You know, Californians care about protecting their environment. So do I. But they also care about that in the context of a healthy economy.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I believe the American people care a lot about the environment.
We don't have to sacrifice a strong economy for a healthy environment.
California has something which not every place in the world has: It has what I would call a sunny side, and I don't mean just physically, but the sunny side is a future. California's worth saving, to put it bluntly.
There's no question that California, in the last three or four years, has been privileged to add disproportionately to the economic growth of America, and to contribute to its technological productivity.
Yes, the Green Party is committed to a healthy environment. But the Green Party is not solely committed to just that.
California is like an artificial limb the rest of the country doesn't really need. You can quote me on that.
My role is not to choose between safeguarding the economy and protecting the environment - it's about doing both.
I'm doing my part, building plants at a record rate, having historic conservation levels. The only people not doing their part is the federal government that is siding with the energy companies against the interests of the people of California.
If we don't preserve the natural resources, you aren't going to have a sustainable society. This is not something for Chez Panisse and the elite of San Francisco. It's for everyone.
We have enough to worry about with what's happening in our nation to worry about what's happening in California. Keep your feet grounded in your own backyard and together we're going to build communities that work.