On the way home today, Neil Boortz's "Goverment Outrage of the Day" was the George H. W. Bush Federal Building located in downtown San Francisco. I googled my way to a news story confirming that the New York Times-praised building, while being entirely designed around the fundamentals of environementalism, is an absolute nightmare for workers trapped inside.
There's no heat. There's no air-conditioning. To relieve the stuffiness and never-quite-right temperature, workers must open windows high above the city. In related news, paperweight sales are going through the roof. Many cubicles are fortified with beach umbrellas against a sun that has free reign of the interior.
To help employees avoid the unhealthy side-effects of a sedentary job, the elevators only stop on every third floor. This means the majority of the workers will have to climb or descend at least one or two flights on the way to the office (disabled persons have access to an elevator providing service to all floors–which deliveries must borrow when the freight elevator is in use or out of service). Also to encourage excercise, the cafeteria is located outside the building across the street. Healthy choices are so easy when your other choices are taken away!
Oh, and they went millions overbudget in building the earth-friendly monstrosity.
As funny as this story is, it's a grim foreshadowing of how our lives can be worsened the more people become swept away by the green idealism that led to the construction of this ridiculous people-eater. I guess if there's one plus to this, it's that there are likely many more government employees now embittered against the environmentalist movement.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
How is that even safe? That is insane.
This building does seem a bit on the insane part. A good idea gone bad…as all too often happens when there is too much government interference. I would like to know though, why is there such animosity within conservative Christian circles to environmentalism?
Mike!
Great commentary! This reminds me of an old saying about the Vietnam War: “We had to destroy the village in order to save it.” (Or I could have chosen the opening scene of Team America…) The do-gooders want to elevate our standard of living by lowering it, enhance our freedom by micromanaging our choices for us. Apparently, the road to hell and federal buildings in San Francisco are both paved with good intentions. Good work, Mike!!
George, thanks! Good parallels!
Jonathan, while you seem eager to chalk this up to the “animosity” of hateful conservatives, it’s not really my Christianity that was roused by this story–just my common sense.
HUH?
Someday I’ll have to meet you in person. I asked a question that was logical and made no mention of “hateful conservatives” (which is the circle I grew up in btw). I seriously wonder, why some conservative Christians carry so much animosity towards environmentalism.
And by the way, I agree that this “green” building is insane.
Maybe you will.
I actually know a lot of conservative Christians who have “gone green.” As for myself, I am totally for stewarding the environment in better ways but it seems like the “green” movement is its own religion and can be very very judgmental if you don’t hold to certain doctrines and the alleged and only options to deal with those doctrines.
It goes quickly from personal responsibility to steward resources to the Government wanting to tax the crap out of us and limit our freedoms. That’s the nutshell from my limited understanding.
I’m a (conservative Christian) environmentalist, but this is a bit extreme to say the least. Going green might be just another passing fad.