Steven Chu: Americans Are Like ‘Teenage Kids’ When It Comes to Energy
The Wall Street Journal
When it comes to greenhouse-gas emissions, Energy Secretary Steven Chu sees Americans as unruly teenagers and the Administration as the parent that will have to teach them a few lessons.
Speaking on the sidelines of a smart grid conference in Washington, Dr. Chu said he didn’t think average folks had the know-how or will to to change their behavior enough to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.
“The American public…just like your teenage kids, aren’t acting in a way that they should act,” Dr. Chu said. “The American public has to really understand in their core how important this issue is.” (In that case, the Energy Department has a few renegade teens of its own.)
The administration aims to teach them—literally. The Environmental Protection Agency is focusing on real children. Partnering with the Parent Teacher Organization, the agency earlier this month launched a cross-country tour of 6,000 schools to teach students about climate change and energy efficiency.
“We’re showing people across the country how energy efficiency can be part of what they do every day,” said EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. “Confronting climate change, saving money on our utility bills, and reducing our use of heavily-polluting energy can be as easy as making a few small changes.”
Still, Secretary Chu said he didn’t think that the public would throw the same political temper tantrum over climate legislation has has happened with the healthcare debate.
Asked if he expected a town-hall style pushback, Dr. Chu said he was optimistic the public would buy the administration’s arguments that energy efficiency and caps on greenhouse-gas emissions will spark an economic rebound.
“I don’t think so…maybe I’m optimistic, but there’s very little debate” that a new green energy economy will bring economic prosperity, Mr. Chu told reporters.
Don’t look now, but there’s actually quite a lot of debate as to the economic merits of the new green-energy economy. Whether that will spell a healthcare-style revolt against the energy and climate bill stewing in the Senate is another question.
An update: Energy Department spokesman Dan Leistikow added: “Secretary Chu was not comparing the public to teenagers. He was saying that we need to educate teenagers about ways to save energy. He also recognized the need to educate the broader public about how important clean energy industries are to our competitive position in the global economy. He believes public officials do have an obligation to make their case to the American people on major legislation, and that’s what he’s doing.”
Wild Thing’s comment……..
First of all, LOL . Love the update note in the article. Don’t believe what you hear – we’ll interpret it for you because you’re too dumb to understand it
Dr. Chu said he didn’t think average folks had the know-how or will to to change their behavior
The lib-Dem philosophy in a nutshell — “government knows how to run your life better than you do.”
Chu is an idiot and unless he would be for drilling for oil on our land and offshore he can put his wishes and opinion where the sun does not shine. His first name should be FU. That would suit him just fine…..Fu Chu….
Chu on this!!
….Thank you Mark for sending this to me.
Mark
3rd Mar.Div. 1st Battalion 9th Marine Regiment
1/9 Marines aka The Walking Dead
VN 66-67
I’m sorry, but did he miss the meeting on ordinary citizens? I guess he must have. I don’t run my A/C in the summer-I open the windows. I have one light on in the living room at night and turn out others when the room is NOT in use. I don’t turn on the light when I get on the computer early in the am either. He’s a nutjob.
Dr Chu, I have three words for you that will solve the supposed energy crisis. Drill, Drill, Drill! That would also spark an economic upswing.
There is no greenhouse problem. Only a government problem.
Wonder what gas mileage his limousine gets?
I wonder how much pollution chu’s friends in the chicom politburo are responsible for. Yes, I think he is a chicom, just like that fat slant-eyed prick koh.
Lynn, LMAO good one!!!!
“I’m sorry, but did he miss the meeting on ordinary citizens?”
Tom, AMEN. I never saw so much work and
BS go into NOT doing something that
is right in front of all those enviro
people like this Chu.
God gave us oil we have tons of it.
My Dad owned a couple of farms and
the people that lived on them were so
nice. I used to go visit in the summer
and play with their kids.
And my Dad used to kid around and say
it would be nice to have a farm where
he raised oil wells. heh heh
Horace, heh heh I bet we pay for
his gas.
Good question Horace.
JohnE PFC U.S. Army, I agree
he IS a chicom!!!!!
What a jerk!!