Guest column: Inflation Reduction Act: A win-win for your pocketbook and our climate - By Becky Edwards, Guest columnist

Found here. Our comments in bold.

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The glib talking points flow effortlessly from the writer's word processor, to the point of ridiculousness. 

It's one thing to favor a clean environment. It's another thing entirely to spout bumper sticker slogans and leftist agitprop in the name of a clean environment. And she is definitely a leftist. Since she is a leftist, we do not accept anything she writes on face value. Leftists never tell the whole truth, they always hide behind fine-sounding phrases, superficial analyses, and obfuscating rhetoric. 

And by the way, to our knowledge, the author is not an economist, ecologist, or credentialed in any field upon which she comments. We can discern no qualifications that would suggest we should accept her ideas.

Let's see what we can pull out of this article.

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This holiday season has been one for the weather record books. As families across Montana baked holiday cookies and strung twinkling lights, temperatures plummeted to nearly -50 below, which would certainly give both Santa and his reindeer a nasty case of frostbite. Luckily before the big night, the mercury rose … and rose and rose and rose. Just a few days after record low temps, suddenly city streets were covered in several inches of slush, flood warnings were issued, and down jackets were replaced with a light fleece for the nearly 50 degree air.

A 100-degree temperature swing doesn’t happen every day. But unfortunately — thanks to climate change — we’ll be seeing more and more of these “bipolar” weather trends. (We will? The highest recorded temperature in Montana was 117 degrees at Glendive on July 20, 1893. There were no cars, no factories, and no metropolitan areas in Montanan in 1893. 

The biggest temperature swing in 12 hours was on December 14, 1924 at Fairfield, 63 degrees to -21. That was nearly 100 years ago, when there were virtually no people, no cars, and no refineries in Montana. 

How was it possible to set these record extreme temperatures in Montana when none of the causes for climate change were present?)

Every year in January, our organization sends out a survey asking what issues are top-of-mind for parents and women — what is keeping them up at night? Each year it’s the same: climate. (Who do they send these surveys to? Financial supporters? Like-minded people? Democrat mailing lists? 

91% of Democrats worry a great deal about climate change, while only 32% of Republicans do, so if one is sampling like-minded people only, then one's conclusion will be skewed.)

Just in the past year we have seen homes stripped from their foundations and sent down the Yellowstone River in unprecedented flooding, and livelihoods of entire communities like Red Lodge and Gardiner threatened during their most important months economically. (Unprecedented??? That's quite a claim. Was the Fort Benton flood of 1908 not as bad? Was it caused by climate change? 

How about the 1948 Plains, MT flood? 

What caused the glacial dam to break in Missoula 12,000 years ago?

The fact of the matter is, weather extremes are nothing new. The author is appealing to her limited contemporary experience in order to draw errant conclusions.)

Wildfires raged in parts of the state, and droughts affected businesses in summer and winter alike. (Droughts and wildfires have never happened before...)

Yet — despite these cataclysmic symptoms of the climate crisis — we are slow (Who is "we?" "We" as in you and me? Or "we" as in government?)

to move on bold, needed climate action as a nation and world. For families and parents, that inaction is sickening. (Notice the lockstep leftist perspective. Because there is a crisis, "we" must act. Progress is too slow. In fact, nothing has been done before. It's a world crisis that demands immediate action. And it must be bold, which can only mean that it pushes boundaries, probably constitutional boundaries.

This is the language of totalitarians. Despots and dictators use these techniques as excuses for oppression and control. It is disturbing to us when these leftists adopted the rhetoric of those who have perpetrated atrocities.)

As we close out 2022 and begin anew in 2023, parents are asking and demanding for ways — large and small — families can make a dent in our climate crisis…so the next generation and beyond can continue to ski the cold smoke at Bridger Bowl. (This disjointed sentence is a bit puzzling. What parents demand access to ways to make a dent in the climate crisis so they can continue to ski Bridger bowl? Are there a lot of climate-concerned parents who ski with their families? Does the author have access to data about parents and what they demand? Is she a spokesperson for all parents? Is skiing climate friendly? 

We have lots of questions.)

In August of 2022, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA is a conglomeration of solutions ("Solutions?" That's quite a claim. We doubt there are any solutions at all in this gargantuan spending bill.)

to issues plaguing Americans and Montanans: curbing rapidly rising inflation, (Inflation is caused by profligate government spending. Which includes the IRA spending. Lots of spending. Plus, the Congressional Budget Office states that the Act will have virtually no effect on inflation.

And we wonder, apparently curbing inflation is important in solving climate change?)

lowering prescription drug pricing, (Another critical item in solving climate change. IN fact, this "lowering" is simply price controls, which have never, ever, solved a pricing problem.

Largely because price increases are symptoms of inflation, not causes.)

and investing in domestic and renewable energy among other items. (Finally an item that has something to do with climate change. Of course, "investing" actually means spending oodles of taxpayer money on subsidies and payoffs to fat-cat environmental groups, "green" corporations, and shadowy political operatives.

And by the way, government spending has done nothing to make "renewable energy" competitive with fossil fuels.)

For families interested in making a dent in their own carbon footprints, the IRA provides support and incentive to do just that. (Apparently families need incentives to make a "dent" in their carbon footprints, in the form of government money. Which of course implies that families will not take the necessary steps to do what they're supposed to do in unless government steps in and helps with the exorbitant price of alternative energy technology.

Thus these families need to be brought into true believer status with a boost from government, requiring no actual change in lifestyle and no impact for the sake of the environment. That is, join up with the cause and do your part by doing nothing.)

(Now comes the list of "free" money...) Did you know that low to middle income earners can take advantage of up to $8,000 in rebates for a heat pump HVAC unit (dual or hybrid models are likely best for Montana, until the technology for sub-zero climates meets demand!), a $1750 rebate for a heat pump hot water heater, or $850 for a clothes dryer? The federal rebates made possible by the IRA can substantially reduce cost for appliances we need and use daily — all the while offering a light climate load.

Additionally, the IRA also offers up to $1,600 for weatherization projects, and this year has been a banner year for ice dams on homes around the Gallatin Valley. Many folks chalk these up to clogged gutters. Not the case — most ice dams that produce hanging icicles and can be damaging to roofs are caused by leaky attics and poor insulation. Proper air sealing between the living space and attic, along with adequate insulation, can reduce heating bills and prevent permanent roof and gutter damage.

Did you know that nation-wide transportation is the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions? Powder-seeking, trout-hungry, fiscally conscious families may consider trading in that Suburban or Sprinter for a Chevy Volt (Ho-boy. Volt production ended in 2019, Chevy made only about 175,000 of them in 9 years, largely because they just weren't very good, and the newest of them have just a 53 mile electric-only range. And, it's not a "used EV" at all, it is a hybrid. 

And good luck getting a used EV. The IRS says that the used EV must cost $25,000 or less, be bought only from a car dealership, and be at least two model years old. Our guess is there are approximately zero cars in Montana that would qualify.)

 or Ford Lightning — now is a great time. (Sigh. According to the IRS, The vehicle must be assembled in North America, the MSRP can't exceed can't exceed $80,000 for vans, sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks, and $55,000 for other vehicles. And, the list of qualifying vehicles is small, about 20. 

The author suggests buying a Lightning, but the local Ford dealership has none. We priced one out on the Ford website as follows:

PRICING SUMMARY

• BASE MSRPS1
  $73,824
• OPTIONSS4
  + $1,895
• ACCESSORIESS8
  + $0
• DESTINATION CHARGESS17
  + $1,895
• TOTAL MSRPS16
  = $77,614
• ESTIMATED NET PRICES5
  = $77,614
• MONTHLY PAYMENTS6
  $1,051

We chose two options, the charging cord [which really shouldn't be optional since it's required] and the towing package. So our Lightning would qualify for a $7500 credit, which Ford already includes as a down payment for an 84 month loan:

A $35,000 trade-in would lower the payment to $525/mo. Astonishingly, this huge financial obligation is what the author presents as a "win-win for your pocketbook" and a sensible way to help the environment.

Meanwhile, the poorer among us are driving 1998 Subarus and 2001 Silverados, while simultaneously paying rent pushing $2000 per month or more. Oh, but now is a great time...)

As we close the book on 2022 and start fresh in 2023, let’s work together to ensure our kids and theirs have a healthy climate future. Together — we can move mountains (and make an impact on climate!). (...or, if you don't get on board you will be incentivized. If you still aren't part of "together," you will be penalized. And if that still doesn't convince you, you will be illegalized.)

Becky Edwards is the executive director of the Mountain Mamas and lives in Bozeman with her husband and three daughters.