(AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
Former vice president Al Gore stands to personally benefit from proposals he advocates to ward off global warming. Government solutions, such as Cap and Trade, may very well put billions into his pocket.
It is an interesting situation. If Al Gore gets his way and governments undertake drastic measures to counter the fear of global warming, then Al Gore gets rich – filthy rich. It makes one wonder what his real motive is.
Gore doesn't see a problem with this. “Do you think there is something wrong with being active in business in this country?” Gore told the New York Times, “I am proud of it. I am proud of it.”
Darn tootin' he's proud of it. Who wouldn't be? Spend a short eight years flying around the globe as a 21st century Henny Penny crying out the world is warming and end up reaping millions and millions – that's a feat to spark envy in Bernie Madoff.
Gore left the government in 2001 reporting a net worth of less than $2 million. Since then his personal net worth has skyrocketed. The New York Times reports that he recently invested $35 million in Capricorn Investment Group. Good for him. That's the American dream, to climb up the economic ladder as far as one can as rapidly as possible. Everyone should applaud his success.
But, when he stands to reap even more money should the rest of the world follow his advice, it is certainly fair to question his motives. Is Gore advocating policies like cap and trade that are necessary for human survival on the planet, as he claims, or is he advocating polices that stand to enrich him personally at your and my expense?
It's a fair question. When skeptics provide research that invalidates the global warming theory, alarmists are quick to point out that their funding comes from the energy industry. Shouldn't the same standard be applied to Al Gore? Isn't it reasonable for us to question Gore's enthusiasm about global warming in light of the financial windfall coming his way?
Sure it is, but you are not likely to see such questioning in the mainstream media. Any critics will be dismissed as “right-wing fanatics.” That's because, of course, global warming is the revealed truth and “settled science” - as if there is any such thing as “settled science.”
Instead we are being told to concentrate solely on his message and ignore the fact the Gore will become very wealthy if his proposals are enacted into law.
It's a great gig if you can get it.
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Comments
There is nothing wrong with investing in what you believe in. That's what Al Gore is doing. It doesn't change anything to the value of his message, he is just putting his money where his mouth is. And he happens to be in agreement with the overwhelming majority of the international scientific community.
Boy, I think Al was "rich" when he left the White House with $2 million back in 2001! Guess Dave is measuring by the Republican measure of "rich". Regardless, the same is being said about T. Boone Pickens and his program for wind energy. Quess we all feel we are entitled to use 25% of the world's fossil fuel and have 5% of its' population; afterall we can print "God Almighty" dollars.
I wonder if people, like the author, actually do extensive research in the issue. Even if Gore is wrong about climate change, T. Boone Pickens, an oilman, is certainly not about peak oil. Read his book, nice photoshot with his buddy, George W., who would not open a book about the subject.
Another copy from the old, white male club dependent on periodic Democratic replanting of trees and reducing deficits from the previous Republicans conserving their health and wealth.
Vincent Kosik says: "T. Boone Pickens, an oilman, is certainly not about peak oil."
It's funny, cause these oil deposits seem to replenish themselves as though they weren't caused by biological decay but are formed underground. Anyways we need to move away from these hydrocarbon fuels - no excuse required.
Cedric said: "There is nothing wrong with investing in what you believe in. That's what Al Gore is doing."
That's what Gore said before congress when asked that. He claims the status of entrepreneur yet carbon credits rely on political support for value cause it's not a real industry unless you're convinced CO2 is bad.
Cedric said: "...he happens to be in agreement with the overwhelming majority of the international scientific community."
That "overwhelming majority" phrase is getting tired. Since when is science done by democracy? Besides, I have seen many more scientists express doubt than certainty over the AGW claim. Face it the sun defeated you; it's cooler
Vincent Kosik,a "voice of Sanity" while this David Dick has the right sir-name..his arrogance,is all about "money",not the greed of Gore,rather the hippocritical "greed" & jealousy of this so-called writer!I guess? the scientists have a greater imagination,their explorations must be just the same,to make money too?Where's the motive here?There's a list re: the most insane reasons why anti-climate issues[those who] "imagine" "we are" the ones who have created such a monumental lie?Salon.com/article Gore,Philip Bethge,G.PeterSchmitz,Gabor Steinghart,all a part of that list,that gives the reaons why they think this is a hoax?Imagine if you will,such narcisissistic.old fools,who couldn't give one technologicaly sound,sane reasoning re: the reality of "Innate"breeding,re: the proven changes,let us see their reasons,not a quick paragraph,filled w/ envy & evil,had those "chads" not been thrown out[Documentary] we'd..have already saved Polar Bear pop,or just disappeared?continued...!
I find it ironic that conservatives would object to a person advocating a political position while profiting.
Here is an independently verified American clean energy technology that delivers electricity for 1 cent per kilowatt hour. In other words, no new taxes will be necessary since the free market will cut emissions while saving money:
youtube.com/watch?v=V1iqa0dSJO0
Check out above link to a 2 and a half minute youtube video of a CNN report.
Also, check out this article: nytimes.com/external/venturebeat/2008/10/21/21venturebeat-blacklight-power-bolsters-its-impossible-cla-99377.html
....jentilpet..continued"silverback66 [whose missing another "6",said our planet is overpopulated?what does that have to do w/anything..Fossil fuel is desroying this planet,still,another writes "Ramesees"Sick og hearing Gore,oh & how he can go on& on...well,he certainly does,go on&on bec- each word,genuinely,dedicated what would have been retroactive 10yrs,of new world,instead nobody questioned Bush's endless indulgence of Americans,ignoring AIG,ignoring the terror threat,when there could have been swifter actions he said..ah,don't woryy..[not quoted]but Bush never left us any meaningful quotes,except fo9r a red-neck mentality..that stripped "Endangered Species Act/Protections"after the law had them there for years,Palin's torture,Salazar,"Otter" "Yellowstone" now their "meca" for permits given to anyone who wants to kill wolves...while that law was secure,Bush's interest in enviornment,included wildlife too,so this sanctimonious insincere,relentlessness envy,rather than Facts,prophecy
..How does anyone if in a right state of mind,actually think a man like Gore,together w/ the most renowned scientists,just make up such a calamity?This moron Silverback66 on Salon.com[comments]said we should be giving attention to "industrial technology?"Aren't they adding to it by filling the skies w/ fossil fuels..6,right.tall towering inferno's,contradictions from a suspected young idiot?Said the 66? our plane has been fine for centuries?What is her idea of "fine?" Narcisisitic smug notion that Gore "really give a speech" means this inferior Ramesees,"Sees" nothing,rather going through life an inferior blind man!Telling Gore,to "just" go away?Bet you never said that about Bush?Documentary proved "Chads" were indeed being trashed,as the panel[death] of 3 sat there in shock,but w/ smug indignance,was that Doc,also a sham?just for "your" eyes? Is this not a "conspiracy" thing,including the "mock trial" the last minute counts?ah come now get lost..Gores speeches won him the adoration,..
and didn't "bore" the thousands who "bought the Facts!Opinion has no place here,Facts stand for themselves...they need no justifacations..you do,but you {3} could never list any scientific facts that prove Global Warming isn't happening..go ahead,I'll compare them w/ the list they sent me!EDid all you 3 get together,& conclude Gore "invented" all these mathematical factors,rather did you 3,?Invent such insanity?"Revelations" Take a pic Days?" no,not religious zealot,but it's all happening!Start reading,& stop "your" greed tirade,because Gore is already rich,so is Bush,he was against stem cell,what an ignorant phoney,afraid to appear like he's invading the ambilical cord,that is thrown out?but better to slaighter wildlife by the thousands,Bush never read the reasons,but wolves are not responsible for every death re:cattle&ranchers don't want to kill them..Salazar does,Otter does..?Dem-i & Ashton instead of his camera,savy spoiled brat lifestyle,they live in Idaho.Where's their voice?
Al Gore's findings about Global Warming have been found false. Cedric, there are more scientists against the theory than are for. Another point--there is nothing wrong with investing what you believe in, but as a historian, I was trained to be critical about why someone would do something. This is the point of this article. Gore's motivation is undoubtedly money. If it was not possible for him to make millions would he really push something like this that is steadily losing credibility? Likely not. Is it wrong for Gore to believe strongly in something? No. But it is important that we really think about the information that he is presenting because he most certainly has an agenda. Earth has gone through cycles of heating and cooling for eons, to think that whatever change that may or may not be occuring now is caused by humans is just wrong. To think that taking SUVs off the roads and taxing businesses for their CO2 emmissions here in the US would change this cycle is even more wrong!
Great job, wanted to add it and circulate it through my blog @
brandon7221.blogspot.com/2009/11/al-gore-profiteer-from-global-warming.html
Thanks again
Brandon
Has Al Gore changed his behavior?
Gore's mansion, [20-room, eight-bathroom] located in the posh Belle Meade area of Nashville,
consumes more electricity every month than the average American household uses in an entire
year, according to the Nashville Electric Service (NES).
The average household in America consumes 10,656 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year, according to
the Department of Energy. In 2006, Gore devoured nearly 221,000 kWh--more than 20 times the
national average.
Last August alone, Gore burned through 22,619 kWh--guzzling more than twice the electricity
in one month than an average American family uses in an entire year. As a result of his energy consumption,
Gore's average monthly electric bill topped $1,359.
Since the release of An Inconvenient Truth, Gore's energy consumption has increased from an average of 16,200
kWh per month in 2005, to 18,400 kWh per month in 2006.
Gore's mansion's roof is covered with photovoltaic cells. He also uses wind power, and a heat pump. In fact, he actually FEEDS electricity into the grid. All his cars are hybrids. Even with his jetting, his carbon footprint is lower than that of the average American.
Oh my goodness. The Examiner should be ashamed and publish a retraction for spreading this false character assassination. Do the facts matter? The testimony Gore gave that is cited as evidence of his profiteering was selectively edited to remove the parts in which Gore makes it clear that ALL profits from his books and invenstments in green tech go to charity. ALL of them! Tell me, Examiner and the rest of the suckers who believe this title, how will this make Gore rich? He gives ALL of the green investment profits to charity. The Examiner has lowered the bar on lousy journalism here.
... and it saddens me to believe people will believe these lies and believe them. Gore WILL NOT BENEFIT FINANCIALLY from the legislation he is advocating.
Vierotchka,
I find it interesting (and revealing) that the greening of Al Gore's personal electricity use did not take place until AFTER HIS EXCESSIVE POWER CONSUMPTION was made public. But I will give him credit where credit is due. After his personal hypocrisy was pointed out in public he did change his ways.
Greg,
Be careful with the facts yourself. Gore has not claimed that ALL of his proceeds will got to charity. He claimed that his investments from Kleiner Perkins go to the Alliance for Climate Protection which is his OWN PERSONAL NON-PRIFUT organization. Even though the Alliance is a non-profit, it is not quite the same thing as sending them to charity.
Gore is known to be involved in areas other than Kleiner Perkins.
Greg,
Don't you think that there just might be a specific group whispering in Gore's ear saying, "If you push this issue, if you get things changed, we will give you a little something." It happens in politics all the time...this is no different.
Al Gore didn't invent global warming. Geo Bush Sr signed the Rio Treaty to stop global warming in 1992, long before An Inconvenient truth. Al Gore gives his profits to charity..a fact that was edited out of his testimony on a recent Fox News show. Lets all keep killing ourselves by burning coal because we hate Al. Good thinking!
"Al Gore gives his profits to charity..a fact that was edited out of his testimony on a recent Fox News show."
Wow, where do you get your facts from? And are you really that gullible.
Trash journalism in a trash newspaper.
Sure Dick(s), we can continue to IMPORT 65-70 PERCENT of our OIL, which will soon be 90 PERCENT because of our depletion rate of our domestic fields is 4% per year! Even if we drill, drill, drill, it will be a drop in the bucket compared we currently consume and the growth we forecast. Hey, lets WAIT UNTIL we are FORCED to do IT (hopefully in our grandchildrens lives when we are DEAD!). What a world! Hey, can't say we weren't warned!
I was thinking about how much Dick Cheney and the Bush royalty benefitted financially from the relationship with the Bin Laden family.
Yes I was upset. Yes I felt like we were slaughtering our troops in a desert oil country so private oil interests could make trillions of dollars.
And now all these people are getting mad about Gore making money cleaning the Earth's systems, reducing our reliance on war-for-profit-oil-occupation, and stopping the slaughter of innocent men, women and children to prop up the rape of our planet.
Stupid me, Exxon and BP signed a 63 billion deal with Iraq to rebuild the oil fields on Thursday. Private oil interests now taking their profit from the taxpayer funded 1 trillion dollar invasion and occupation of Iraq.
America makes me sick to my stomach.
Its ok to pocket trillions of dollars raping the Earth, invading countries, in fact these Gore haters really think that if you aren't enslaving other country's and reducing their cities to rubble, then your profit is un-American.
America stands for profit at the expense of women and children. That's why Gore is hated. He isn't planning on carpet bombing anyone, he isn't talking about permanently polluting the ecosystems of other third world countries, putting children to work in toxic mines, funding warlords who gangrape, and he definately isn't talking about putting more troops to death in desert graves. That is why it is wrong to profit from green technologies.
Noone gets to decapitate a child, or bomb a school when you erect a windmill.
Where's the fun in that?
Al Gore was guilty of insider trading when he was Vice President. Since then he has moved on to making billions in the carbon trading market. He should be sued, jailed for multiple life sentences, and forced to pay back every cent he has made from this scam as well as issuing a public apology to the world.
The 15 year ERBE data tells us is if CO2 concentration should double, global temperatures will not rise by the devastating 6 degrees F the UN predicts, but by a completely harmless 1 degree F. The ERBE data shows an Earth system that is radiating more heat into space as sea surfaces warm, in other words a system at equilibrium, and is clearly demonstrated by observed data. The UN theory of Anthropogenic Global Warming is dead wrong.
The UN/IPCC have been using models that give a result that allow them to tell Nation States they must reduce and cap Carbon Emissions or the earth’s climate will warm by a devastating 6 degrees F. In reality, more heat is simply radiated out into space
Al Gore is putting his money where his mouth is, and making a profit. What is wrong with that? It is jealousy that pushes some to criticize this. Global Warming deniers are criminals.
The question is: Is Gore putting his money where ihis mouth is, or is he putting his mouth where his money is? It is a fair question to ask, especially in light of the fact that the global warming crowd is quick to denigrate studies financed by private industry.
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