Down to the wire : confronting climate collapse / David - Index of
Down to the wire : confronting climate collapse / David - Index of
Down to the wire : confronting climate collapse / David - Index of
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S<br />
100 politics and governance<br />
that exaggerates short-term political gains over long-term public<br />
realities, as well as <strong>the</strong> tawdry politics <strong>of</strong> a abnormally corrupt era.<br />
But we have better models. Teddy Roosevelt used <strong>the</strong> presidency<br />
as a “bully pulpit.” His cousin Franklin in dark times used radio,<br />
creatively adapted for “fi reside chats,” with extraordinary results.<br />
John F. Kennedy was a master <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> art <strong>of</strong> press conferences. In <strong>the</strong><br />
presidential campaign <strong>of</strong> 2008, Barack Obama used <strong>the</strong> Internet<br />
adroitly <strong>to</strong> reach <strong>the</strong> young and new voters. In <strong>the</strong> Internet era,<br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>ols <strong>of</strong> communication have multiplied many times over. But<br />
whatever <strong>the</strong> medium—television, radio, press conferences, personal<br />
appearances, Internet, or public addresses—presidents must<br />
craft communication strategies that lift <strong>the</strong> public out <strong>of</strong> apathy<br />
or despair while educating, informing, and inspiring by showing a<br />
plausible way forward consonant with our obligations, our national<br />
heritage, and global realities. Presidents must lay <strong>the</strong> groundwork<br />
for a durable and broad coalition around <strong>the</strong> national interest in<br />
<strong>climate</strong> stability that protects our long-term security and distributes<br />
<strong>the</strong> costs and benefi ts fairly within and between generations.<br />
All such efforts could come <strong>to</strong> naught, however, if access <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
public airwaves is not res<strong>to</strong>red <strong>to</strong> public control. Public confusion<br />
and ignorance about energy issues and <strong>climate</strong> science plays <strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> advantage <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fossil fuel industry, and if allowed <strong>to</strong> continue<br />
will sharply diminish our prospects in <strong>the</strong> years ahead. Cooptation<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> public airwaves by corporate interests can drown<br />
out <strong>the</strong> voice <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> public as well as that <strong>of</strong> even <strong>the</strong> most eloquent<br />
president. To ensure that <strong>the</strong> public is adequately informed,<br />
not misled and deliberately confused, <strong>the</strong> president, again, should<br />
direct <strong>the</strong> Federal Communications Commission, among o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
things, <strong>to</strong> reinstate <strong>the</strong> “fair and balanced” standard as a requirement<br />
for <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> public airwaves. The integrity <strong>of</strong> broadcasting<br />
is essential <strong>to</strong> educate <strong>the</strong> public about <strong>the</strong> choices ahead<br />
and <strong>the</strong>ir consequences.<br />
The fact is that we are now making <strong>the</strong> most fateful policy<br />
decisions that humans will ever make. The choice <strong>of</strong> <strong>to</strong>ols by