Open Letter to the President: The Generation That Failed to Act?

Posted on December 26, 2018 by Richard H. McBee Jr.

Dear Mr. President, 26 December 2018

Sir, on this day nearing the end of the holiest month of the year for followers of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Wicca, Pagan, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, and Buddhism, to name a few of the world’s great religions, I would like you to take the time to briefly consider your own as well as the entire world’s children and possible great-grandchildren, as you read my letter on the subject of climate change. I hope you will listen and then have the courage to speak out forcibly to correct our country’s current misdirection in this global concern. Are we going to be the generation “That Failed to Act?”

Climate change is the largest threat to humanity worldwide, and its shadow is looming on our future. No wall or army will stop the predicted consequences for humanity and our nation if you fail to act. As a leader of the world, you need to stand up and begin to lead the world in this most problematic of situations. We still have the possibility of alleviating some of the predicted dire consequences if we act now. The past two years of natural disasters in our country are only the beginning of what we are going to see if we fail to act now.

I know that a large number of Americans have chosen to not listen to the scientific community and seem to have your ear. As amateurs, they are cherry-picking science for unknown reasons in an attempt to undermine your taking any concrete action towards alleviating impending consequences of climate change. These persons apparently have a lot of influence within the Political community, which is resulting in inaction on your part as well as that of Congress. Thus, when we should be out front leading, have removed ourselves from the stage in solving a worldwide problem. Not solving the problems will bring about greater consquences to our agriculture, health care, national wealth, and very possibly imperil our great-grandchildren’s survival on this planet.

Climatologists who are doing solid science by taking the best climate data have found the main culprit as well as some solutions for climate change. They say that we can still have an effect if we act now! It is a proven fact that climate change is caused by humans spewing trillions of tons of Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere annually. We see the effects of the changes in our daily weather and in the extremes of weather that are beginning to occur on our planet and in our nation, costing us billions and eventually trillions of dollars to try to fix after the fact. The scientific explanations verifying this climate change are significant, meaning they are correct over 95% of the time and independently verifiable by others willing to do the research, not just rumor-monger. All their work is being done openly in the gigantic world-wide scientific theatre.

Climate studies have found 7 ways to best remove excessive CO2 emissions, but these solutions need government support to begin immediate implementation. They also have given excellent suggestions for ways to bring the business community on board with profit motivated solutions for removing Carbon Dioxide and utilizing it. I suggest you immediately appoint a task force of the best economists and climatologists to help bring into reality all seven of the best solutions which are outlined in the new January 2019 Scientific American article, “The Last Resort”.

Mr. President, it is time for the USA to act boldly. You must begin to be a leader in the world community. If our nation remains in the current climate change denial and analysis paralysis mode, we threaten the living conditions and economy of our own country as well as all other countries in the world. Climatic change is occurring. Our generation, yes, I am over 70, needs to be remembered as a generation that took on a massive challenge to make our world less hostile and insecure for the sake of our children and great-grandchildren.

Mr. President, your action is imperative. I hope I can count on you as a man motivated towards improving the future of humanity. As we depart the stage in active public and political life, both you and we need to leave a legacy that is greater than: “The President Who Led a Generation That Failed to Act.”

Sincerely,

Richard H. McBee Jr.