Opinion: Trump’s decision to leave Paris Climate Agreement good for America

In a huge nod to the middle class, blue-collar America, energy independence and American exceptionalism, President Donald Trump removed the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement on Thursday.

Now, let’s be clear, this was an accord, not a treaty. A treaty would require congressional approval.

There is no way it would have passed Congress, even under former President Barack Obama’s administration. We were just told that it was historic and great deal. None of us knew anything about it.

To all of those that are losing their minds over this, settle down. America cannot officially back out of this until the day after the next presidential election. So, if Trump is a one-term president, the incoming president can reinstate the U.S. position within the accord.

There is NO doubt that this was a bad deal from the beginning. Trump outlined those details.

They included China’s ability to increase emissions each year for the next 13 years with no cap, India’s unlimited increase of emissions while collecting a payday from other nations and, finally, the fact that it is the U.S. that is left paying the tab.

I was impressed with his assurance that this was simply a step toward a better deal, not a nose-thumbing at climate science.

Of course, world leaders are ignoring that and using this speech to rally their bases. They knew this was coming. They were not shocked by this.

If they have any reason to truly be upset by this, it is because they were set to be the financial beneficiaries. Their sugar daddy just walked out.

The argument that this will damage relationships with our global trading partners is silly because it fails to take into account the power of our nation’s position in this global economy. That power affords us a great deal of negotiating power.

The same argument was made when the president backed out of Trans-Pacific Partnership. Guess what? Nothing changed and trade continues.

Believe it or not, this move will actually help the drive towards lower emissions and a greener economy: The free market and good old-fashioned capitalism will take over.

Elon Musk, one of my favorite people on this planet, has committed to pulling out of several presidential advisory committees after this move.

This makes sense. Musk’s business is clean energy! This hurts HIS business! He will soon see some of his government green subsidies begin to dry up.

But fear not, Musk will continue to advance his business models. Tesla will continue to thrive, solar roof tiles will become commonplace and that bullet train tube thing is sure to catch on.

Of course, this is all assuming that we will continue to turn a blind eye to the environmental impact of Tesla’s battery disposal. But we’re not supposed to talk about that because electric cars are good for the planet, right?

Unfortunately, some governments think that they can come in and save the day with more taxes and regulations.

California Gov. Jerry “Moonbeam” Brown assured his base that he will continue to run his state into the ground in the name of clean energy.

I’m pretty sure that he didn’t think that through. He just wanted to be anti-Trump.

Once again, the president did not deny science nor set our planet on the road to destruction. He simply saw that our nation was being taken advantage of in this deal and has announced his willingness to renegotiate.

If the remaining countries are truly concerned with climate change, they will step up to the negotiating table with the United States and get us back in the game.

The ball is now in their court.

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