Grandstanding, Litigiousness from California's AG
By Man on the Road Posted in Archived | Spotlight Blogs — Comments (7) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
This, from Carter Wood of the National Association of Manufacturer's ShopFloor.org blog:
California's Attorney General Bill Lockyer filed a lawsuit yesterday against the "Bix Six" automotive companies -- General Motors, Toyota, Ford, Honda, Chrysler and Nissan -- seeking monetary damages to compensate the state for harm caused by global warming. (Lockyer news release here.)
This is the grandest of grandstanding, combining personal preening, political overreach, shaky legal arguments, and an attempt to replace the policymaking role of the State Legislature and Congress with judicial fiat. Oh, and Lockyer is running for State Treasurer this fall.
Read On...
The complaint asserts, "Human-induced global warming has, among other things, reduced California's snow pack (a vital source of fresh water), caused an earlier melting of the snow pack, raised sea levels along California's coastline, increased ozone pollution in urban areas, [and] increased the threat of wildfires."
Thoughts:
Black humor aside, this is a serious matter and serious Californians will reject Lockyer's actions as disastrous to the state's economic future. Auto manufacturers are constantly exploring sites for news plants, and you can bet they're crossing California off their lists right now.
Lockyer reminds us of the kid who scuttles up behind a car, smashes a potato into the exhaust pipe, and then scurries away, delighted with himself. Yeah, you stop emissions that way, but the car just doesn't run anymore.
Is there an AG out there that doesn't engage in this kind of stupidity? That seems to have become part of their job description. That is, besides running for governor.
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"I am a great believer in luck. The harder I work, the more I have of it." -- Thomas Jefferson
This is what happens when you elect AGs. The AG should be the Government and the Governor's chief lawyer, not a political hack.
There are downsides to an appointed AG, but not nearly so many as there are in giving that kind of authority to any lawyer who can make enough promises to get 50% + 1.
In Vino Veritas
Please, someone ask Gov. Granholm (D-MI) what she thinks of this. It is a good potential wedge issue here, splitting the Democratic base with your average blue collar auto worker.
Lockyer reminds us of the kid who scuttles up behind a car, smashes a potato into the exhaust pipe, and then scurries away, delighted with himself. Yeah, you stop emissions that way, but the car just doesn't run anymore.
I'd put it slightly differently, more like:
Lockyer reminds us of the kid who scuttles up behind a car, smashes a potato into the exhaust pipe, and then scurries away, delighted with himself. Then he gets injured when the potato shoots out the exhaust, and sues the maker of the car for his injuries.