Nov. 15, 2007: Editorial: So Where are the Feds?Media Clip
Posted November 15th, 2007 by ElenaVelkov
The Midwest Governors Association's Energy Summit Accord is an important step in solving a nationwide issue. Journal Sentinel One of the beauties of the federal system is that citizens don't have to wait for the federal government to act on a particular issue; states can push forward on their own - as they often have - to change the nation's direction. That's what happened this week in Milwaukee when six Midwestern governors and the premier of Manitoba signed an agreement to take action on global warming. The accord is a welcome and necessary step to meet what many scientists say is the great challenge of the 21st century. And it puts the Midwest on the same footing as states in the West and Northeast that have joined as regional blocs to change the way the nation addresses climate change. It's a welcome step because, as a United Nations report spelled out earlier this year, climate change is real and could have profound effects on the planet in the next several decades. It's long past time to curb the emissions that mark humanity's impact on climate change. And it's a necessary step because the federal government - where this issue would be best addressed - has been dragging its feet since President Bush took his oath of office. |
