Environmentalists Applaud Richard Branson's Hypocrisy

Environmentalists applauded Richard Branson's generous contribution to the global warming issue. Speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative, an annual conference of business, political and nonprofit leaders hosted by the former President, Branson said he would invest about $3 billion to combat global warming over the next decade. Clinton praised Branson, calling him one of the most "creative" and "committed" people he had ever known. Ummmm ... okay, it's no secret I think most environmentalists are sub-literate sock-monkeys who will believe almost anything if it sounds like it's for the environment. I usually let them go because they are basically harmless and the people who make those rubbery clogs have to feed their families too. But I have to take a stand here. Branson's Virgin Group does $8 billion in revenues per year, the bulk of that from fuel-guzzling transportation divisions. Devoting a $300 million per year tax write-off and getting all that free publicity for supporting R&D into alternative fuels helps who exactly? The Virgin Group. Exxon-Mobil pays for R&D and then has to pay taxes on its profits. Virgin Group pays for R & D and now gets to write off $300 million per year of its profits to support the environment by investing in ... R & D, which it will own. Yet Exxon-Mobil is the bad guy and Virgin is the good guy. Which means environmentalists care about the environment? No, it means they care about whoever is giving them money, even if he is tanking the environment while he does it. That's not good for anyone. Branson as much as admitted it a month ago, when he said was considering building his own refinery to combat higher oil prices ( no environmental concern last month, it seems) but then said, "It became apparent to me that far from investing in conventional forms of refining, the more sensible thing for Virgin to do was to invest considerable sums in alternative fuels and refining." Again, nothing about environmental concern. And he makes no secret that he won't go into any business where he can't make 40%. You know what that means, right? Your tax dollars are making Branson richer.