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Nov. 16, 2009
The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir : When borrowing is stealing
JWisdom.com: Deconstructing faith with Rabbi Warren Goldstein (9 minutes)
Nov. 13, 2009
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Nov. 12, 2009
The Kosher Gourmet By Marialisa Calta : A sweet sweet potato treat
JWisdom.com Does God get tired? with Rabbi Harvey Belovski ( 5 minutes)
Nov. 11, 2009
Rabbi Avi Shafran: Jews and money: When anti-Semitism isn't
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Nov. 10, 2009
Michael Doyle: Author of book exposing CAIR ordered to remove supporting documents from Web
JWisdom.com If the creation so loudly shouts the existence of the Creator, why aren't more people believers? with Rabbi Naftali Brawer (9 minutes)
Nov. 9, 2009
Mark Steyn: Shooter exposes hole in U.S. terror strategy
JWisdom.com It's never too late to have a happy childhood with Sarah Chana Radcliffe (5 minutes)
Nov. 6, 2009
Rabbi Berel Wein: Choosing to hear
JWisdom.com Zero to 1/60th: How to Empower An Hour with Gavriel Aryeh Sande (7 minutes)
Caroline B. Glick The mullahs' big week
Suzanne Fields A Fallen Wall for Fallen Man
Nov. 5, 2009
The Kosher Gourmet: Three scrumptious -- but simple -- butternut squash dishes
JWisdom.com Hidden Hints: Unlocking Faith & Prayer with Rabbi Jay Yaacov Schwartz (10 minutes)
Nov. 4, 2009
Tom Hamburger and Kim Geiger: Should prayers be covered?
JWisdom.com When God played peacemaker With Rabbi Sroy Levitansky (5 minutes)
Nov. 3, 2009
Martin Peretz: Beware, Barack. Beware, Rahm. Beware, Axelrod
JWisdom.com Are you are closet idolater? With Sara Yoheved Rigler (10 minutes)
Nov. 2, 2009
Paul Greenberg: The Holocaust is now on Facebook
JWisdom.com Abraham's Strange Change With Rabbi Yitzchok Fingerer (5 minutes)
Oct. 29, 2003
Mortimer B. Zuckerman: Graffiti On History's Walls (MUST-READ!)

Jewish World Review March 8, 2007 / 18 Adar, 5767

Global Warming = flood of legislation, lawsuits

By Pat Sajak


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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | Now that mankind (especially American mankind) has been named the official, unquestionable, undeniable cause of our planet's latest warming cycle, watch out for a flood of legislation that will rival the floods our mismanagement of the planet will apparently cause. And even that flood will pale in comparison to the lawsuit tsunami heading our way.


One has to look no further than cigarette smoking to see the possibilities for lawmakers and lawyers. While virtually no one was denying the health risks inherent in smoking, there were pesky civil rights issues inasmuch as it was a voluntary action. But everything changed when the danger of second-hand smoke, in even infinitesimal amounts, was discovered. Suddenly, smokers had no rights, because it became a question of endangering the health of those around them. Smoking bans (and, of course, lawsuits) followed.


So, now that manmade global warming is gospel, all sorts of issues can be defined in terms of how an individual's actions affect his global neighbors. Legislators will now be able to micromanage virtually every aspect of our lives based on how our actions affect the delicate ecosystem. The possibilities are endless. Take the recent efforts of the "food police" to try to legislate what we can and should eat or to use tax penalties to discourage foods of which they disapprove. Again, those troublesome civil rights issues kept intruding; now, however, it shouldn't be too difficult to construct an argument that junk food and its impact on the environment contribute to global warming. Therefore, it's not just hurting the individual consumer, but everyone else, along with their children and their grandchildren. Somewhere, a class action lawyer is salivating.


The always-sensible folks at PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) have been pushing a "sin" tax on meats. Think of the new argument: more meat means more land to be cleared for grazing and, once again, it contributes to global warming. That steak becomes not just an issue among you, your doctor and your restaurateur, but a weapon which diminishes the quality of life of your neighbors and their descendants.


The bandwagon is moving, and I fear it's about to run us over. There is virtually nothing in our lives that can't somehow be connected to manmade global warming. What we drive, what we eat, what we grow on our lands, our hobbies, the size of our light bulbs, the smallest remodeling or building issue are all fair game. Only enlightened governments, advised by enlightened scientists and social engineers, can guide us past the coming crisis. And only socially-conscious attorneys can be sure we're all held accountable.


There's been a great effort by civil libertarians in recent decades to be sure the government stays out of our bedroom. We'll see how diligently they fight to keep it out of the rest of our house.

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JWR contributor Pat Sajak is the recipient of three Emmys, a Peoples’ Choice Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He's currently the host of Wheel of Fortune.



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