Falling for Christie’s Straw Man
The Issue is Not “Causation” – But Lack of Preparation
[Update: 5/31/13 – apologies to the Bergen Record – at the time I wrote this, I was not aware that they partnered with WNYC. Also sorry it took me so long to write this, I lean red of partnership on 5/22 from another NJ reporter.]
NJ media is reporting on yesterday’s WNYC story that included highly significant and revealing comments by Governor Christie.
In response to a WNYC reporter’s question about the need for State government to plan and prepare for climate change, the Gov. responded by positing – and then dismissing – an obvious straw man about whether Sandy was “caused” by climate change, a claim no one makes.
The NJ media fell for the governors false frame straw man. Here’s a typical example of framing the WRONG straw man question:
New question in gov race: Did climate change cause Sandy?
So, again, they miss the point – so let me make it simple.
The WNYC story was a followup to their investigative work about the failure of NJ Transit to plan and prepare for extreme weather, and how that failure caused loss of $120 million.
WNYC contrast NJ Transit’s dismal failure with the NY MTA’s excellent planning, preparation and transparency. The contrasts and results are stunning. I urge you to read the whole WYNC investigative work – it’s about brains, not just trains:
The real issue – missed again by NJ media – is that WNYC quoted Governor Christie to say there was NO NEED TO PLAN AND PREPARE for climate change and extreme weather – even upon reflection – because of the alleged straw man: i.e. no “proof” of causation. This is a remarkably irresponsible statement and policy position, and reveals a total lack of leadership, planning and preparation that should be a disqualifying factor for a high public office.
The real issues are not the Gov.’s straw man – but that Gov. Christie: 1) ignored multiple warnings by scientists and DEP experts; 2) dismantled NJ state programs to PLAN AND PREAPRE for climate change; and 3) learned absolutely nothing from Sandy or his administration’s mistakes.
Those failures dwarf the NJ Transit failures.
Those failures are what caused the AshBrittt scandal.
If they need something simple and political, maybe the press corps could read Gov. Tom Kean’s prescient 1989 Executive Order #219, which provides, among other things:
5. All State entities with responsibility for policies or regulations affecting the location, construction or maintenance of public or private facilities (including residential developments) shall:
a. Ascertain the degree to which those facilities will be affected by predicted changes in sea level; and
b. Develop policies, in consultation with the general public and other governmental entities, to respond to such predicted changes in sea level
6. All State entities with responsibility for the purchase or protection of land for the purposes of open space protection or related objectives shall, as appropriate, undertake such acquisition or protection activities in a manner that furthers the creation of corridors of linked public and private open spaces known as “greenways,” which aid the adaptation of natural systems by providing corridors for migration as climatic conditions change
7. All State entities shall review their programs designed to facilitate public awareness of environmental issues and revise such programs to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, the effective communication of information that will enhance the public’s understanding of the basic processes involved in global climate change, the causes of such change, and possible approaches to reducing and adapting to such change.
That is the story – so WAKE UP press corps and do some real work – I’ve laid it all out for you here dozens of times.