April 27, 2023 - 1:00pm
Recently, President Biden signed an executive order to “to revitalize our nation’s commitment to environmental justice for all”. While this might sound like a fairly unremarkable piece of environmentalist rhetoric, the directive is designed to make yet another major issue all about racism.
“Environmental justice” doesn’t mean trying to save the environment. Rather, it’s about ensuring that no group of people bears a “disproportionate share” of environmental harms. For as the White House’s “fact sheet” explains, “racism is a fundamental driver of environmental injustice”.
So what exactly does the executive order do? To begin with, it establishes the first ever “Environmental Justice scorecard” to monitor what federal agencies (including NASA and the Department of Education) are doing to “advance environmental justice in communities across America”. In addition, it introduces the “Justice40 initiative”, which aims to ensure that 40% of the benefits from certain federal programs flow to “disadvantaged communities”. Why 40%? Don’t ask me.
Now, there are racial disparities in exposure to pollutants, and some of them may be due to racist policies in the past. But that doesn’t justify the Biden administration’s approach — which treats citizens not as individuals but as members of distinct groups or “communities”.
Reducing people’s exposure to pollutants is certainly a desirable goal, and is also one for which the federal government is well-suited (pollutants have a habit of ignoring state boundaries.) The correct approach is surely to maximise social welfare by considering factors like the harm done by the pollutants and the cost of removing them; the race of those affected should be irrelevant.
If some groups are more affected by pollutants than others, they will tend to benefit more from the welfare-maximising policy. However, this is a side-effect of the policy, not its main purpose. The Government has no business equalising groups’ exposure to pollutants if doing so comes at the expense of overall welfare. Removing all pollutants is clearly not optimal, as it would require us to abandon industrial society.
Aside from these theoretical arguments, there are also the facts on the ground.
Racial disparities in exposure to pollutants track urban living more than financial resources. Native Americans earn about half as much as Asian Americans, on average. Yet because they tend to live in rural areas, their exposure to pollutants is lower. In fact, they’re less exposed than even white Americans.
While disparities still exist, all racial groups have seen dramatic declines in exposure over the last two decades. What’s more, the disparities themselves have narrowed over time. According to a recent study, the black-white gap in exposure to particulates fell by two-thirds between 2000 and 2015 — thanks largely to new emissions standards introduced in 1997. As the authors note, the new standards had this effect even though it was “not their primary intent”.
President Biden’s executive order is just the latest example of progressives trying to make “equity” (that is, equality of outcomes across racial groups) the central aim of government policy. In the present case, it seems particularly misguided, given that recent trends are favourable across the board. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it — especially not like this.
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SubscribeBecause if you can think of something – anything – that cannot be blamed on Racism, Trump or Transphobia, then you have clearly misunderstood the problem and need to reframe the question.
Because if you can think of something – anything – that cannot be blamed on Racism, Trump or Transphobia, then you have clearly misunderstood the problem and need to reframe the question.
Because he’s a Democrat and for them everything comes down to race.
What’s the name for somebody who sees everything according to race ?
flat or jumps?
I’ll say it. Racism
flat or jumps?
I’ll say it. Racism
Everything has to come down to something:: at the moment it’s race. Give it time and another bandwagon will come along.
What’s the name for somebody who sees everything according to race ?
Everything has to come down to something:: at the moment it’s race. Give it time and another bandwagon will come along.
Because he’s a Democrat and for them everything comes down to race.
There has to be an outlet for the college graduates with degrees in such amorphous topics such as environmental justice. And more layers of government to spend more money we don’t have.
Yes, money doesn’t grow on Trees 😉
Yes, money doesn’t grow on Trees 😉
There has to be an outlet for the college graduates with degrees in such amorphous topics such as environmental justice. And more layers of government to spend more money we don’t have.
In the US denying that systemic racism exists is tantamount to blasphemy. Racialism is sacrosanct and by tying environmental activism to terms like climate justice, individuals and institutions can accrue unprecedented levels of power. In effect those who challenge environmental orthodoxy can be conveniently lumped in with racists and bigots, and therefore safely ignored and overridden. As with most progressive ideals it’s a secular version of pagan idolatry, in this case Gaia worship.
If there is one thing more sacrosanct than racism it is the holocaust. Now if we could just tie together the environment, racism and the holocaust we’d be unbeatable
Clearly a job for Diane Abbot and Kemala Harris?
Clearly a job for Diane Abbot and Kemala Harris?
If there is one thing more sacrosanct than racism it is the holocaust. Now if we could just tie together the environment, racism and the holocaust we’d be unbeatable
In the US denying that systemic racism exists is tantamount to blasphemy. Racialism is sacrosanct and by tying environmental activism to terms like climate justice, individuals and institutions can accrue unprecedented levels of power. In effect those who challenge environmental orthodoxy can be conveniently lumped in with racists and bigots, and therefore safely ignored and overridden. As with most progressive ideals it’s a secular version of pagan idolatry, in this case Gaia worship.
…or because the Elite realise that the environmental narratives and the racism narratives are beginning to lose their grip on the public’s imagination so they are tying the two together as a Bargain Apocalypse.
BOGOF?
BOGOF?
…or because the Elite realise that the environmental narratives and the racism narratives are beginning to lose their grip on the public’s imagination so they are tying the two together as a Bargain Apocalypse.
It is the same story as every piece of legislation with the same goals. Create more (bureaucratic and HR) jobs, divide one segment of the population from the other, ritually humiliate your ideological Enemy and create meaningless, distracting buzz to pretend that you are actually doing something.
It is the same story as every piece of legislation with the same goals. Create more (bureaucratic and HR) jobs, divide one segment of the population from the other, ritually humiliate your ideological Enemy and create meaningless, distracting buzz to pretend that you are actually doing something.
It’s all talking points. None of it matters to them. They don’t believe anything they say about justice, racism or the environment – and they don’t have to. They say the right things to appease their university educated, mostly white, mostly prosperous voting base. It doesn’t matter if it’s nonsense.
Democrats – the party of fear, guilt, and racism.
Surely, university mis-educated if they believe woke nonsense?
No Andrew. This was always the plan. They have brainwashed 3 generations and this is what was meant that America would be destroyed from within.
No Andrew. This was always the plan. They have brainwashed 3 generations and this is what was meant that America would be destroyed from within.
Democrats – the party of fear, guilt, and racism.
Surely, university mis-educated if they believe woke nonsense?
It’s all talking points. None of it matters to them. They don’t believe anything they say about justice, racism or the environment – and they don’t have to. They say the right things to appease their university educated, mostly white, mostly prosperous voting base. It doesn’t matter if it’s nonsense.
I’m interested by the build up to next year’s election. I recall reading about some research which suggested that no small number of centrist voters saw wokism as a reaction to the excesses of Trump. They subsequently voted for Biden in the expectation that all the nonsense would go away if a more moderate president was the incumbent. If this is true, then they misread what was behind the idealogical capture of government and institutions as Biden has overseen a massive ramping up of woke policies. How will these voters swing in 2024, I wonder.
Indeed. And it’s amazing how moderate Trump’s actions were as president compared to Biden’s.
If Trump or other Republicans could articulate that well they would sweep into the WH with a solid majority. But they have communication problems.
Too late. The Democrats will never cede another election to a GOP president again. They’re improving on the 2020 steal in state houses and mayors offices all over the country with the willing aid of their corporate/media/tech/FBI/judiciary accomplices.
Communications are a problem when Democrats control the means.
I think it’s more of a media filter problem. I have no idea how they counter that now as the “fake news” train has left the station
Too late. The Democrats will never cede another election to a GOP president again. They’re improving on the 2020 steal in state houses and mayors offices all over the country with the willing aid of their corporate/media/tech/FBI/judiciary accomplices.
Communications are a problem when Democrats control the means.
I think it’s more of a media filter problem. I have no idea how they counter that now as the “fake news” train has left the station
If Trump or other Republicans could articulate that well they would sweep into the WH with a solid majority. But they have communication problems.
Why should they if Trump is running?
Let’s hope D’Santis is Rep candidate…
Indeed. And it’s amazing how moderate Trump’s actions were as president compared to Biden’s.
Why should they if Trump is running?
Let’s hope D’Santis is Rep candidate…
I’m interested by the build up to next year’s election. I recall reading about some research which suggested that no small number of centrist voters saw wokism as a reaction to the excesses of Trump. They subsequently voted for Biden in the expectation that all the nonsense would go away if a more moderate president was the incumbent. If this is true, then they misread what was behind the idealogical capture of government and institutions as Biden has overseen a massive ramping up of woke policies. How will these voters swing in 2024, I wonder.
Because black Americans are starting to wake up to the damage done to their lives and communities by Wall Street Democrats and need to be kept onside by any means possible?
Because black Americans are starting to wake up to the damage done to their lives and communities by Wall Street Democrats and need to be kept onside by any means possible?
“Race” is all Biden has. His key constituency is older Black women government employees and retirees who love him because he was Barack Obama’s vice president.
“Race” is all Biden has. His key constituency is older Black women government employees and retirees who love him because he was Barack Obama’s vice president.
Why do you columnists waste everyone’s time by writing about Biden’s “policies”? Biden is given his orders, spelled out in simple language – LARGE TYPE – and put to bed when the day’s task is over – usually before noon.
Can you please do the work and find out who is actually running this country? Are they even from here? What is the point of keeping up this charade when the world can see with its own collective eyes the reality? What we need are facts, not endless whys.
Why do you columnists waste everyone’s time by writing about Biden’s “policies”? Biden is given his orders, spelled out in simple language – LARGE TYPE – and put to bed when the day’s task is over – usually before noon.
Can you please do the work and find out who is actually running this country? Are they even from here? What is the point of keeping up this charade when the world can see with its own collective eyes the reality? What we need are facts, not endless whys.
__________ justice.
Fill in the blank. Now you no longer have justice.
__________ justice.
Fill in the blank. Now you no longer have justice.
“Why”?!
Because it’s always about race, and gender, etc.
How else can meritless, rich, patriarchal, white males stay in power?
“Why”?!
Because it’s always about race, and gender, etc.
How else can meritless, rich, patriarchal, white males stay in power?
When asked about race Biden said ” I’ve got a hot tip for one of Bob Baffert’s in the 3.30 at Churchill Downs today”…
When asked about race Biden said ” I’ve got a hot tip for one of Bob Baffert’s in the 3.30 at Churchill Downs today”…
The Democrats are in love with polling. They’ve been wildly wrong in the past but that doesn’t matter. They’ll keep coming up with polls to tell themselves what they want to hear; I’m sure that’s where this enviromental justice thing came from.
You have to keep in mind that their aim is not winning elections, the real concern is sucking in campaign contributions. For instance, they did nothing to protect Roe v Wade. Now that it’s gone they’re making bundles from outraged voters. And now, predictably, the Party faithful keep coming up with new polls showing how much Americans love abortions, setting us up for the next lost election, and the next round of outrage. They’ll be making money on this for another forty years!
The Democrats are in love with polling. They’ve been wildly wrong in the past but that doesn’t matter. They’ll keep coming up with polls to tell themselves what they want to hear; I’m sure that’s where this enviromental justice thing came from.
You have to keep in mind that their aim is not winning elections, the real concern is sucking in campaign contributions. For instance, they did nothing to protect Roe v Wade. Now that it’s gone they’re making bundles from outraged voters. And now, predictably, the Party faithful keep coming up with new polls showing how much Americans love abortions, setting us up for the next lost election, and the next round of outrage. They’ll be making money on this for another forty years!
Looking at the picture… Over and over again the POTUS is doing official things outside, so he’s got a chance to wear sunglasses. sometimes it looks ridiculous — when for instance he was hosting S Korea’s guy (who obviously did not wear sg).
Looking at the picture… Over and over again the POTUS is doing official things outside, so he’s got a chance to wear sunglasses. sometimes it looks ridiculous — when for instance he was hosting S Korea’s guy (who obviously did not wear sg).