#105) We'll Always Have Paris

June 2, 2017

Dear Mr. President,

You, sir, are an idiot.

I watched you stand there at the podium and announce that the US would withdraw from the Paris climate agreement (which may turn out to be one of the stupidest decisions of your presidency) and noticed that almost everything that came out of your mouth was either false or impossible.  I am not a scientist, an economist, or an investigative journalist, I'm just someone who pays attention to the news and is a firm believer in the power of truth.  So let's unpack your withdrawal statement one section and a time, shall we?

You said the Paris agreement would result in, "lost jobs, lower wages, shuttered factories and vastly diminished economic production."  Your sole source for this information is a report by NERA Economic Consulting.  Remember when you learned how to write a research paper in high school and your teacher said you must have at least three reputable sources?  It's a basic principle of research and it applies to presidents too.  NERA reports are historically conservative and tend to result in statistics biased toward conservative causes.  This report also does not take into account any of the benefits of reducing greenhouse gas such as avoiding costly extreme weather or the economic benefits of increasing clean energy generation (both in manufacturing AND job creation).  You cherry-picked the one (and only) study that said what you wanted to hear.  If you were a 9^th grader in my son's high school you would be given a D and told to re-write your paper.

You said we would, "withdraw immediately" from the Paris agreement.  This is not possible.  The agreement is structured in such a way that it will be three years before the US can withdraw.  Of course, since the whole scheme is voluntary anyway you can just not do anything for three years.  But we are not out of the agreement today because you said we should be yesterday.  It doesn't work that way and you don't have that kind of power.

You said it was your job to, "fulfill my solemn duty to protect America and it's citizens. The US will withdraw from the Paris climate accord."  But you are not protecting American citizens by withdrawing from this agreement…you are endangering them both physically (by the ravages of extreme weather as well as dirty air, soil, and water) and financially (by stifling the growing renewable energy product market).

You said you would, "re-assert America's sovereignty."  Are you high? Who the heck do you think is questioning the sovereignty of the United States of America?!?  Believe me, Angela Merkel is not gunning for your job.

You said that you would, "begin negotiations to re-enter either the Paris accord or really an entirely new transaction.  We will start to negotiate and make a deal that's fair."  But there's nothing to be negotiated and no one to negotiate with.  We made a voluntary pledge.  This was never a "deal" as you like to say; no bargaining, nobody trying to screw us. That's just not how the Paris agreement was structured.  You seem to really not understand how this thing was put together.

So I will say it again – you, sir, are an idiot. 

There are business opportunities in taking the environment seriously yet you persist in perpetuating the myth that helping the environment means hurting the economy.  Luckily, many of this country's biggest and most successful companies have recognized the facts and the opportunities presented by pursuing green technologies and have pledged to continue working toward reducing carbon emissions.  In fact, as near as I can tell, most of the God damn country is going to just ignore your withdrawal statement and move ahead with their own plans for environmental protection.  So far I count 30 cities, 3 states, over 100 companies, several major banks and venture capital groups as well as millions of American citizens, public schools and non-profit organizations.  Of course, here in Vermont where I live the clean energy revolution is in full swing and has been for years and years.  That's why Vermont is one of the most beautiful places in the entire country and tourists flock to see us (hey, that's another economic boom for environmentalism!).

I have to run now because this letter is too long for your White House email server so I have to print it out and snail mail it to you. Also, I have a demonstration to attend in Burlington where we will be raising signs and voices against your stupid and reckless decision and renewing our own personal commitments to climate action.

Sincerely,

Amy Beaton

P.S. Emmanuel Macron said, "Let's make our planet great again."  I like that guy :)

P.P.S.  Don't forget your sunscreen.