Didn't I Say This Would Happen?

Didn't I just say that the Tories would claim to have "aimed for the middle" on climate change regulations because "Environmentalists will howl, so will industry"? Well, as Don Martin's Wednesday column demonstrates, this is exactly the line that the government and their media cheering section is going to take. And they will almost certainly be able to find a few Oil Patch spokesmen to let loose an obligatory scream or two, like the victims in some B-grade horror movie.

But the thing is, a lobbyist worth his or her salt knows that you never act pleased, no matter how much free candy you've been given, no matter how much moral obligation you've managed to dodge. Unfortunately, environmental activists tend to be less professional about such things; they tend to act happy when they are happy, and sad when they are sad. So they often get out maneuvered by their industry counterparts.

The proper response is that it is never enough when it comes to money spent, and its always too much when it comes to responsibilities imposed.