Build a climate bridge instead

Distressed. Dispirited. Disgusted.

Those adjectives describe the feelings of voters on both sides of the political aisle as we head into the midterm elections next month.

Whether it is the effectiveness of a controversial president, the confirmation of a Supreme Court justice, taxes, heath care or the social safety net, Democratic and Republican partisans in Congress battle as if the future of civilization is at stake and their approach is the only way to save us.

We voters, regardless of our party affiliation, are tired of campaigns that focus on wedge issues. We have been plagued by a Congress that spends all of its time on those divisions and is thus unable to govern.

We are hungry for candidates who seek bridge issues instead. In particular, there is an issue that really does threaten the future of civilization but fortunately also has a clear public policy solution.

Catastrophic impacts of climate change can be prevented by energy policies such as the bipartisan Citizens’ Climate Lobby’s Carbon Fee and Dividend policy proposal, which encourages the replacement of fossil fuels by wind and solar energy. That proposal is being weighed by the House climate solutions caucus, made up of pairs of representatives from opposite parties.

I am grateful to be able to vote for a bridge-builder like Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle of Forest Hills, who has partnered with Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois as the 45th and latest pair of members of that caucus. ALFRED B. BORTZ

Monroeville