It seems that bipartisanship is on everyone’s mind these days. It’s no secret that Americans wish members of Congress would work together to solve our pressing problems.
But how to do that? By selecting a problem most agree needs addressing, a problem solvable by political action. A problem like climate change.
According to the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, nearly 60 percent of all registered voters believe climate change is real and human-caused, including a majority from each party. Americans are anxious for Congress to stop arguing about climate change’s settled science and instead find policy solutions.
One bipartisan idea is already at hand. The Yale survey shows 84 percent of Democrats and 56 percent of Republicans support a carbon tax that’s offset by reducing other taxes. In other words, tax pollution and rescind taxes on items like food and Social Security benefits.
People who speak out drive policy. Consider the NRA and its 4 million members, then compare with the 26 million Americans who told the Yale study they would “definitely agree” to contact their public officials regarding climate action. It’s up to us to let our Congress know that climate change is a unifying issue, not a wedge.
Our health, our economy, our nation, our planet. Let’s do this.
Margie McCloy, Salt Lake City