AL GORE AND THE SISTINE CHAPEL

The former vice President and self proclaimed expert on the dire threat of global warming has been working hard to save the planet. At least that is what he would have you believe. Through the use of questionable scientific method, shouting down dissenting views and condemning research that reaches contrary conclusions, the global warming crowd have cleverly framed the argument so that anyone who takes issue with their conclusions are excommunicated from the church of modern environmentalism. In a sense, Gore is reprising the role of Johann Tetzel, a 16th Century German Dominican priest who gained notoriety as an indulgence preacher. Tetzel made a big business of selling papal indulgences, or forgiveness’ for sin, to finance the construction of the Sistine Chapel. In this he was very effective. The practice of indulgence is legitimate although it was often abused. Tetzel's practice of leveraging money from relatives of the recently deceased to save their souls drew sharp criticism. This crossed a line that was one of the featured theses that Martin Luther posted to protest the corruption of the Catholic Church. Tetzel coined the phrase “As soon as the gold in the casket rings the rescued soul to heaven springs.” Now who would not want to make sure that their dearly beloved were not condemned to purgatory because they were too cheap to “purchase” their eternal freedom? Quite a sales pitch and very effective.
Roll forward 500 years and we have that sainted public servant, Al Gore, just doing the people’s work to save the earth. Gore testified before Congress this past week to promote passing a Cap andTrade system. Cap and trade is an environmentalist and socialist’s dream in that it becomes a $400 billion regressive tax that hits the middle and lower classes disproportionately. Under this type of system, a company is allocated a set limit on their carbon emissions. If they want to exceed this limit, they must purchase credits from a company that does not exceed the limits imposed by the government. The net effect is that much of US industry will close or move off shore costing jobs and the cost of living will rise for the consumer on the order of $3,000-$4,000 per year.
Gore calls the passage of a cap and trade system a “moral imperative”. Naturally, Mr. Gore is just engaging in business when the corporations that he heads or serves on their boards are precisely the companies who will get very wealthy selling “credits” to legitimate companies who actually produce something. This is precisely where Gore plunges to an ethical abyss far below Tetzel. In Tetzel’s case, his sin lay in the overzealous desire to fund the Church. By contrast Gore is seeking his own enrichment and that of the cabal of environmental and socialist elitists, such as George Soros, who despise the capitalist system and seek to destroy it and enrich themselves in the process. Gore evaded questions about his profit taking and his overwhelming conflict of interest as he promoted the cap and trade system before Congress. His personal worth has gone from 2 million to over $100 million since he left office and if the Cap and Trade global warming tax passes, he has strategically positioned himself to make billions. Gore is certainly not alone. Jeffrey Immelt and General Electric stands to profit immensely with the cap and trade and the resulting push into Green Technologies. This explains GE’s overwhelming support and advising of the Obama administration. It also puts perspective to CNBC and MSNBC’s total inability to serve in any capacity other than the official Obama administration press organ. There is another stark contrast between Tetzel and Gore. 500 years ago, Tetzel used guilt to con people out of their own money. Gore plans on leveraging the power of the federal government to build his own Sistine Chapel at your expense. Remember that and more importantly, make sure your elected representatives keep this in mind as well.