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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210 S far<strong>the</strong>r horizons<br />
ga<strong>the</strong>rings, engage <strong>the</strong> global community, and serve as <strong>the</strong> voice<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> powerless, including posterity. Perhaps one day it could<br />
merge with a similar body summoned by Virgin Airlines owner<br />
Richard Branson and including Jimmy Carter, Vaclav Havel,<br />
Nelson Mandela, Beatrice Robinson, and Desmond Tutu in<strong>to</strong> a<br />
Global Council <strong>of</strong> Elders. But at any scale <strong>the</strong> point is <strong>the</strong> same:<br />
in diffi cult times ahead we will need <strong>to</strong> hear <strong>the</strong> voices <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
wisest among us <strong>to</strong> guide, cajole, admonish, and inspire us along<br />
<strong>the</strong> journey ahead. And those who govern will need <strong>the</strong>ir counsel,<br />
steadiness, and vision.<br />
Beyond <strong>the</strong> details <strong>of</strong> policy and a reformed governing system,<br />
<strong>the</strong> president must resuscitate <strong>the</strong> role <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> president<br />
as educa<strong>to</strong>r-in-chief using <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fi ce in <strong>the</strong> way Theodore<br />
Roosevelt once described as a “bully pulpit.” Americans will<br />
need <strong>to</strong> learn a great deal about <strong>climate</strong> and environmental science<br />
in a short time. By skillful communications and <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> powers <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> federal government, <strong>the</strong> president can help <strong>to</strong><br />
raise public understanding about <strong>climate</strong> science <strong>to</strong> levels necessary<br />
<strong>to</strong> create a constituency for <strong>the</strong> long haul. The president<br />
and o<strong>the</strong>rs in leadership positions will need as well <strong>to</strong> build <strong>the</strong><br />
case for:<br />
• federally fi nanced elections <strong>to</strong> remove money from <strong>the</strong> elec<strong>to</strong>ral<br />
process;<br />
• reforming <strong>the</strong> Federal Communications Commission <strong>to</strong><br />
res<strong>to</strong>re <strong>the</strong> “fair and balanced” standards for use <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> public<br />
airwaves;<br />
• ending <strong>the</strong> revolving door between government service and<br />
private lobbying;<br />
• desubsidizing coal, oil, gas, and nuclear power;<br />
• reducing <strong>the</strong> Pentagon budget by, say, half <strong>to</strong> accord with a<br />
more modest U.S. world presence in <strong>the</strong> world and a smarter<br />
strategy that aims for security by design for everyone not<br />
brute force <strong>to</strong> protect corporations; and