There is NO selling your "environmentalist soul to satisfy his Keynesian devil."

We have a spanish PM who is at LEAST brave enough to stand up to the neoliberal slumlords but unfortunately has no better ideas than build some more roads.

Now WHOSE problem is THAT?  You think more roadbuilding is an environmental crime, then SUGGEST SOMETHING BETTER.  And if you cannot think of better ideas on your own, read Tony's list at the end of his most excellent diary:
http://www.eurotrib.com/story/2008/2/12/01428/8866
or try
http://www.popularmechanics.com/rebuildingamerica

I got a lot of ideas at my site as well.
http://www.elegant-technology.com

You know, if "environmentalists" don't come up with ideas that are little better than hippie sentimentality, then they should just shut up.  I have spent my adult life having to listen to "green" bullshit delivered with furrow-browed concern and religious levels of moral outrage while the systems necessary for survival have been allowed to rot.  35 YEARS wasted on feeling groovy.  35 YEARS of being for nothing more imaginative than raising CAFE standards or saving the Arctic Wildlife Preserve.  35 YEARS of the environmental movement refusing to grow up and actually doing something important.  35 YEARS of people who believe that one more meeting held in an air-conditioned room will solve the energy problems.

If we really are entering into a new Keynesian era, it is a moment of enormous opportunity for anyone with a really green agenda.  But we MUST be aware of the charlatans.  I was once roped into a group dedicated to advancing the goal of a more sustainable agriculture--a worthy goal indeed.  The group represented the usual suspects--organic gardening, anti-GM, anti chemical, humane animal care, etc. etc.  Not represented were scientific practitioners like agronomists, agricultural economists, producer cooperatives, and of course, any real farmers.  I left when it became obvious this was organized insanity--the chairman kept saying that he wanted attendees at his proposed conference to dance around a Maypole to help focus their thoughts on sustainability.  (I am NOT making this up!)

Yes, I know about the dangers of being FOR something.  If you support or promote an idea or agenda, you remove yourself from the pool of critics and become an object of criticism.  I have discovered that is a jump only about 5% have the courage to make.  

And then you have to do your homework.  If the environmental movement wants a world better that what they now see, they've got some damn high performance targets.  Supplying a reliable supply of electricity or drinking water is actually harder than it sounds.  And no matter how excellent your pot, coming up with something better is going to require a LOT of investment, training, and hard work.  

Unfortunately, merely wanting something very badly is never enough to make a better world.

But cheers to Mig and his fellow Spaniards.  If they really have a Keynesian (or whatever we choose to call a pro-producer agenda this time around) for PM, that removes the biggest obstacle to building the sustainable future.  And it's not like Spain has a shortage of targets.  Fresh water seems most obvious.  Time for Spain to become the world leader in solar-powered de-salinization, huh?

"Remember the I35W bridge--who needs terrorists when there are Republicans"