My Letter to Al Franken

Al's Letter

Dear Friend,
Thanks for contacting me about energy and climate change legislation.  I appreciate you taking the time to share your concerns with me on this important issue for Minnesota and the nation.

One of the reasons I support comprehensive energy legislation is that Minnesota is uniquely positioned to become a global leader in clean energy production.  Whether it's harnessing the wind in Pipestone, growing the next generation of bio-fuels in Willmar, or tapping into geothermal energy in Appleton, Minnesota is ready to lead.

We have the potential to foster a new industrial revolution--a 21st century economy built on changing the way the world makes and uses energy.  Right now, China and Germany are winning the race to develop solar and wind power, but together we can change this.  Minnesotans can ensure that the world's energy future is found in the farms and rural communities of Benson and Bemidji, not the factories of Beijing and Berlin.  We need a national energy plan that keeps our country moving down a path to a homegrown economy with more jobs, more innovation, and more opportunities for investment. 

Minnesota is in a position to benefit from the national energy legislation that Congress is now considering.  But it's critical that we get the details right.  On August 6, 2009, I sent a letter to President Obama urging that any national climate change program include incentives to force China and India to reduce their emissions.  These incentives will ensure environmental integrity and economic security here at home.  Additionally, I am working to secure new economic opportunities for Minnesota farmers in the emerging market for carbon offsets.

Over the next few months, as the Senate completes work on its energy plan, I will work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure that Minnesota is best positioned to reap the benefits of the new energy economy and that any legislation does not put an undue burden on consumers like you. 

Thank you again for contacting me, and I look forward to hearing from you in the future on this or any other matter of concern to you.
Sincerely,

Al Franken 
United States Senator

Dear Senator Franken,

When you were finally elected to the U.S. Senate you made a statement, saying that you were aware that only 40% of Minnesotans voted for you, but you would try to represent all Minnesotans. I am among the 60% of Minnesotans that didn't vote for you and I wanted you to know that I greatly appreciated you making that statement.

As a former political satirist, you made a living by showing us the stupidity of the people in power. Now that you are on the other side of that coin, I hope you will try to not be that guy that you used to make fun of.

I too share your interest in political satire (hence the name of my blog). I however am willing to poke fun at the one thing that Hollywood will not touch, because it is their religion, and that is "Global Warming".

I agree that Minnesotans should try to find new sources of energy closer to home, but I believe Carbon Credits and Cap And Trade are not the way to do it. Cap and Trade was already tried in the 90's in California and it failed miserably, remember Enron? Didn't you used to make jokes about ENRON on SNL? The current Cap And Trade System being proposed IS the Enron model, we must learn from our mistakes. Cap and Trade would be setting up the largest Ponzi Scheme this nation has ever seen, Plus the money will be going to the same Bankers we just bailed out.

We should let the market decide which new energy sources are viable, not Government. If China is beating us in the renewable energy market, does that mean we should shed our Constitution and be more like China a Communist country, and have our Central Government run our industry?

You and your colleagues in the Senate are operating under the false assumption that CO2 is a pollutant and is causing the destruction of our planet, when nothing could be further from the truth. Over 31,000 scientist, 345 from Minnesota, have put their reputations on the line by signing a petition that states:

There is no convincing scientific evidence that human release of carbon dioxide, methane, or other greenhouse gasses is causing or will, in the foreseeable future, cause catastrophic heating of the Earth's atmosphere and disruption of the Earth's climate. Moreover, there is substantial scientific evidence that increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide produce many beneficial effects upon the natural plant and animal environments of the Earth.

Finally, it is my fear that "Global Warming" is being used as the excuse needed to setup a "Global Government". I know that sounds crazy, but if the Senate passes Cap and Trade and Obama signs the Copenhagen treaty, then if you and your colleagues ratify that treaty, that is exactly what we will have.

Your Constituent,

Elmer Beauregard