Wrapping up an appalling interview with Grist magazine, Ron Paul proudly declares that he hasn’t done much for the sake of the environment, even on a personal basis, and he doesn’t really think he needs to.
Grist: Can you elaborate on what you’ve done personally to reduce your energy and environmental impact?
Ron Paul: Well, no, other than the fact that I’m just always aware of doing anything damaging to the environment. I don’t think I do anything that damages it at all.
Ron Paul doesn’t think that he does anything that damages the environment at all?
Not when he rides in a car? Not when he flies in an airplane to go all around the country promoting his campaign? Not when he eats food and consumes products created overseas and shipped halfway around the world? Not when he burns electricity that comes from coal burning power plants?
Not anything?!?
This statement confirms it for me: When it comes to the environment, Ron Paul is living in a world of oblivion.
The sad truth is that we all do things to damage the environment around us. Even environmentalists who try really hard to avoid damaging the environment end up inflicting some damage. The important thing is that we try to balance environmental destruction with environmental restoration and protection.
The fact that Ron Paul doesn’t even recognize the environmental impact of any of his activities suggests to me that he won’t be able to tell when his actions as President have a negative impact on the environment. More generally, this tendency suggests that Ron Paul is frighteningly skillful at believing whatever he wants to believe, regardless of the reality that is staring him in the face.
(Source: Grist, October 16, 2007)
