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Point 6. Policy is more important than technology Should have been on top, front and center of the article.

fakeNewsIsHere 7y ago
I'm starting to think the United States needs a 10%er/intellectual/managerial/rational collition. I'm intentionally leaving that open ended because there are smart people that work for non profits and science. This demographic is noticeably different than the supporters of the 2 leading populist demagogues. We understand climate change is happening, we see the empty promises of demagogues, we had our taxes raised under Trump, and our health insurance costs go up under Obama. It's unfortunate that class warfare is developing, but I think the 10%ers are late to the party.
- SuoDuanDao 7y ago
  I wouldn't say that. It looks more like the 10%ers had simply been winning since at least the 90s and are slow to abandon a strategy that had been successful for so long. Yang was a candidate that could appeal to both the populare and the 10%, but I think he suffered from some anti-STEM bias.
maliker 7y ago
I work in climate tech, and it's funny to hear the US democrat candidates for president talking about investing huge amounts in energy research. I think, well yes we could grow our research efforts, but taxing carbon emissions and changing the tax advantages for fossil fuel extraction would be a lot easier than trying to wring another 1% efficiency out of air source heat pumps or doing more grid integration studies...
- JoeAltmaier 7y ago
  Energy research is changing the whole landscape of renewables. Any progress there can easily tip the balance in favor. Some luddite tax on old technology is missing the point/the opportunity we have at this juncture, to make batteries/renewables the obvious/cheap choice for energy in the future.
  - maliker 7y ago
    I think it's fair to say both research funding and tax reform should both be pursued. A nice benefit of the "luddite tax" is that it would make renewables and energy storage relatively more attractive, which would drive revenue that could fund product development.
- hodgesrm 7y ago
  If you think climate change is a big problem I don't see why you wouldn't support both research and policy change. Getting a solution to energy storage would be a huge boost for renewables, for instance.

I'm starting to think the United States needs a 10%er/intellectual/managerial/rational collition. I'm intentionally leaving that open ended because there are smart people that work for non profits and science. This demographic is noticeably different than the supporters of the 2 leading populist demagogues. We understand climate change is happening, we see the empty promises of demagogues, we had our taxes raised under Trump, and our health insurance costs go up under Obama. It's unfortunate that class warfare is developing, but I think the 10%ers are late to the party.

SuoDuanDao 7y ago
I wouldn't say that. It looks more like the 10%ers had simply been winning since at least the 90s and are slow to abandon a strategy that had been successful for so long. Yang was a candidate that could appeal to both the populare and the 10%, but I think he suffered from some anti-STEM bias.

maliker 7y ago

I work in climate tech, and it's funny to hear the US democrat candidates for president talking about investing huge amounts in energy research. I think, well yes we could grow our research efforts, but taxing carbon emissions and changing the tax advantages for fossil fuel extraction would be a lot easier than trying to wring another 1% efficiency out of air source heat pumps or doing more grid integration studies...

JoeAltmaier 7y ago
Energy research is changing the whole landscape of renewables. Any progress there can easily tip the balance in favor. Some luddite tax on old technology is missing the point/the opportunity we have at this juncture, to make batteries/renewables the obvious/cheap choice for energy in the future.
- maliker 7y ago
  I think it's fair to say both research funding and tax reform should both be pursued. A nice benefit of the "luddite tax" is that it would make renewables and energy storage relatively more attractive, which would drive revenue that could fund product development.
hodgesrm 7y ago
If you think climate change is a big problem I don't see why you wouldn't support both research and policy change. Getting a solution to energy storage would be a huge boost for renewables, for instance.