This climate change solution is of the highest importance during the campaign season for the US presidency, but it is critically important at all times with respect to all candidates for public office. However, since the next President of the United States will have the ability to turn things radically around from his predecessor's ill-conceived direction and policies, we need to insure that he or she actually does so.

It has been pointed out that while the overwhelming majority of the American public now believes that global warming is real and humans are the primary cause. But at the same time it is also pointed out that of a list of the the 20 top issues on voters' minds, global warming comes in near the bottom (19th out of 20). This is then, of course, reflected in the rhetoric of the campaign, and will be reflected in more concrete terms with the activities of the next president in the first 100 days of the presidency and beyond.

We must aim to reframe the debate. We must put global warming, and as it is more aptly called, the climate crisis on the forefront of the presidential debate and thus the minds of voters. The absolute best way for you and I, ordinary citizens, can affect this change is by going outside our comfort zone and calling the candidates. So here are the congressional office phone numbers of both of the major presidential candidates.

• Call Barack Obama at 202-224-2854,
• Call John McCain at 202-224-2235.

Call both. This is not about who you favor. This is about what both must be hearing. The message is simply something like this,

"I will be primarily deciding my vote based upon the Senator's stance on the climate crisis and global warming, what I hear from them about what they are planning to do about this urgent matter."

The exact words are not important. What is important is that you call. Put away your anxiety, you will not be talking with the candidates directly! You will be talking with a staff member or leaving a message in their voicemail. Calling after hours will more or less assure the latter for the faint of heart. But the fact that you called will definitely be registered. The digest of these calls is brought to the attention of the Senators and so your opinion will be heard and will help shape the rhetoric of the campaign.

It is well known that Senators and Representatives weigh phone calls from 1,000 to 100,000 times the weight of an email. Emails are so easy to bang out. They know that for every person who musters the gumption to get off their seat and call, there are perhaps 100,000 or more thinking the same thing but too timid to take the plunge. So do it and you will be speaking with the voice of 100,000 people!

P.S. - No affront is meant to the other minor candidates in the race. In fact, some of them may be superior picks to those in the forefront. But we are choosing a pragmatic approach here since so much remains to be done and there is so precious little time to do it.