There is also the constant conflating of climate policy with climate science in order to make subjective and ideological policy choices seem as if the science dictates those choices. But science informs policy, it does not provide objective answers to policy questions. However, those who disagree with the climate policy choices favored by extremists are labeled with offensive terms like deniers.
The Competitive Enterprise Institute rejects climate policies that assume Americans and humans all over the world must sacrifice their quality of living, be guilted into radical life changes, and give up on improving their standard of living in the name of fighting climate change. Even if the United States no longer existed, there would be little to no meaningful impact on global temperatures. Therefore, the myriad of extreme policies are all costs and no gain.
Using the force of government to impose policies that severely hurt humans today, especially the poor, without any meaningful benefits is not just foolish but indefensible. And when such policies are advanced, the proponents of those policies should always be expected to explain how their policy choices would meaningfully affect global temperatures. When they are unable to provide answers, which will be the case, their policy choices should be quickly dismissed.
The best way to deal with any genuine climate concerns is to remove government obstacles that hinder innovation, reduce wealth, and undermine prosperity and opportunity. Economic liberty benefits Americans generally, and at the same time, it is also the world’s best climate policy. After all, the wealthiest and most prosperous nations are far more likely to develop solutions to such problems than other nations.
Featured Posts
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UN report says tree planting can result in more greenhouse gas emissions
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Congress can end California’s EV mandates
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Earth Day is broken—only private conservation can fix it
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CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. CULTURE A “media watchdog group” calls for stricter regulation of video game violence. CEI Expert Available…
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The Land of Unkept Climate Commitments
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon says that California "leads the world" on climate change. He’s right, but not the way he thinks. In fact, the…
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Issues in the News 1. ENVIRONMENT Delegates to the United Nations’ global warming summit in Bali generate as much carbon dioxide as…
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The Greenest Hypocrites of 2007
Green has traditionally been the color of the deadly sin of envy. But this year, a trendy upstart mounted a serious challenge to envy’s…
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Issues in the News 1. CULTURE Bars and restaurants across the country celebrate the anniversary of the end of Prohibition with…
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Issues in the News<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” /> 1. BUSINESS Sen. Hillary Clinton…
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Uncle Sam’s CAFE Panacea: Killing Drivers, Increasing Costs
With the Bush administration’s support, Congress is pushing to increase fuel economy standards for American autos. The measure is supposed to save energy…
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CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. ENVIRONMENT New technologies may be causing scientists to over count the number of hurricanes and tropical storms.
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It’s the Sun, Stupid
When the international global warming alarm-ocracy gathers for its annual convention on the balmy island of Bali next week, is there any chance that…
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UN Prepares for Global Warming Talks in Bali
Washington, D.C., November 28, 2007—Diplomats from dozens of countries are preparing this week for global warming negotiations in Bali, Indonesia, where delegates will discuss plans…
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CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. HEALTH New drug approvals by the Food and Drug Administration decline dramatically. CEI Expert Available to Comment: Adjunct Scholar…
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CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. ENVIRONMENT British non-profit group Oxfam claims natural disasters around the world have quadrupled due to global warming. CEI Expert…
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U.N. Climate Distractions
The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) just issued the final installment of its year-long scare-the-pants-off-the public assessment…
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Living up to green ‘standards’
In his HGTV show “Living with Ed,” actor and environmentalist Ed Begley Jr. shows his viewers how to live green. Begley certainly more…
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CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. ENVIRONMENT A United Nations report warns of increasing acid levels in the world’s oceans realted to global warming. CEI…
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Global Warming’s Bottom Line
Sen. Hillary Clinton last week proposed that publicly-owned companies should be required to disclose to shareholders the financial impacts of global warming. Financial…
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Global Warming’s Senseless Consensus
Is there a “consensus” on global warming among the scientists participating in the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)? To find out,…
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CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. BUSINESS Congress considers legislation to “solve” the shake-up in subprime mortgages. CEI Expert Available to Comment:…
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Senate Holds Hearing on Irrelevant Climate Plan
Washington, D.C., November 8, 2007—This morning the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will meet to hear testimony on legislation that would severely restrict…
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Federal Ethanol Mandates Will Plow Us All Under
Holman W. Jenkins Jr.'s column “Cheap Shot at Toyota,” (editorial page, Oct. 24) rightly points out the significant negative consequences of the ethanol “cornrush”…
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Lene Johansen Named CEI Journalism Fellow
Washington D.C., November 5, 2007—The Competitive Enterprise Institute is proud to welcome Lene Johansen as its newest Warren T. Brookes Journalism Fellow. While…
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Commerce Department Study Finds “Unprecedented” Arctic Melting
Washington, D.C., November 2, 2007—The story is ominous, chronicling the melting of glaciers, the disappearance of Arctic sea ice, and the eradication of…
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CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. CONGRESS The chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee expresses doubts about the 2007 Farm Bill. CEI…
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House Committees Focus on Global Warming
Washington, D.C., November 1, 2007—Today the U.S. House of Representatives addresses global warming from two different angles, with hearings in both the Budget Committee…
News Release
Senate Looks at Financial Risks from Climate Change
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Washington, D.C., October 31, 2007—This afternoon members of the Senate Banking Committee will hold a hearing…
News Release
House Committee Focuses on Renewable Energy
Washington, D.C., October 30, 2007—This afternoon a subcommittee of the House International Relations Committee will hear testimony on "renewable energy and the global environment."…
Op-Eds
Kyoto-Style Bill Rushing Quietly Through Senate
Just last week conservatives cheered obvious progress in derailing the bipartisan push to quietly adopt the sovereignty-eroding Law of the Sea Treaty or “LOST”…
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Self-Interest: Inconvenient Truth of Climate Change
Al Gore has called on humans to address climate change “as a species.” Inconveniently for Gore, however, Homo sapiens are parsed into nation-states that have…
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Hogging All the Corn
This fall, Congress will consider an aggressive ethanol production mandate that spells bad news for pork producers in the Tar Heel State. …
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California Fire Smokescreen
Are climate alarmists using the Southern California wildfires to fan the flames of global warming? Are environmentalists and government bureaucrats using global warming…
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Committee Examines Energy Rationing Bill
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Washington, D.C., October 24, 2007—This afternoon the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a…
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U.N. Birthday Highlights Threat to U.S. Sovereignty by New Treaty
Washington, D.C., October 23, 2007—With United Nations Day celebrations coming up on October 24, Senate Democrats are leading an effort to pass the Law…
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CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. SAFETY Firefighters battle wildfires throughout southern California. CEI Expert Available to Comment: Senior Fellow Robert…
News Release
Online Global Warming Resource Re-Launched
Contact:Richard Morrison, 202-331-2273 Washington, D.C., October 22, 2007—The Competitive Enterprise Institute and the Cooler Heads Coalition are launching a new, re-designed version of…
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Hey Al Gore, We Want a Refund!
A British judge ruled on the eve of Al Gore co-winning the Nobel Peace Prize that students forced to watch…
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CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. HEALTH Democrats in Congress vow to keep pushing the children’s health insurance bill known as “SCHIP,” even…
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CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. HEALTH The House of Representatives prepares for a vote to override President Bush’s veto of the…
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Why America Doesn’t Ratify Treaties
One of the leading sources of anti-Americanism relates to America's supposed arrogance in failing to sign or ratify international treaties that the rest of…
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Senators Poised to Move on Energy Rationing
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Washington, D.C., October 17, 2007—Senators Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and John Warner (R-VA) are preparing to introduce…
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CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. TECHNOLOGY Greenpeace attacks Apple for what it considers “toxic” components in the iPhone. CEI…
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CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. TECHNOLOGY Greenpeace attacks Apple for what it considers “toxic” components in the iPhone. CEI…
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Partners in spin win Nobel Peace Prize
In its collective wisdom, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the Nobel Peace Prize this year jointly to former Vice President Al Gore and…
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CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. ENVIRONMENT Al Gore wins the Nobel Peace Prize. CEI Expert Available to Comment: Director of Global…
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Algore’s Nobel Prize for Globaloney
So, former Vice President Al Gore is worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize, awarded every year with a nice bag of money “to the…
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Gore Win a Sad Day for Nobel Legacy
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Washington, D.C., October 12, 2007—The announcement this morning of Al Gore as the winner of the…
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Al Gore and the Mission of the Nobel Prizes
In just a few hours following publication of this article, at approximately 9AM Eastern time this morning, the Norwegian Nobel Committee will announce its selection…
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Cooler Heads Digest
Announcement A new watchdog Web site on the Center for Climate Strategies, an environmental front group that is manipulating the climate policy process…
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Bushwhacked: Europe, Media Can’t Handle the Truth
A strange, almost funny thing recently happened at the State Department. This was unusual not solely because proceedings at Foggy Bottom generally prompt fits…
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Issues in the News 1. ENVIRONMENT House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell proposes new energy taxes…
Op-Eds
Global Warming’s Trillion-Dollar Turkey
A trillion dollars doesn’t buy what it used to — at least when it comes to global warming, according to a new analysis from…
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Cooler Heads Digest
Announcement The Cooler Heads Coalition invites you to a congressional staff and media briefing on “European Progress on Reducing Global Warming Emissions: A View…
Newsletter
CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. LEGAL The Supreme Court rejects an appeal by tobacco companies in a class action lawsuit brought by…
Op-Eds
The Break-Up: Time for a Green Divorce
After the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, environmental groups saw an opening. They realized that national-security hawks would be open to proposals to…
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CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. TECHNOLOGY Senators grill Google on consumer privacy concerns connected to the planned buyout of online…
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Is Global Warming a National Security Threat?
Contact:Richard Morrison, 202.331.2273 Washington, D.C., September 27, 2007—Today the House Science and Technology Committee will hear testimony on the possible national security implications of…
Op-Eds
Painting the Court Green
A specter is haunting the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />U.S. economy — the specter of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)…
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‘Major Emitters’ Meet on Global Warming
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” /> Contact: Richard Morrison, 202.331.2273 Washington, D.C., September…
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CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. TRADE Prominent Democrats come out in favor of pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama…
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A Pardoner’s Tale
Are you a carbon-using Christian? Feeling guilty about all that carbon dioxide (CO2) you pump into the atmosphere by such awful things as breathing, heating…
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Biofueling Disorder
Would you believe that the weather in Indiana could trigger popular unrest in China? Global demand for fuel made out of food is growing…
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Al Gore’s Unbeatable Deal!
Just imagine the infomercial: Have I got a deal for you! You may not know it, but your house is leaking energy, which means…
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Honk If You Support DC Car-Free Day
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Osborne is wrong about green taxes
Sir, There are several problems with George Osborne's call for higher green taxes (“A strong case for switching to green taxation”, September 13).
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Cooler Heads Digest
News Highlights Feel Good vs Do Good on the Climate John Tierney, NYTimes, 11 September 2007 Climate Figures…
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CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. ENVIRONMENT Danish scientist Bjørn Lomborg garners high-profile media attention for his new book, “Cool It:…
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Cooking Up Global Warming
A very embarrassing chapter in the history of our nation's scientific establishment has been unfolding thanks to a creative new website www.SurfaceStations.org set…
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Cooler Heads Digest
News Highlights Biofuels Fad Threatens Global Food Supply Reuters, 5 September 2007 The Economic Case against Reducing Your…
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The Energy Bill That Wasn’t
HUMAN EVENTS' readers are understandably difficult to shock these days with new examples of Congress’ political arrogance. Yet, as the House of Representatives was putting the…
Op-Eds
Ethanol and Arkansas
Arkansas corn farmers have rarely had it so good. I should know. Due to surging corn prices, our family farm in Independence County has been…
Op-Eds
Runaway Climate Captured?
Runaway global warming, the climate alarmist fantasy let loose on the public, has not yet been captured, but it certainly appears to have at…
Op-Eds
Congress’ Energy Legislation Would Impair Alabama
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Cooler Heads Digest
News Highlights East Europe Rebels against EU Emissions Policy Euactive, 22 Aug 2007 UN: Reducing GHG Emissions Would…
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The Competitive Enterprise Institute Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. POLITICS Al Gore’s book “The Assault on Reason” becomes one of the summer’s best selling…
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The Competitive Enterprise Institute Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. ECONOMICS Officials and residents debate whether the federal government should subsidize rebuilding efforts in hurricane-prone…
Newsletter
The Competitive Enterprise Institute Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. BUSINESS The Federal Trade Commission tries to block the merger of the Whole Foods and…
Newsletter
Cooler Heads Digest
News Highlights Why the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme Isn’t Working Open Society, 9 August 2007 NASA’s Global Warming…
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CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. ENVIRONMENT NASA orders a review of climate data after an independent researcher discovers that 1934 – not 1998 as…
Op-Eds
Argument is all wet
Why would lawmakers deny firefighters bottled water? And why would churches feel the need to condemn this commodity?…
Newsletter
Cooler Heads Digest
News Highlights The Big Ethanol Scam Jeff Goddall, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2007 Daily Show Correspondent Aasif Mandvi’s…
Op-Eds
Junk Science: How Now Brown Cloud?
A new study in the Aug. 2 issue of the British science journal Nature found that the solid particles suspended in the atmosphere (called…
Op-Eds
Anti-Energy Bill
Speaker Pelosi says that HR 3221, the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security and Consumer Protection Act "puts us on a path towards…
Op-Eds
No free lunch on emissions
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is on a snake oil sales tour. To much fanfare, the Governator is traveling the country promoting his “California model”…
Newsletter
Cooler Heads Digest
News Highlight Green Politics: All Sizzle and No Steak Robert Samuelson, Washington Post, 25 July 2007 …
Newsletter
CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. CONGRESS Lawmakers prepare to vote on a major new farm bill. CEI Expert Available to…
Op-Eds
Kyoto Anniversary: What it Means Today
Ten years ago today the U.S. Senate did something that at the time seemed significant and now seems remarkably foresightful. By a vote of…
News Release
Global Warming Resolution Marks 10th Anniversary
Washington, D.C., July 25, 2007—Today marks the 10th anniversary of an important and prescient vote in the U.S. Senate. As global warming treaty negotiations in…
News Release
U.S. Lawmakers Eye European Carbon ‘Cap-and-Trade’ Fiasco
Washington, D.C., July 24, 2007—U.S. Senators Joe Lieberman and John Warner are poised to introduce legislation to impose on Americans a costly, harmful European-style…
Newsletter
Cooler Heads Digest
News Highlights Schwarzenegger’s Climate Team Further ImplodesEditorial, The Bakersfield Californian, 19 July 2007 Ethanol Mandates Pose Grave…
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Cooler Heads Digest
News EU to Outlaw Sports Cars to Fight Global Warming?Doron Levin, Bloomberg, 10 July 2007 Are IPCC Climate…
Op-Eds
Ignorance Is Strength, Dissent Is Treason
At last weekend’s Live Earth concert in New Jersey, Robert Kennedy, Jr., a spokesman for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), charged ExxonMobil and Southern…
Op-Eds
Al Gore’s Whine: What Really Happened on the Mall
Now it's official. Global warming alarmism has indeed “jumped the shark“, as revealed by the dismal failure of the Live Earth concerts to galvanize…
Op-Eds
The Biofuel Fad
William Saletan argued in favor of biofuels on humanitarian and environmental grounds ["A Corny Cold War," Outlook, July 8]. He was wrong on both…
Newsletter
CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. FINANCE Private insurance companies refuse to issue coverage to hurricane-prone areas in Florida. CEI…
Op-Eds
Farmers are Shuckers, Too
It is not surprising that National Corn Growers Association President Ken McCauley uses the term “free market” pejoratively (“Reusable fuels: Good goal, good policy,”…
Op-Eds
Economic Climate Changes
Congress is considering global warming legislation to require substantial cuts in emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), the inescapable byproduct of the fossil fuels —…
Newsletter
Cooler Heads Digest
Global Warming in the News: Inside the BeltwayMyron Ebell, CEI As the House leadership tries to figure out what pieces of anti-energy legislation…
News Release
Bureaucrash and the “Demand Debate” Campaign Crash Live Earth New York
Washington, D.C., July 9, 2007—This weekend pro-freedom activists from the Bureaucrash Activist Network teamed up with DemandDebate to infiltrate the New York…
News Release
A Skeptical Response to “Live Earth”
Washington, D.C., July 7, 2007—As millions of people prepare to enjoy the musical talents of their favorite bands at the seven-city “Live Earth” concert…
Op-Eds
Junk Science: Live Earth’s Gross Groupies
Why is NBC airing Al Gore’s Live Earth concert this weekend? Why are Democrats, who claim to support the Fairness Doctrine, not objecting to…
Staff & Scholars
Sam Kazman
Counsel Emeritus
- Antitrust
- Automobiles and Roads
- Banking and Finance
Marlo Lewis, Jr.
Senior Fellow
- Climate
- Energy
- Energy and Environment
Ben Lieberman
Senior Fellow
- Climate
- Consumer Freedom
- Energy
Jacob Tomasulo
Policy Analyst
- Climate
- Energy
- Energy and Environment
Kevin D. Williamson
Writer in Residence
- Climate
- Energy and Environment