Green plan will destroy NM economy

BOTH (SEN.) MARTIN Heinrich and (Rep.) Ben Ray Luján have expressed their support for the Green New Deal. Beyond virtue signaling, what can they be thinking?

The GND calls for 100% renewable energy, which for N.M. means solar and wind. Among its goals are the elimination of fossil fuels, weaning the public away from beef, constructing a national high-speed rail system to phase out the need for air travel and the replacement of all internal combustion engine vehicles.

Neither Heinrich nor Lujan seems concerned that achievement of these goals will, on the present facts, destroy the N.M. economy. If you believe that all the GND projects will replace the jobs lost by implementing the plan, kindly look at how the high-speed rail project in California has “progressed.” It’s a disaster — way over budget, way behind schedule. One must be a cock-eyed optimist to believe the federal government will suddenly turn into a master of efficiency. Remember how well one agency handled the rollout of Obamacare — two years and millions of dollars spent on the computer system that crashed upon implementation.

(Alexandria) Ocasio-Cortez’s former chief of staff publicly acknowledged that the GND was not so much beamed at “fixing” the climate as on restructuring the national economy. If you like the idea of the federal government managing every aspect of your life, you’ll love the GND. But see Venezuela for a real life example of the end game. And bear in mind that when the N.M. economy crashes, neither Heinrich nor Lujan will be hurt. They both live in D.C., and Heinrich even moved his family there several years ago. Those of us still living in N.M. will bear the brunt of the crash.

I can see that our illustrious members of Congress have convinced themselves that they can much better manage our lives than we can ourselves. What I can’t see is why any sentient citizen would think that’s a good idea.

MARY VERMILLION Raton