Dear Jay & Team,
My friends and I are in college, and we donated to your campaign.
We cannot thank you with words alone for what you have done to advance discussion of the most important issue right now, and perhaps in human history, in one of the countries most blameworthy and capable. The climate crisis is ours to confront, and that's exactly how we will honor your refreshing common sense. We will make a serious effort to confront it.
We can even thank you on behalf of everyone, for whether they know it or not, every single person on Earth, every animal and ecosystem, every oil baron and kindergarten student, every climate denier and refugee, all have a future slightly brighter because of you.
Thanks.
27
@Ty Marshall
Well said. Although my generation has failed to react to our climate crisis with even a semblance of the urgency that is needed, some of us will be fighting at your side.
As a parent of young children, thanks to you and your friends on their behalf as well. I'm sure I speak for many other parents when I say that.
7
I did not know much about Inlsee when he announced his candidacy.
I was very impressed with him during the debates - his knowledge on this issue seems not be just “book” knowledge but real working knowledge that came from dealing with people on the front lines of climate change and pushing through local policies. I wish there had been more national media coverage of him.
While I am not surprised that he has dropped his candidacy, I do hope for the following: that we do have a democratic president after 2020, and that that person appoints Inslee to run the EPA and spearhead the federal response to climate change.
15
Don't overdo the importance of climate change to voters in general. Among registered voters, climate change ranks 17th out of 29 issues in importance. Among Democrats, it's 3rd; high, but not number 1. I believe that Inslee's message is too narrow and identifies him. He needed more than that to shine in the overcrowded field of Democrats.
I don't think Inslee has had much of an impact on the climate change debate. This has been a major issue that all the Dem candidates and congress people are known to favor doing something about. So it's not like his focus on it was really needed to bring it to everyone's attention. I didn't get much of a chance to read his detailed proposals (no thanks to the NY Times or other media companies), but I do know that he hasn't accomplished much on climate issues in Washington state - California has made a much bigger impact.
@Larry Figdill California has had about the same impact as Panamá has had by banning plastic packaging, which is no more than a rounding error. Without India, China, Brazil, Russia and Saudi Arabia no state, city or country can have more than a tiny impact.
2
In re to: "a President Inslee... would quickly reaffirm America’s commitment to the Paris agreement on climate change, which President Trump rejects, so that America could recapture the leadership role it had under President Barack Obama. But he would also demand much of others."
Actually, a President Inslee would be focused on doing much more than reaffirming America’s commitment to the Paris agreement, which is a step - but only a small step - in the right direction.
A President Inslee would be looking at putting a price on carbon, prohibiting fracking, eliminating fossil fuel subsidies, reinstating dozens of Trump-reversed environmental rules, rejecting climate-unsafe infrastructure projects, and boosting corporate climate accountability, among other things.
Let's give him credit for developing a comprehensive and credible plan, because that is what we need in order to recapture a global leadership role.
17
Thanks governor, your message got through loud and clear. There are many issues to be dealt with, but most important is the planet is nearly on fire. Hopefully you will continue your crusade and maybe eventually everyone will climb aboard.
8
It's not like the Times gave him much coverage in relation to the issue. Perhaps that has something to do with it. The horse raciness of things as opposed to the issues.
14
Jay Innslee proved himself a class act. The “single issue campaign” eclipsed the fact that he has plenty to contribute to the Democratic Platform on issues other than the environment, but he rightly took the reigns on the issue that needed him most.
We need people like him going forward; his failed presidential bid is likely more a beginning than an ending.
15
Well, there is the "free" media coverage that candidates receive. To "qualify" for press attention, however, candidates must have name recognition and/or raise a lot of money. And, of course, there is often a correlation between the two factors. Therefore, candidates able to show that they can "buy" media coverage get attention and other generally do not.
A quick perusal of NYT's coverage of Jay Inslee's campaign reveals that there were nine articles bearing his name in the headlines between his entry into the race on March 1 and his departure on August 21.
A second such article appeared in March, none in April, two in May, three in June, one in July, and three in Aiugust. Unfortunately for Governor Inslee, one August article was about his withdrawal and two appeared after his announcement to do so.
For the record, second quarter filings with the Federal Election Commission indicate that Inslee was in the middle of the pack when it came to fundraising so he wasn't chopped liver. Had media and press outlets paid more attention to Washington state's governor, perhaps more people would not only be able to recognize his name but they might be able to discuss his climate change proposals as well. If his policy ideas are notable now, why weren't they worthy of consideration when he was a candidate.
12
The question being asked is why Mr. Inslee's campaign got little traction. Answers are straighforward.
First, while global warming is an important topic, it is not the only one that should come to the fore for this next election. America has many issues and her impact on global climate change will be minimal in the short run.
Second, no one, not even the staunched Democrats want to see the economy tank. That is what would happen if some of lunatic ideas from Mr. Inslee come to fruition: All electric vehicles by 2030?
Third, and maybe the most important, Democrats need to have a candidate capable of beating Mr. Trump; in their view the most hated man in society. So far, they are batting zero. Can't say I wish them luck.
1
Hope the next White House occupant does more than just steal his ideas, I hope they provide him with a position and authority to spearhead the efforts to counteract climate change.
13
Thank you Gov. Inslee for your dedication to our environment. Your presence in Dem debates educated clueless Voters. You would be my choice for VP so impact continues on how Climate Change issues grow daily. How about that Amazon? Sincerely, hoping not to drown in SoCal.
11
Hey AOC. You made a big deal out of the green new deal. And then when Inslee agreed and made climate the central issue of his campaign, you and your millennial crowd went radio silence. A lot of doomsday talk 12 years left and then you and your crowd turned away. I blame you,
6
@RG The detailed, serious, proposals didn't fit in with AOC and The Squad's self-promotion program.
3
Jay Inslee has executive experience, true policy chops, and an articulate plan for dealing with the environment. Whether I agree or not with his policies, he was a respectable presidential candidate. That the Democratic Party could not support him and elevate him above the numerous ridiculous candidates (Cory Booker, really?) says more about the problems with the party and their too liberal menu of agenda items most Americans distrust.
12
@Pls. Exactly!
Climate is more than a single issue because of the fundamental changes it will take to address it. While it's unfortunate that Inslee has come across as a single-issue candidate, it's necessary that climate be a addressed as a central, essential, existential issue. We can no longer tolerate candidates who back away from climate change for fear of losing ignorant voters. We all must speak so the message is loud and clear to those voters, even to the clueless on whom Trumpism (Republicanism) preys.
23
Former Governors and perhaps large city mayors make the best presidential candidates. They come from an organized administration presiding over a multitude of opinions and policy making decisions that tend to find rules that represent a fair balance.
Senators and Congress people come from a partisan deal-making mentality that often does not always represent a fair balance, alienating many.
If the Democrats want to win the executive branch, they will have to appeal with reason to the 4 in 10 Americans who would otherwise vote for the current president. No amount of shaming will secure their trust, nor would they feel compelled to support any other leader, and partisan division will grow.
Americans may be too consumed by so many names to consider, that the best candidate actually just dropped out of the race. Governor Inslee was dubbed “the climate-change guy” by the sound-bite media (radio, television, newspapers — all guilty) that his larger worth was never made apparent. His policy-making leadership in the state of Washington is clear evidence of the potential we’ve lost.
8
I live in Washington State and Jay Inslee has been an excellent governor. He was the only candidate who took climate change seriously. Unlike the vanity campaigns of Sanders and other Democrats, Inslee made the most important issue of our time (and perhaps in all of human history) his campaign's focus.
Yes, he was doomed to fail because Democrats, both candidates and voters, care about climate change right up to the point where they are faced with doing something about it. I see this every day.
A good friend just traded in her more fuel efficient sedan for an SUV because she prefers "being up high" so she can see better. (Of course, if there weren't so many SUVs...)
Another friend inherited money and traded in his fuel efficient compact for a full size Lexus.
My neighbor drives a 4WD SUV to combat the occasional snow storm (an average of one -- 4"-5"--snowfall a year).
I share trash pick up with another couple and week in and week out they generate nearly ten times as much trash as I do.
All of those people are devoted Democrats who claim to take climate change seriously.
Since reading The Limits to Growth and The Tragedy of the Commons in the seventies in college, I have made a conscious effort to minimize my environmental impact. That was before the threat of climate change was an issue. Today, Americans as individuals continue to be the world's worst producers of carbon pollution. But Jay Inslee was all but ignored by both the media and Democratic voters.
16
@Ellis6. I read TANSTAAFL in law school, but this isn't the 1970s. Inslee is a great governor. So is Gavin Newsom. But without China, India, Brazil, Russia and Saudi Arabia on board, not to mention your friends and neighbors, we are pursuing a fool's errand. We need a new approach. This isn't a moral problem; it is a scientific one. We should redirect our money and our research into dealing with CO2 in the atmosphere. No real progress was made against cancer until we decided that we couldn't prevent it, we had to direct the body's own immune system against. That is what is called for now.
4
Perhaps the forum of the debates is not suitable for Gov. Inslee's focus on climate change. With 20+ candidates clamoring for sound bites and media attention, the competition is fierce to say the least. But, we know the drumbeat is growing and climate change is demanding attention and solutions. Here in Texas, temperatures are rising rapidly, the climate is becoming more tropical, and the threat of tropical disease is looming. We hear you Gov. Inslee!
13
“Climate change ranked 17th of 29 on a list of most important issues among all registered voters.” That is extremely disheartening but not surprising. I live three blocks from the Pacific Ocean, where the summer temperatures rarely get above the high 70s, but my neighbor runs his AC 24/7 (even in the winter months).
Climate change is number one on my list and has been for years. While people in industrialized countries will be able to adapt in the early stages of ecosystem collapse, most of the population of the world will be devastated as will non-human species. I’m already noticing fewer and fewer song birds and bees visiting my garden, and so much human suffering is occurring right now because of climate-related catastrophes like droughts and floods.
Governor Inslee was right to put climate change at the top of his agenda, and thankfully he will continue to be a leader in the fight. But I’m worried that without pressure from the public politicians will become complacent after the election and put climate change back on the back burner as they have for decades.
Voting for a Democratic ticket in 2020 is our only hope. If Trump is reelected, then it’s a lost cause.
23
@Diane Martin
"my neighbor runs his AC 24/7 (even in the winter months)"
Might your neighbor's HVAC system be a reversible one (a "heat pump") that also provides heating in the winter? If so, then that is a very efficient use of energy for the heating cycle.
Also living in San Diego County (on the border of San Diego and La Mesa) I am absolutely thunderstruck by how few homes have even minimal insulation under their roofs, much less inside walls. (And the landlord of my rental, like the vast majority of landlords, is far more concerned with the cosmetic appearance of the property, rather than investing in even minimal retrofitting to improve energy efficiency — which is not only relatively inexpensive to install, but pays for itself in short order, providing perpetually-accruing dividends thereafter.)
1
It’s not HVAC - just a rusty, old piece of junk in a window.
I believe that Mr. Inslee is the only leader that gets it. I support Mr. Inslee as “ the chosen one” to redeem earth for human beings. In the meantime, please support his campaign to be the governor of Washington state.
20
@FT
My only regret in voting for Inslee a third time is that it won't be for president.
8
First, the person that occupies the Oval Office must be someone that believes the preponderance of climate science evidence is true. Trump, many of his backers and supporters not only deny this but work to exacerbate the problem. Apparently short term profits to be made, political power and inconvenient lifestyle changes are a higher priority than a habitable planet. Deserts will expand, forests and ice sheets will retreat, major swaths of agricultural land will become unproductive and people by the millions will be forced to migrate. While we fiddle, the environment burns and drowns.
It will take businesses, billionaires, people and the government all working on mitigation now to make a significant difference. Do we have the will? What we need is an army of Inslees.
13
Boy, do I have HUGE respect for Jay. He focused on the world’s biggest crisis by trying to start at the top, where he might be the most immediately effective. That’s a really tough path, and only ONE person can attain it at a time.
With great confidence and pride he withdrew from the Presidential Circus - NOT maligning anyone (except he who MUST be maligned) and without reservation - to stay in the fight for that which he believes.
Thank you, Jay. Thank you. You are a ray of hope and inspiration at a time when we most need it. Your selfless altruism should be a teaching point for all students, an example of doing the right thing for its intrinsic value.
I will do everything I can to support you.
21
To admit how serious climate change is affecting the earth is an admission that it is going to hit our pocket book and lifestyle greatly. It’s just so much easier to look the other way or throw up your hands and say that our presence of this planet has not been harmful, or that someone will figure out how to miraculously solve it.
8
@Ted Siebert
Many lifestyle changes will save people money. A lot of money.
Americans, Democrats included, simply don't want to reconsider the impact they are having. It's great to have Donald Trump in the White House and Mitch McConnell leading the Senate. That protects most Democratic voters from having to do anything and they can blame it on Trump and the Republicans.
An "inconvenient truth."
2
@Ellis6
How is life, standing on your head? No one will be thanking The Dotard for anything, ever, nor will we be sending him Holiday greetings in prison at Guantanamo.
Apolitically,, it is quite obvious that Democrats are the only ones doing anything on behalf of the country and not themselves and their personal gain. REPUBLICANS (via Moscow Mitch), on the other hand, have blocked all rational law-making efforts by tabling them in the Senate. That's not governance - it's treason.
6
The climate crisis has become a clear and present danger through decades of inaction. Addressing it has to involve, as the proposals of Gov. Inslee and of the Green New Deal demonstrate, wide-ranging and rapid transformation of the economy. So effective denial of climate change doesn’t have to involve straight-up denial of an all-to-evident fact, as if FDR were to deny the attack on Pearl Harbor. For a long time effective denial has been operating by degrees and by stealth. The absence of sufficient support for Inslee along with the DNC’s rejection of the presidential candidates’ special climate debate (and then of a less formal climate forum) effectively constitutes denial of an existential crisis that is upon us. The U. N. climate summits have always fudged the truth, as have pollyanna long-term government economic projections. Denialist culture has been pervasive for decades and it grows every day along with the growing crisis. The seemingly overwhelming power of that culture defends fossil fuels and ignores, suppresses and ridicules climate-crisis discourse everywhere. It effectively weakens democratic institutions (Trump, Bolsonaro, etc.), targets refugees--many of whom are climate refugees (of which we really ain’t seen nothing yet)--, etc. Whether deliberately or not, the forms of denialism summon grim authoritarian futures as imagined in so many popular dystopian fictions today.
4
I think a bunch of people have to get out of the democratic primaries--let the one's with the best ideas stay to debate. Inslee was one. He wasn't ever getting the nomination but his voice was important and I'm sorry to see it go. I do hope if a democrat gets elected we will have a environmental cabinet post. Maybe he can chair that. I could see Harris as attorney general. And I wish everyone else who will not get the nomination and is eligible to run for Senate will do so.
8
@Atticus Couldn't agree with you more: he's demonstrated the first outright, upfront and capable leadership on this issue of anyone. And he's to be respected, praised...and remembered for it!
9
@atticus
Although no longer running for President, Inslee's influence and position will continue to reverberate throughout the Democratic platform once it is finalized. It will have to.
Republicans have an ignorant death wish for this planet in many areas and I am pretty sure that when many of the are in the voting booth they will reconsider their "social" positions and vote against Trump and for rational, workable governance and not suicide. I just hope that Trump and Putin don't get digital access to the voting machines - something they would gladly do as they tried in 2016. Trump has absolutely no morals or scruples and considers himself above the law. Let's see what he says from Guantanamo. Barr too.
4
Jay Inslee's failure to get any traction on climate change has gvien me the sense that there is little hope to combat climate change by the traditional means before it has caused massive catastrophe and destrcution to hundreds of millions or billions of humans before it is too late.
I think it is time to consider a different approach. There does not exist the type of world consensus to reduce carbon emissions significantly and quickly which is necessary.
Research should be redirected toward dealing with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. What chemical reactions or biological reactions or physics based solutions can eject carbon dioxide from the earth's atmosphere or transform it into a helpful group of chemicals which would benefit the atmosphere? This suggestion is no more radical than one which would have been made at the end of WWll that the US could put a man on the moon before the end of the 1960s. We have to stop putting all our money and all our research efforts into chasing our tail.
6
I just keeping thinking back to the loss of Al Gore as President, due to a bought out Supreme Court ruling. Reasonableness and sanity, let alone responsible stewardship of the environment and the planet, began its rapid erosion then, and now here we are, everyone tripping over each other to get the most soundbite noise in order to capture our attention. Honestly what really does gain any traction these days, besides Trumps twitter tantrums and absolute inane "governing"? We don't often pay attention until it's a crisis. And if there isn't a crisis, the media will spin one to gain attention. A shame really. I liked Inslee, his state is deeply fortunate to have him, and we are deeply fortunate that he and others like him still chose to be public servants and seemingly swim against the tide. Tragically for us, reasonableness, sanity, and ideas that require more than a twitter feed to express seem to lose in the forum of popularity and national support.
15
@Fromjersey Al Gore, as president, would still have had to get countries like China, India, Brazil and Russia into line. He may have been a great president, but I doubt that the world would be much closer to a climate change solution even if he had become president.
I applaud California's efforts today, but climate change is truly a global problem and when half the world is pursuing a different agenda, no one state or country can solve the problem. That is what is so daunting about the climate change problem.
5
@James Ricciardi
Many good things (like nuclear arms limitation treaties, the Paris climate accord and the like) HAVE been done. They were beginnings but would never have happened had someone not given his/her all and not said "it can't be done". That is called PROGRESS - something Conservative are deathly afraid of for some inexplicable reason.
Trump, on the other hand, destroys by Twitter and pen-on-toilet-paper. In doing so he can't lose as he would if he really tried to govern. This COWARD is deathly afraid of losing (which, of course he has done all his life, without responsibility), so he never, ever commits without support from another traitor like McConnell, and he vacillates like a worm on a hook. Then he would have someone else to blame, as usual.
3
Everyone who wants humanity to survive should be reading and studying Mr. Inslee's practical policies for dealing with climate change. We have the Amazon burning, the glaciers melting, forests dying, due to global warming that favors bark beetles, and temperatures soaring world-wide. We all need to take this very, very seriously. I sincerely hope that the next president is a Democrat, able and willing to tackle climate change issues. (By the way, it is disappointing to see so few comments on this article.)
26
Thank you Gov. Inslee for placing emphasis on what the misguided missile from the White House referred to as a "niche issue" along with other topics like equality. He did so just today as the Amazon is going up in smoke, like the forests in Siberia, California, Indonesia, and so on. I suppose oxygen is just a niche gas in the grand scheme of things, but I'm just a niche kind of person. Have a niche day.
19
The only candidate that made any sense when it came to climate change. Goes to show democrats don't care about real progress on climate change.
9
FACT: "Climate alarmism" started in the 1970's with the same cataclysmic dire catastrophic warning's and to date, none of the dire predictions have materialized. Al gore and other's made millions. Gore even got a Nobel Prize that he should give back. So until there is credibility in such claims, it is total nonsense.
1
Fact: You are wrong, Tom.
Read the facts: https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/
7
The short answer to the question posed in the headline is that Inslee failed because mainstream media like the New York Times still treats climate change as one more niche issue rather than the existential threat it is.
26
One issue candidates seldom gain any traction with the voters. Is it possible that even liberal Democrats find climate change to be a dull, boring non-issue which doesn't resonate with potential voters?
Didn’t I read that climate change is #3 on the list of issues for liberal Democrats, but something like 17th or 29th with other voter segments? Most politicians won’t invest a lot of effort trying to appeal to voters who will almost surely vote for them no matter what; they see their job as persuading voters not already in their choir.
1
Punish countries he disagrees with? How?.--- tariffs?
Decent is a word that cannot be applied to the current administration and its sycophants. Thank you Governor Inslee for your efforts.
24
This editorial asks why Inslee couldn't get more traction on his campaign. Maybe one factor was that the NYT, among other major media outlets, essentially ignored him. Imagine if he had had the coverage the front-runners have had, or even a magazine feature on the critical importance of his race. This editorial is too little, too late.
55
@Ella
Right you are. Maybe the NYT should publish Gov. Inslee's plans for "regenerative agriculture" and for renewing rural areas which have NOT shared the prosperity the rest of the country has enjoyed since recovery from the tech crash, housing crash, etc., all the way back to Ike's "rolling readjustment."
1
@Ella I agree. Too little here and too late. I'm sick of the horse race, fund raising, and polling coverage. While there is some importance to all of that, focus on the issues and the people promoting them, with expert and reasoned analysis.
4
We live in times when poll popularity is determined by zingers and debate reality TV, not carefully thought out policy on a hierarchy of important issues. Otherwise Inslee and Warren would be leading the fold. And media is as much to blame for this climate, as the quirky moments get far more media attention than nuanced thinking.
22
When Mr. Inslee declared his candidacy on Rachel Maddow's show, he sis something remarkable: he made it clear why climate change is not a "single issue," and proceeded to show how it was tied inextricably to the economy, health care, national security, and a host of other issues. It was an amazing interview, and I got on the Inslee bandwagon right then and there.
And the primary answer to your question - Why couldn't he get more traction on it? - is sadly self-evident: because the media (including the NYT) did not focus enough on him and his candidacy, and what it was REALLY about - the DEPTH and BREADTH of what he was saying.
Sadly it has become all too common and typical for the media to ask "why" something did or did not happen, and then lament it, when they themselves are complicit in the answer.
45
I am very disappointed that Inslee left the race. The debate stage is not the right platform for evaluating candidates; it's nothing more than a popularity contest. There's got to be a better way to pick a nominee.
23
@Donna "The debate stage is not the right platform for evaluating candidates..."
We put a reality show star into the Presidency. The result isn't pretty. So what do we do now? We hold a reality show series to choose his successor. What could possibly go wrong?
4
I disagree that Inslee had a single issue campaign. Of course Climate Policy was his highest priority, but he had well thought out policies on many issues. Too many seeing him as a single issue candidate probably let to his dropping out of the race. I am very sorry to see him leave the race.
23
Compare European cities with their US, Democrat led counterparts and you have part of the answer:
No Low Emission Zones, no separate biking lanes everywhere and wide sidewalks, no traffic free city centers, people still have to wait for traffic on every block even on the most popular shopping streets (e.g. Chicago’s Michigan Ave), 8 lanes of traffic as Chicago’s beachfront, no solar panels anywhere, hardly any recycling, plastic bags still in use, etc.
Some of it is Americans just not caring, or at least not enough to adapt their lifestyle (individualism), some of it is the vulnerable bottom class of people that doesn’t exist in Europe, which would be too harshly impacted: imagine for example they can’t drive their polluting beaters into town due to emission restrictions.
9
Inslee was my preferred candidate, and I don't understand why he was so low in the polls. Perhaps Democrats value identity politics and jobs more than the fate of the planet. I am scared by what is left in the field of Democratic candidates. That a serious candidate with a tremendous grasp of the important issue of our time would poll at less than 1% is shocking.
35
I hope that Gov Inslee continues to be a strong voice addressing the challenges we face addressing climate change as the Presidential campaign continues without him. Perhaps as a non-candidate he can continue to provide commentary to multiple media outlets as the remaining candidates push out their climate change policies.
17
Did the Times examine Inslee's environmental policies in depth and compare them to other candidates' policies before Inslee dropped out of the race?
25
I agree that climate change is the most pressing issue for our country and the world. The DNC has decided against a debate focused on climate change, an astonishingly short sighted move.
Jay Inslee's position papers should be published for us all to see. Will you please do that, New York Times?
65
The Times article describes Inslee's policy papers, and in that brief description, mentions farm, infrastructure, energy, and many more programs designed to lessen our climate impact. All of those also spell jobs and a positive boost to the economy. Let us see and discuss these ideas!
4
The shortsightedness of the DNC is that it’s totally consumed with winning in 20; the longer term fate of life on our planet cannot be on their agenda if they don’t regain control of the government: the presidency, and possibly even the Senate. I have to say I agree because the Republicans not only do not even recognize climate change as the ultimate issue of our times, they believe it is a hoax designed to foil their efforts to address what is for them always the most critical issue of this, or any other time: reducing their taxes. The worst Democrat would be better than the best Republican on a host of issues, with climate at the top of the list. The problem is that in the DNC’s zeal to win, they are again pushing the “safest” old school candidate, Biden, who is probably a wonderful guy but not up to the challenge of the age. award him President Kennedy’s rocking chair and name a building after him, but don’t count out someone who could actually stimulate turnout and enough excitement to win against Trump... there’s plenty of brains and talent in the running.
2
I contributed to Governor Inslee’s campaign, not because I thought he could win, but because I thought it was so important that his ideas and positions be part of the Democratic Party platform. My hope is that as the Democratic field whittles down to one, he or she has the self confidence and wisdom to pull talented people like Governor Inslee into his or her corner. We’ve suffered through an administration that casts science, experts and talented leaders aside in exchange for loyal lackeys. My hope is that our next President casts ego aside, and embraces the talented minds of this Democratic field.
46
Gov. Jay Inslee has been a fine governor of Washington state. I hope he will be given a worthy climate change position when the Democrats win back the White House in 2021.
26
Inslee is an effective governor and truly decent person. He would have made a good President. We in Washington are proud of him for bringing the issue of global warming to the forefront of the campaign. The nation's loss is our gain.
59
@EB Besides climate change, Inslee was one of two candidates with experience in running the executive branch in a healthy democracy experience as an elected (and reelected) public official. Got things done together with the other party, in a state with a divided legislature.
7
It has been about 30 yrs. since the first climate change articles appeared in print. Now climate change is no longer a theory, it has become an immediate action imperative for our country and our species. Therefore, it is encouraging to learn that surveys show Mr. Inslee and other political leaders are making progress with convincing Americans that climate change is real, and our country must act.
That said, the unfortunate truth is that many of the threats our country faces are linked to a major flaw in our democracy — legalized bribery. In our system the many are taxed, then politicians give some of that tax money as subsidies to profitable corporations. Then these corps. kickback some of the subsidy money to politicians, who, in return, lower the taxes on shareholder dividends and capital gains, then the wealthy shareholders contribute some of the tax avoided money to political action committees that support the subsidy-kickback scheme that defines our country's political system. In some respects our country's systems of legalized bribery is a perpetual motion political machine — the parts change but the wheel of legalize bribery keeps turning to the benefit of the few and the detriment of the many.
I love my country and believe in real capitalism, not our current system of legalized bribery that corrupts our democracy and has prevented our country from joining the fight to lesson the impact of human caused climate change.
35
So sorry to see Governor Inslee drop out of this race. His one issue - the climate crisis - is so overarching, nothing else will matter if we don't address it and soon.
He is the governor of my state, so the silver lining for us Washingtonians is, at least, that he returns to us to continue what cannot be done at the national level - for now. Sooner or later we must deal with this crisis, though, as it will consume all of us. Feeling blessed that I live here in Washington State.
35
I’m afraid that policies designed to address climate change will long suffer the fate of policies designed to deal with Civil Rights...and for the same reason. There is a significant chunk of the electorate to whom climate change will NEVER elevate to “something that concerns me”.
And since the preceding step of “something that exists” is being fought on so many fronts, it’s hard to hold out hope.....at least in this country. I was rooting for Mr. Inslee, but sadly, America has chosen to cede leadership on an issue that has life altering consequences for so many.
17
@Rad Rabbit Not placing civil rights front and center risks damage to individuals throughout the world. Not placing climate change front and center will kill many people and species and damage the entire planet beyond repair.
5
The economy goes up and down, but the environment is forever.
33
Mr. Inslee's campaign may have been focused on a single issue, but when the issue is the most important one by a mile, should we all not be focusing on it?
I am reminded of the oft quoted "rearranging the deck on the Titanic" when the ship itself is sinking. Sinking ship v. deck chairs? Is there any contest?
There is one issue and only one issue that should dominate our lives, research, policy action, personal behaviors, and more. And that is climate change. Countries that focus on this one burning issue and foster policies and technologies needed to combat it will dominate global relations. Countries that resist and fight it or oppose it will wither away.
We are uniquely poised to provide that leadership, politically, economically, technologically, and morally. Are we ready to elect the next POTUS who will move this issue to the top of his/her agenda and fill the current vacuum in leadership?
72
@chickenlover . Good comment, and I sure share your hope that we will be unable to cast off the current resident of the White House and the party that enables him so recklessly. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. As a "language guy," I couldn't help but also want to correct your very apt idiom: we are re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic, not the deck itself. Clearly, that's what we should be rearranging - indeed, shifting to a beautiful full masted clipper ship that sails the world by wind power would be the best solution, but for now, the idiom remains limited to only the chairs. I do imagine that a return to sailing vessels would be a tremendous boon to the world, and revive an ancient and noble profession.
5
Good comment, and I sure share your hope that we will be able to cast off the current resident of the White House and the party that enables him so recklessly. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. As a "language guy," I couldn't help but also want to correct your very apt idiom: we are re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic, not the deck itself. Clearly, that's what we should be rearranging - indeed, shifting to a beautiful full masted clipper ship that sails the world by wind power would be the best solution, but for now, the idiom remains limited to only the chairs. I do imagine that a return to sailing vessels would be a tremendous boon to the world, and revive an ancient and noble profession.
2
I meant "able to cast off," of course!