Another Inconvenient Truth
The Economist is reporting that Al Gore is a hypocrite:
Gore’s mansion, 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).In his documentary, the former Vice President calls on Americans to conserve energy by reducing electricity consumption at home.
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 extravagant energy use does not stop at his electric bill. Natural gas bills for Gore’s mansion and guest house averaged $1,080 per month last year.
“As the spokesman of choice for the global warming movement, Al Gore has to be willing to walk the walk, not just talk the talk, when it comes to home energy use,” said Tennessee Center for Policy Research President Drew Johnson.
In total, Gore paid nearly $30,000 in combined electricity and natural gas bills for his Nashville estate in 2006.
I wonder how many of those limousines the stars pulled up to the Oscars in were fuel-cell powered or hybrids.
Before you flip out and call me a Right-Wing anti-nature nutter, note that I’m an organic gardener who has actually “done” chimp habitat conservation in Africa. The forest was growing at the site I worked at, and my Wife was helping determine how the chimps were assisting in the spread of the forest. This meant I spent a lot of time handling chimp sh*t to pull out seeds which were then tested for viability.
The inconvenient truth is that conservation is not a Liberal-Conservative issue, and that many of the staunchest conservationists are also some hard core Conservatives who would clap their hands in glee should Hollywood slide into the ocean to provide a whole new artificial reef for the California coast’s endangered sea life.
Gore and the liberals who fawn over him like to don ideological hair shirts – but they are hair shirts crafted by Armani and made from the softest animal fur by peasants in the Andes paid $1/week. It’s hypocrisy, and it’s the truth.
UPDATE: Even the LA Times smells the hypocrisy:
A single cross-country round trip on a Gulfstream IV, or GIV, the model owned by Feinstein’s husband, churns out about 83,000 to 90,000 pounds of carbon dioxide, experts say. By contrast, on a per capita basis, the average American produces 50,000 pounds from all activities in an entire year.Nonetheless, Feinstein and Schwarzenegger intend to continue their noncommercial flying ways because their jobs demand a flexibility the airlines can’t match, spokesmen say.
Cutting Edge Political Commentary The Razor:
[...] I can even continue to make fun of Al Gore. [...]
23 April 2007, 11:48 am