Cap and Trade

What is this and what does it mean for veterinary medicine?

Speaker of the House
Nancy Pelosi

What is she doing and why?

It is fair to say that veterinarians are not experts on matters of the environment, chemistry, physics, and climatology.  On the other hand, to enter veterinary school one must at least pass or survive a prerequisite amount of college courses pertaining to the basic sciences, such as chemistry, biology, physics, animal science, toxicology, etc.  While in veterinary school, we certainly learn about the interactions and effects of chemicals and physical forces upon living systems, be it animal or human.  It comes as no surprise to most customers that as veterinarians we become quite experienced in dealing with matters pertaining  to elimination, be it of the urinary tract or digestive tract.  To get to the point, be it feces, excrement, bowel movements, or "bullshit",   we learn to recognize it and call it what it is.

For simplicity and time efficiency, I outline my thoughts on this subject.

1.  Cap and Trade is based upon the assumption that CO2 emissions cause "global warming" in a significant manner.

2.  There is no definitive proof of this concept.  It is controversial. 

3.  Nancy Pelosi refused to hear testimony or introduce a 95 page report from a senior EPA scientist refuting the claims that CO2 Emissions are causing global warming.  For starters, the global temperature is not rising.  Other groups of scientists are being ignored as well.

4.  The effects of the Cap and Trade legislation will drastically tax and increase the cost of production of electricity in the United States, especially in Texas, since coal is the primary source of electricity generation.  Some estimates suggest a rapid doubling upon the prices of electricity.

5.  Large polluting countries like China and India will likely continue to ignore such measures, continuing to be price competitive, and take more and more jobs from America.  Is there anything else that's not made in China or serviced in India?  That's why we owe China so much debt.  This debt makes the value of the American money worth less and less.   

6.  If the cost of electricity for this animal clinic goes from $12,000 a year to $24,000,   I will have to pass on such costs to customers.  Other businesses will in turn pass on their costs, drastically raising the cost of veterinary medicine. 

7.  If our nation's leaders wish to burn less coal for electricity generation, they should  make it possible to build more nuclear power plants or petroleum or natural gas powered plants, not tax the prices of our electricity. 

8.   I am all for preserving resources and taking care of the environment, but taking draconian measures that automatically punish users of electricity, small and large, based upon highly debated science is inappropriate.

9.   When legislation doesn't seem to make sense, always "follow the money trail".  I will provide some other links to help in this matter.

Glenn Beck - http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/27284/