Al Gore in The Contenders

On Energy & Oil: Immediate freeze now; then reduce CO2 emissions 90% by 2050

One way to do it, Gore said, was to kill the payroll tax and impose a “carbon tax,” thus embedding the cost of pollution (we can say that now--thanks Supreme Court!) in the market. He wants greatly increased gas mileage on cars and a moratorium on new coal-fired power plants except those that can sequester their carbon. In order to get industry on board, he’s advocating a cap-and-trade system that would allow heavy greenhouse gassers like coal companies to buy “credits” from, say, solar producers, thus offsetting the carbon by increasing profits and investment in clean industries, producing a carbon neutral“ result.

On Government Reform: Money overshadows knowledge in our democracy

“Our culture has changed so much that knowledge does not play as big a role as it should in our conversations of democracy,” Gore said. “If not knowledge, then what?” Gore said flatly, “Money.”

Money, he went on to add, that paid for the 30-second campaign spots. He discussed how much more informed the voters were in the 1960s when candidates spent that money on 30-minute campaign films about themselves and their ideas-- including one for Gore’s father, Sen. Al Gore, Sr.

“Unless we wake up and start fighting for it and reintroducing reason and philosophy and justice into the political discourse of this country, this is going to end.” Gore said to a standing ovation.

On Principles & Values: A different kind of campaign: make climate change #1 issue

And yes, maybe the only way to make sure that happens is to run for president, and Gore was very careful to leave the door open a crack.

He was already in the White House for eight years, remember, and failed utterly to make anyone in Washington care about global warming even for a minute.