirty "Solution Summits" Mr. Gore held with experts in various fields since the time An Inconvenient Truth was released seeking to chart the best course of action for our world to avoid the results of continuing on the path we are currently on. This book however, goes one step further than just telling you what those solutions are. It also shows you how the solutions work, how they can be implemented cost effectively, and how you as a citizen can benefit from them. And perhaps that is why detractors now go to bookstores shouting in Mr. Gore's face and burning this book: because it gives them no excuses for ignoring their own responsibility in this.

That being said, there were a couple of points mentioned in this book that I was not entirely in agreement with. As an environmentalist I am not supportive of the current scheme being put forth by coal companies and other interests regarding "biochar" (as mentioned in Chapter 10-Soil) as a mechanism to now gain carbon credits and profits from the climate crisis by indebting farmers as GMOs are now doing globally. I believe farmers know better. I was also hoping to see GMOs mentioned specifically in regards to the environmental and economic devastation they have wrecked on this planet and their dangers to human health, but in a roundabout way the suggestions laid out for reviving agriculture did do that which I was heartened to read.

Secondly, while I know the urgency of reigning in carbon emissions (and am disappointed that the US is not committing to 40% by 2050 in leading the way) I do not agree with cap and trade as the quickest most effective choice we have at this time. I believe the pace of climate change/global warming will outrun any progress from such a mechanism being employed at this time and will only serve to enrich the very companies polluting our planet to the detriment of those living in developing countries. (And this is also about pollution not just emissions.) I believe the most effective and quickest way to reign in emissions and pollution for our own health as well while preserving consumer benefit is a direct pricing of carbon that shuns the market mechanisms that caused our current economic meltdown. Rewarding farmers instead of banks and corporations at our expense is the way we must now go in order to see a revival of the sectors that will bring us both economic and environmental viabiltity in the longterm. And though Mr. Gore speaks of cap and trade, I do understand why he does at this time, as he knows from experience that political feasability put up against a moral choice is an oxymoron. I still hope there can be a compromise on this that spares indigenous and poor peoples of this world from any further exploitation in the wake of their already feeling the effects of this crisis.

As far as the aesthetic value of this book goes, it is stunning. There are vivid photos that capture the essence of the topic with many graphs with well researched outlined descriptions compelling you to read the material. The information in both prose and graph is well researched and you never get the sense that you are being preached to but rather educated and informed, which is sincerely lacking in our MSM and other venues. From the Introduction (which to my pleasant surprise included a short poetic verse by Mr. Gore) to the last chapter which presents the answers to one of two questions our children and grandchildren may well be asking us as in: why we saw this and did nothing to how we managed to seize the opportunity to define our species with moral fortitude to address this for the future and for the present, this book captures it all. Even Triaina, which I was happy to see covered. It is truly a brilliant concept that must still fly someday.

I however have to state that in Mr. Gore's later scenario regarding us finally finding our moral and political purpose I envisioned a different president leading the way: the author of this book. However, even though my scenario did not come to pass regarding that I do hope that the scenario outlined in this book is indeed the choice we choose to make as a species free of the barriers we put up in order to not have to realize just how much of a footprint we leave on this planet, and just how precious we and it truly are.

In ending this I want to express my thanks, my love, and my respect for this good man who through all of the slings and arrows shot at him has remained strong, dedicated, vocal, and passionate in their wake for all of these years. And that is not because of the cruel smallminded reasons given by a few detractors. It is because where truth must be told, there is no fear. And the truth of the matter is that we as a species are now at a crossroads in part brought on by the choices we have made in the past. The choices we make now will effect our Earth and all of its inhabitants for generations to come. Those choices at this juncture in time must be based on mutual respect for this Earth and all who share it. This book lays out a plan to achieve just that. Let us go forward wisely.