Environmental activists, or "greens," argue that the world can go "green" without economic hardship, and in fact, can benefit economically. This is certainly debateable. Eric Englund considers that the current economic downturn is a direct result of "green" activities, and uses the admittedly defective "green" argument that "correlation is cauation" to support his thesis. The article is here:

http://www.lewrockwell.com/englund/englund46.html

Englund says, "Please understand that I have written this essay holding myself to the same standards as eco-alarmist Stephen Schneider. In the spirit of scaring humanity straight into the clutches of the green movement, Dr. Schneider (a Stanford University Professor) stated the following in the October 1989 issue of Discover magazine:

To do this, we need to get some broad-based support, to capture the public’s imagination. That, of course, entails getting loads of media coverage. So we have to offer up scary scenarios, make simplified, dramatic statements, and make little mention of any doubts we may have. This "double ethical bind" we frequently find ourselves in cannot be solved by any formula. Each of us has to decide what the right balance is between being effective and being honest."

For those who haven't followed the global warming issue from the beginning, James Hansen of NASA/GISS said something similar to what Dr. Schneider said back during the 90's. The NASA/GISS temperature history is the one most often cited, and is the record that shows the most warming. The other three temperature records (NCDC/NOAA, HAD/CRU, and RSS/MSU)show much less warming. THe NASA/GISS model is interesting because it gets revised regularly and temeratures in the far past keep going down, while the recentpast keeps going up.

All three leading Presidential contenders promise to embrace a "green" policy that, they say, will bring the US and the world great properity. I don't know them, so I have no way of knowing that this is merely election pandering, or if they are truly delusional. Actually adopting the policies being advanced will cripple the economy of the country. That may be the actual intent of the collectivists, since chaos provides opportunity to impose fascist government of the type FDR attempted to impose. (For those unfamiliar with what FDR actually tried to do, read the book about FDR by Amity Shlaes, The Forgotten Man: A New History of the Great Depression, and look up the NRA-National Reconstruction Act.)