Yesterday, Ed Markey and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez released a proposed congressional resolution providing a framework for the so-called Green New Deal. I am pleased to note that it would not exclude use of nuclear power or large-scale hydropower. Neither would it preclude use of market-based approaches towards regulating carbon. Of course, it also doesn't advocate for putting a price on carbon.
I realize that this is simply a resolution and not proposed legislation. As such, it's more of a political document than it is a blueprint for a Green New Deal. Nonetheless, I do think that that's a significant weakness. I don't see how anyone can look at this as a serious proposal; it's just a political weapon.
In fact, it reads more like a broad party platform than a charter for a Green New Deal. They may be wonderful goals and good policies, but it's not obvious to me what any of the following items have to do with a Green New Deal:
- guaranteeing a job with a family-sustaining wage
- adequate family and medical leave, paid vacations, and retirement security to all people of the United States
- strengthening and protecting the right of all workers to organize, unionize, and collectively bargain free of coercion, intimidation, and harassment
- strengthening and enforcing labor, workplace health and safety, antidiscrimination, and wage and hour standards across all employers, industries, and sectors
- high-quality health care
- affordable, safe, and adequate housing
- economic security
Why not just call this the proposal for the complete 2020 Democratic Party platform?
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