Jerry Taylor

Jerome Cogburn "Jerry" Taylor (born August 2, 1962) is an American environmental activist, policy analyst, and game designer. Taylor cofounded the Niskanen Center, a Washington, D.C. based think tank that advocates for market environmentalism and the adoption of a carbon tax system to combat global warming.[1]

For other people named Jerry Taylor, see Jerry Taylor (disambiguation).
Jerry Taylor
Born
Jerome Cogburn Taylor

(1962-08-02) August 2, 1962
NationalityAmerican

Early life and education

Taylor attended the University of Iowa as a political science major. As a student, Taylor became an editor of the Hawkeye Review, a conservative student newspaper that served as an alternative to the Daily Iowan. Taylor's activism stirred several controversies including the alleged plagiarism of a Joseph Sobran column from National Review in the Daily Iowan, and his involvement in a harassment campaign against LGBT patrons at a local gay bar. When asked about the controversy, Taylor responded "I was a version of the campus conservatives who invite Milo [Yiannopoulos] to campus" and indicated he had since changed his views.[2]

Career

During the 1990s and 2000s Taylor made regular media appearances as a global warming skeptic, including on Penn and Teller's show Bullshit as well as a special edition of the John Stossel show devoted to attacking climate science. After being challenged by Joe Romm to fact-check sources, Taylor changed his prior beliefs because "the scientific evidence became stronger and stronger over time."[3][4][5]

On June 29, 2020, Taylor faced backlash after tweeting about two St. Louis homeowners who pointed firearms at Black Lives Matter protestors, calling them "racist lunatics" and further stating: "I’d like to think I’d rush them and beat their brains in. And I wouldn’t apologize for it for one goddam second...Yeah, excuse me if I root for #antifa to punch these idiots out. Guilty as charged. I know who’s side I’m on.”[6]

On September 6 2021, Taylor resigned from the Niskanen Institute. He had been placed on administrative leave by the Institute a few days earlier after the board became aware of him being charged with domestic violence against his wife and pleading guilty.[7]

Personal life

Taylor's brother, James Taylor, is president at the Heartland Institute which opposes addressing climate change.[1]

References
  1. "THINK TANKS: Brothers duke it out from opposite sides of climate fight". www.eenews.net. Retrieved 2021-05-17.
  2. "Libertarian think tank chief was accused of harassing gay people in the Eighties", The Spectator, October 15, 2018
  3. Roberts, David (2015-05-12). "The arguments that convinced a libertarian to support aggressive action on climate". Vox. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  4. Lerner, Sharon (28 April 2017). "How a Professional Climate Change Denier Discovered the Lies and Decided to Fight for Science". The Intercept. Archived from the original on 23 July 2020.
  5. Johnston, Ian (2 May 2017). "How climate change deniers' lies made a leading sceptic change sides". The Independent. Archived from the original on 11 May 2019.
  6. "President Of Leftist DC Think Tank Attacks St Louis Homeowners: I Would 'Beat Their Brains In'". The Federalist. 2020-06-29. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  7. "Think tank president quits after domestic violence complaint". Politico. 2021-09-29.
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