10Protect the Environment

Stewardship for future generations was a founding value of American democracy. Protecting the environment is a moral responsibility, not one that can be debated merely as a matter of proof. Like protecting the freedom of our allies in World War II, environmental protection also cannot be accomplished solely within national borders. As the world’s largest economy, the United States has a practical and moral duty to lead a new world order to address the global effects of climate change and other environmental challenges. The US must assert moral authority by adopting responsible guidelines for itself, and use its economic power to encourage other countries to do the same.   

The solutions include the following:

• Impose a carbon fee which encourages more efficient use of fossil fuels--including providing incentives for sustainable energy sources.  

• Where possible, replace command and control regulatory dictates with market-based disincentives, including disincentives for products which are not bio-degradable. 

• Establish standards for stewardship of oceans, including avoiding depletion of fish populations, and discharges that compromise aquatic culture.  

• Compensate countries for preserving natural features that benefit people outside their borders and are vital to a healthy world environment. 

• Enter into multinational treaties on all these mechanisms, and impose tariffs on products from countries which do not honor these guidelines.