By Marita K. Noon
Remember the old commercial that said, “When E.F. Hutton talks, people listen?” The modern version might be, “When the government talks, don’t listen” — at least, not when the government uses the words “crisis” or “emergency.”
The dictionary defines crisis as, “A stage in a sequence of events at which the trend of all future events, esp. for better or for worse, is determined; turning point.”
Emergency is defined as, “A serious situation or occurrence that happens unexpectedly and demands immediate action.”
There is drama in these words: “If we don’t do something now, the world will end!” They demand action, and, when used by government officials, lead American citizens to believe they must support the cause or face certain demise.
With this in mind, here are a few recent cases in which we were led to believe there was a crisis:
Immigration
During the last election cycle, the phrase “immigration crisis” was commonly heard. But this crisis is not a new idea. Journalist Robert Scheer says, “Having intermittently covered this issue for the Los Angeles Times over 30 years, I can well recall the peaks of panic in which we reporters were dispatched to the border and out into the fields to witness the arrest of people desperate to find work.”
Bush had grand plans to deal with immigration and Senators McCain, R-Ariz., and Kennedy, D-Mass., both worked on the issue. But in 2009 all that has changed is that law-abiding American citizens now must stand in line to get a passport to return to America after a visit to Canada or Mexico.
There was no real crisis.
Financial downturn
• Beginning in 2007 we heard of a looming financial crisis. President Bush signed the Economic Stimulus Act in February 2008.
In September, the public became aware that the wheels were falling off when the SEC announced a temporary emergency ban on short selling in the stocks of all financial companies. The following month, Congress passed and Bush signed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.
Even before taking office, Obama pushed for big spending to stem unemployment, saying it had to be rushed through to prevent double digit unemployment. In February, Congress passed and Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Yet in July 2009 unemployment rates are already above 10 percent in many areas, with some metropolitan areas at nearly 20 percent.
Auto industry
In November 2008, Pelosi urged Congress to pass an emergency legislation for the ailing U.S. auto industry as reorganizing in bankruptcy would be impossible because the credit crunch had dried up financing. In December, she said that grim new unemployment data heightened the urgency for the administration “to prevent the imminent insolvency of the domestic auto industry.”
After Congress failed to authorize the Auto Industry Financing and Restructuring Act — to guard the industry from collapse and save hundreds of thousands of jobs — Bush announced $17.4 billion in emergency loans to faltering carmakers. Yet, despite the cries of “crisis,” both GM and Chrysler went bankrupt anyway.
Climate
Last week, the House passed emergency legislation to “solve” the climate crisis, the American Clean Energy and Security Act. On June 26, Pelosi said the following about the bill’s passage: “Creating a new energy policy and addressing the global climate crisis.” Al Gore says, “The bill represents a crucial step forward in addressing the global climate crisis.”
When asked if they’d read the 1200+ page bill, legislators were defensive, yet could not state that they’d actually read it.
Slow down and do it right
These emergencies were presented as needing immediate action. Bills were rushed through Congress without being read because the sequence of events foreshadowed demise.
And yet, despite inaction on the immigration crisis, the world is still turning. In spite of the rush on the financial and auto crises, car companies have still gone bankrupt and unemployment is in double digits. Do you think whatever Congress does will have any impact on the grand scheme of climate — especially when other countries are not participating?
We have been talking about global warming since the 1970s, with 1981 being the peak. Some say more recent records show warming has stopped and the planet is now cooling (ironically echoing the cries of a new ice age in 1970).
Like other issues that have come before and many that will likely come in the future, the use of the terms “crisis” and “emergency” should be red flags to voters. History shows that this goverbiage has little bearing on reality.
Don’t let Congress rush bills through because of a “crisis.” Tell them to slow down and do it right!
Noon is the executive director of CARE (Citizens Alliance for Responsible Energy), an Albuquerque-based nonprofit organization that is advocating for citizen rights to energy freedom. Contact her at marita@responsiblenergy.org.