 I have a Green Dream!
Presidential candidate Barack Obama promised, on a radio broadcast this past weekend, to make investing $150 billion in “Green” projects his number one priority if elected. As the economy and energy prices both decline, many new Green Energy start-ups, are worrying about their future.
Obama’s “Green Apollo” project will inject $15 billion per year into green energy, autos, research, and other infrastructure programs. Barack Obama believes that Green will be the engine of growth that will bring back the U.S. economy. While $15 billion may seem like a large sum of money, it represents less than 1% of the federal budget, and is less than the amount the U.S. gives in foreign aid. It’s not enough.
While Barack Obama is correct, in pointing out the benefits of investing in green for the economy, more than $15 billion per year will be needed to jump start an economy on the brink.
I have a proposal that will raise $38 billion per year for Green investments and jobs, by doubling the current gas tax from a very low 18.4 cents per gallon, to 38 cents per gallon. Now is the time to raise the gas tax, which will not be felt by Americans, as gas prices continue to decline.
Also, Green investments should benefit the middle class and the poor, who were the victims of the past 30 years of corrupt, consumption economic policy. Returning veterans from the disastrous Iraq and Afghanisitan wars, should be given free Green Job training assistance, to re-integrate them into the coming green economy.  And our booming prison population, victims of out sourced manufacturing jobs, should be given Green Job training and Green jobs upon their release.
3 responses so far ↓
1 Ron Robins // Nov 4, 2008 at 8:53 am
Since you’re interested in green investing, I have one of the most popular sites on the web on the subject. It also covers the latest related global news and research too. It’s at http://investingforthesoul.com/
Best wishes, Ron Robins
2 Green Retirement // Nov 11, 2008 at 9:25 am
Ron:
Thanks for your comment. I have some questions for you. What is the difference between Social Investing and Green Investing?
What qualifies as a green investment? Would Exxon be green because they produce lithium fuel cell batteries? Clorox because they have a green product line?
I would imagine that the investing filter for “Green” would be even more stringent than “Social.” Could you elaborate?
3 Ron Robins // Nov 11, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Let me try to answer the above questions.
1) Social investing would mean taking into account social issues, such as not investing in companies engaged in tobacco or who might be indirectly benefiting from child labor, etc.
Green investing refers to alternative energy or companies focused on recycling, etc.
2) What is green — depends on the color of your glasses. Some might say that Exxon is starting to go green and should be encouraged. Others seeing that the company contributes enormously to green-house gas emissions would avoid the company.
3) Would a green filter be more stringent than a social filter? I can only say that it ‘depends.’ Anti tobacco investors can be just as demanding as the most ardent green advocates.
In general, I believe that when we invest in a company we share in the responsibility for the activities of the company as well as participate in the outcomes of the company’s activities. Therefore anyone valuing their personal or spiritual growth has to take these things into account when investing.
I also believe that if everyone does invest according to their personal values, then, since so many of core values are alike — and are supportive of higher ideals — that in the long run, only companies employing these higher values will truly prosper.
These are important issues and I feel it is great that they are being more and more widely debated.
Best wishes, Ron
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