Your Opinion: U.S. bears onus for global problem

Dear Editor:

How about putting America first? The new carbon emission requirements on utilities are going to kill jobs and hurt our economy. Adding this burden on a weak recovery will continue to shrink the middle class and increase poverty in the United States. Why, when according to a News Tribune article of July 3 with "32 states trailing the U.S. as a whole in job recovery," is Washington imposing this on us now?

Carbon emissions in the United States are at a 20-year low while the global carbon emissions are at an all time high. China's carbon emissions are at an all time high and the world's leading polluter while at the same time many economists say their economy will surpass the United States within the next year.

Reducing carbon emissions globally should be a primary concern. However, a more important issue is should the United States be doing this unilaterally, on its own, making us less competitive, killing jobs and reducing our standard of living. While the science on climate change is compelling, there are scientists not on the same page about man's impact on climate change.

If this is a worldwide problem, it needs a worldwide solution with all countries following the same rules for reducing carbon emissions. A unilateral approach will make the United States less competitive in global markets and with rising tensions and conflicts around the world less able to defend itself. Money and capital can go anywhere in the world and if a widget can be made cheaper in another country that is where investments and jobs will go.

With recent news accounts of Russia and Ukraine, Iraq, Iran, and the whole Middle East, oil and natural gas are key political factors in how some countries use oil to manipulate countries without it. While we send war ships to the Persian Gulf to keep the oil transport lanes open for the world, in the United States we deny the Keystone Pipeline, an important transport lane in North America, from being built, which is critical to energy independence, jobs and a stronger North America. Let us put America first again for jobs, for a stronger middle class, reduction of poverty and our ability to compete in global markets.