In Which I Agree with Tom Friedman

Tom Friedman has finally figured out that the main planks in his agenda, especially massive investments in clean energy and education, are not failing because of "partisanship," but because Republicans oppose them. I also like the way he frames the debate over what to do about carbon emissions:

So here’s the math: 98 climate scientists out of 100 will tell you that man’s continued carbon emissions pose the risk of disruptive climate change this century. Two out of 100 will tell you it doesn’t. And “conservatives” today tell you to bet on the two. If the climate-deniers are right — but we combat climate change anyway — we’ll have slightly higher energy prices but cleaner air, more renewable energy, a stronger dollar, more innovative industries and enemies with less money. If the deniers are wrong and we do nothing, your kids will meet the sudden stop at the end.

This is what I think; there are so many other reasons to move away from a fossil-fuel based economy that even if the climate models are all wrong it would still be a good idea, and if the models are right, we would be averting catastrophe.