Call it extortion, coercion, shakedown, squeeze, blackmail or simply arm-twisting – whatever – but more than 100 companies now say climate change poses a risk to America’s prosperity and want the government to take action to address the risk. Some of the same companies that want the government out of their business.
To show their support, they signed-on to a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal, “Business Backs Low-Carbon USA,” in coordination with a number of environmental activist groups. The company logos from the ad are shown here.
Like the auto manufacturers who, over the years, have caved to the government’s auto and truck café standards for added miles per gallon and lower emissions, most of these companies, I believe, have folded under pressure. They don’t need activist groups making their lives miserable.
“The right action now would create jobs and boost competitiveness,” the ad states without explanation.
“As a global food company, we recognize the significant impacts of climate change can have on our business if left unaddressed,” wrote General Mills Chairman and CEO Ken Powell.
Over at Coca Cola, Chairman of the Board and CEO Muhtar Kent, confides that “At Coca Cola we are deeply committed to doing our part to address our collective environmental challenges and responsibly manage the planet’s resources. As we face a resource-stressed world with growing global demands on food and water, we must seek solutions that drive mutual benefit for business, communities and nature.” Translation please.
All of the companies signified their support of President Obama at last week’s climate summit in Paris. The Wall Street Journal suggests that “Perhaps President Obama should spend more time on America’s economic climate,” stating that the Business Roundtable recently reported that 27 percent of the CEOs expect to shrink their capital outlays over the next six months. All while the president continues to boost costs with increased regulatory requirements.
While CEOs complain about increased government regulation and the cost of doing business, they now “want our government to take action to address the risk (of climate change).” You cannot get in bed with the government.
