FIRST, A BRIEF SUMMARY FROM THE IMPLIED (along with the baldly stated!) positions of the victors in this past election. To wit: What is being made absolutely clear is that Obama’s obsession with environmental issues is not something this nation can any longer afford to indulge. Surely, by now, it has become obvious that the global warming scare is a manufactured “crisis” with no factual basis; that the so-called scientific grounding is nothing less than the success of grant-hungry “scientists” in padding their pockets with public funds. With that understanding, has it not become strikingly obvious that the recent election was, among other things, something of a referendum on this issue as trumpeted by the GOP?
That those heroic Republicans and the oil, gas and coal companies gallantly carrying this message to the people were able to so resoundingly win the battle for common sense and reality is an inspiring story. Surely the noble GOP-and-corporate partnership must now be given both voice and power to match the genius of their vision!
That said, perhaps it might be useful to allow some reality to be allowed to creep into this saga of extraordinarily profitable gallantry …
In short, it is being made absolutely clear that the Republican position is that the legislative branch of government is now firmly in the hands of the corporate world; that the vast and rapidly increasing body of research documenting the perils of global warming are not only of little interest to the GOP but, in the Republican view, must be resisted, ridiculed and rejected at all cost.
The future cost to the nation, to the world, of this blatant rejection of the huge and growing body of research concerning our planet’s warming is impossible to overestimate. Should this planned sabotage of science and the future be successful, the price to be paid by future generations — by many, many hundreds of millions of human beings across the entire globe — is incalculable.
Along with this remarkable and appalling saga is the ease with which the GOP has junked virtually all scientific studies that have raised crucial questions concerning dangers, whether of the Alberta oil fields and the dangers of the Keystone pipeline or this current set of crucial questions and the perils of a world continuing its dependence upon fossil fuels. It is virtually impossible to overestimate the dangerous potential of such distortions or ignorance of reality.
There is a certain bizarre — and obviously greedy, tending to venal — quality to this entire enterprise. It would be difficult to comprehend the depths of the sheer stupidity of the steps being taken by politicians whose vision is circumscribed by the corporate campaign funding that eased their way into or cemented their positions of national power.
We are being faced by a very clear choice for our future: to follow that pathway of ignorance and cupidity that promises beyond any doubt dangers and tragedy literally beyond measure, or to confront that tragic potential and block its development.
The unique element in this potential tragedy is that its realization lies decades ahead, far beyond the lifetimes of both the politicians making these decisions and their corporate financial enablers — but not, however, beyond the lifetimes of those victims to be born in the thirties, fifties and seventies of this century.
Congressional Republicans have long argued that environmental regulations kill jobs and that fossil fuel development, especially on federal lands, should be expanded. When production of carbon dioxide can be related to corporate dividends, who in the real world could possibly object?
Now they are in a position to blunt the Obama administration’s regulatory efforts on the environment while accelerating their own projects, such as this current drive along with the proposed extension of the Keystone XL pipeline, with its corresponding environmental disaster in Alberta and its exploitation of some of the most environmentally dangerous oil stores.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who has ascended to the powerful position of Majority Leader thanks in large part to his strong backing in Kentucky coal country, told the Lexington Herald-Leader recently that his top priority would be “to try to do whatever I can to get the (Environmental Protection Agency) reined in.” And surely that should come as reassurance to anyone who has reviewed the environmental record of that vacuous voice passing for leadership.
“Business allies predict that Republicans will rely on their oversight authority of the EPA, new legislation and inserts into unrelated must-pass bills to try to compel the president to accept their agenda,” reads a Los Angeles Times analysis. In short, expect in the very near future to have crucial legislation supported by majorities in both houses to be loaded with unrelated amendments that open the door for environmentally damaging law.
Jerome Page is a Benicia resident.
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”the proposed extension of the Keystone XL pipeline” and “It would be difficult to comprehend the depths of the sheer stupidity of the steps being taken by politicians”
It is most entertaining to watch the pandering for votes and desperation of politicians such as Mary Landrieu as they are now on board the Keystone Project. She and 13 other Democrats as well as 31 D’s in the House have signed on.
I wonder if Mr. Paige and Mr. Gruber include those people in the stupid category?
Indeed, Dennis, Landrieu is most entertaining. She and th0se 31 Democrats serve to indicate how infectious carbon insanity can be.
Climate science vs .”… a future, unburdened by thought.”
“Should this planned sabotage of science and the future be successful, the price to be paid by future generations — by many, many hundreds of millions of human beings across the entire globe — is incalculable.”
“Along with this remarkable and appalling saga is the ease with which the GOP has junked virtually all scientific studies that have raised crucial questions concerning dangers, whether of the Alberta oil fields and the dangers of the Keystone pipeline or this current set of crucial questions and the perils of a world continuing its dependence upon fossil fuels. It is virtually impossible to overestimate the dangerous potential of such distortions or ignorance of reality.”
Well stated, Mr. Page.
More news and informationI ” to comprehend the depths of the sheer stupidity of the steps being taken by politicians whose vision is circumscribed by the corporate campaign funding that eased their way into or cemented their positions of national power:” for our citizen voters, city staff, and our appointed and elected officials to seriously consider…
Note according to the website Oil International/Dirty money link our good neighbor has contributed $22,500 to Senator James Inhofe over the years.
Who will be the new Senate Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee”? Details below:
James M. Inhofe (R),Oklahoma
Credentials: BA, Economics, University of Tulsa, 1973. [1]
http://www.desmogblog.com/james-inhofe
Climate science vs .”… a future, unburdened by thought.”
From the above article:
“Should this planned sabotage of science and the future be successful, the price to be paid by future generations — by many, many hundreds of millions of human beings across the entire globe — is incalculable.”
“Along with this remarkable and appalling saga is the ease with which the GOP has junked virtually all scientific studies that have raised crucial questions concerning dangers, whether of the Alberta oil fields and the dangers of the Keystone pipeline or this current set of crucial questions and the perils of a world continuing its dependence upon fossil fuels. It is virtually impossible to overestimate the dangerous potential of such distortions or ignorance of reality.”
Well stated, Mr. Page. Thank you for your time, energy and well-documented research.
More news and informationI ” to comprehend the depths of the sheer stupidity of the steps being taken by politicians whose vision is circumscribed by the corporate campaign funding that eased their way into or cemented their positions of national power:” for our citizen voters, city staff, and our appointed and elected officials to seriously consider…Details below:
Note according to the website Oil International/Dirty money link–Valero has contributed $25,00 to Senator Mary Landrieu (D) over the years.
Our other Good Neighbors have done the same;
Chevron: $45,400.
Conoco-Phillips: $37,000
Royal Dutch Shell::$26,850
Tesoro Petroleum: $8,500.
Senator Mary Landrieu (D) has accepted from the coal,oil and gas company’s…..drum roll , please…
———$1,548,823.——–
Is this the definition of of being” in the pocket” of your corporate donors? The street versions are much harsher.
http://dirtyenergymoney.com/view.php?type=search&can=N00005395&searchtype=candidate#view=connections
Climate science vs .”… a future, unburdened by thought.”
From the above article:
“Should this planned sabotage of science and the future be successful, the price to be paid by future generations — by many, many hundreds of millions of human beings across the entire globe — is incalculable.”
“Along with this remarkable and appalling saga is the ease with which the GOP has junked virtually all scientific studies that have raised crucial questions concerning dangers, whether of the Alberta oil fields and the dangers of the Keystone pipeline or this current set of crucial questions and the perils of a world continuing its dependence upon fossil fuels. It is virtually impossible to overestimate the dangerous potential of such distortions or ignorance of reality.”
Well stated, Mr. Page.
Below more information and news for Mr. Page, our citizen-voters, city staff and appointed and elected leaders to seriously ponder…
“The Global Warming Bubble is prodigious and growing exponentially. It makes the 2007-08 Financial Bubble look like child’s play. And, here’s the basic issue: Bubbles are not recognized until after they pop. Then, it’s too late, witness the U.S. Financial Panic of 2007-08.”
“When compared to other bubble phenomena, the Global Warming Bubble is one of the most obscure events in human history because it happens where nobody sees it. This article sees it.”
http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/11/25/the-global-warming-bubble/
I admire Mr. Page’s passion and also relieved that his views are in the distinct minority.
American Corporate success is the cornerstone to our nation’s health and prosperity. Private sector jobs help humanity. Putting people to work, lowering energy prices, and expanding opportunity will help people … Our citizens.
Mr. Page apparently believes that a growing economy is harmful. He must also believe that the economy should suffer, people should suffer, in an all out blitz to stifle hydro carbon production.
Finally, I continue to take great exception with the claim that human caused climate change is settled science or that the preponderance of evidence continues to advocate this claim. Simply not true. This area is still open to debate and nothing is proven. To cause human suffering by stifling the economy on the whim of an unproven hypothesis is insensitive to those who are living by meager means. The debate should continue. But I say help people first until which time the science can be proven.
Dear MATTER, your perspective is understandable for one who assumes conservative values, but it no longer has good prospect. Nor does it make sense anywhere but within your narrow, ideological sphere. Or should I say “ideological dying starfish”? Your “Octopus” (Remember the novel about the Chicago grain-market monopoly broken by natural productivity?) would drag us all down with it..
More is admirable about Mr. Page than his “passion.” To the classical spirit he has demonstrated, passion tends toward irrationality. Instead, Irrationality characterizes you. You show a distinctly “special”sense of national health as if it were purely monetary/economic.
Look here, you say: “American Corporate success is the cornerstone to our nation’s health and prosperity. Private sector jobs help humanity. Putting people to work, lowering energy prices, and expanding opportunity will help people … Our citizens.”
(1) You imply indiscriminate use of the words “corporation” and “corporate success. You let a blind grab-bag into what could be sensible discourse.
(2) Some private sector jobs help humanity and some help only managers & investors. Some, like Walmart, don’t even help employees properly.
(3) Lower energy price and wider opportunity should help people. However, energy and opportunity never invariably depend on, nor guarantee each other.
Again, you say: “Mr. Page apparently believes that a growing economy is harmful. He must also believe that the economy should suffer, people should suffer, in an all out blitz to stifle hydro carbon production.”
MATTER: Mr. Page more widely informed and a much more sophisticated thinker than you. You are scarcely competent to judge of what he “believes.”
(You, of course, must suggest he’s as unreasonable about things as you seem to be.
Lastly, YOU say: “Finally, I continue to take great exception with the claim that human caused climate change is settled science or that the preponderance of evidence continues to advocate this claim. Simply not true. This area is still open to debate and nothing is proven. To cause human suffering by stifling the economy on the whim of an unproven hypothesis is insensitive to those who are living by meager means. The debate should continue. But I say help people first until which time the science can be proven.”
MATTER: I won’t bother to argue with your intransigent opinion. My time is worth more and your view is simple, “disinformation-circuit” rubbish.. You think the issue still open to debate,. It is, only because “speech is free” and too many shut-brained folks insist on squandering time and breath.
Human suffering and meager means are caused less by stifling our macro-economy than by mental-emotional immaturity, intellectual narrowness, defective ideology and undeveloped empathy. The “debate? should continue”?? Hah. I see little real, honest, open debate and much closed-minded wrangling by those committed to self-interest, short-term gains, impairment of reason and delaying tactics against long-term security for humans in a viable biosphere. We agree to the premise of “helping people.” The issue is, Which people first? I say all the people, in the long run, but with mitigation for those most likely hurt first. Surely that’s not TOO complex for you. If you knew logic, you’d know there is no proof of negative statements nor absolute proof from observation, which yields only anecdotal evidence.
Absolute dicta, like absolute a-posteriori proof (cf. a-priori or geometrical proof) is, as Dr. Sam Johnson put it two centuries ago talking about patriotism and (by extension,) e.g., literal law versus the spirit of the laws, the last refuge of the knave and scoundrel!!
MATTER is not enough. You need kinetic energy as well as potential. You are short on motion, mental space and dynamism. Your structure is haphazard. Lacking integrity. You’re too ignorant of too many things for your “honesty” to be worth much. Get more exercise. Avocation. Commitment to Reason, not just fixed view. Between pate and toenails you are asleep in many places, at many levels. GOOD LUCK.
Oh, my yes — I left out TIME. There may not be enough left for your modes of equivocation. Maybe not enough for your mental/emotional maturation.
The more evidence that piles up against global warming, the more desperate the left becomes “Act now” (quick before our theories a re disproved) to give us more control of your lives, carbon taxes, no jobs etc. Our sustainability czar claims that one warm month locally is climate change while the rest of the country is under a deep freeze with early snow. California is en route to its coolest year in over a century despite October. Lack of rain is due to ocean cooling, which is what is reducing the strong El Nino forecast for this winter.
If they were really interested in reducing carbon emissions they would ban ethanol and other biofuels, and push natural gas powered cars over electrics.
Mr. Shelby,
Wow. Thank you for the “lucid” response. I take it from your histrionics that I touched a nerve. I was hoping to forward a reasoned debate that would benefit many. Clearly, that won’t happen.
Best of luck and I wish you well throughout this Holiday Season.
Roberrt you took a very long draw out comment just to tell Matter he is wrong. In my opinion Matter is right on everything he said. What we have here is just different views from two different opinions. I think you will find out Robert that Matter may be just as smart as Page. Just use their education in different ways. This country will move forward without the help of those against progress. Science will make fracking safe and clean. The keystone pipeline will go through. Crude by rail will go forward. There will be renewable energy being
brought to the consumer by yes big business which include PG&E and the likes of Valero. Fossil fuel will be around for many more years. Walmart, Kohl’s{ you know that store owned by the former Liberal Senator}, Target just to name a few. We will get back on target for the future space age. We will win and defeat our enemy’s. I could go on forever. We will have elcetions and the power will change in all elected offices as we move forward. Last everything that is being said here by all will continue. But education level is not what we are talking about. It is the ability to see down this long road of progress. As a country we have done very well and will continue to move in that direction. Big business will continue to contribute massive income to the City, County,State and of couse the Federal governm,ent. It is how it is spent that matters. Development of all types generate profits and tax and of couse jobs. I have never seen a politician turn it down. So we will all just continue to comment and in many cases not agree.
Thank you Mr. Livesay. Without insulting Mr. Shelby, I think he believes this: Agree with me you are brilliant. Disagree and you are a dolt.
I have not challenged Mr. Page’s intelligence, just his conclusions. I believe Mr. Page to be intelligent and passionate. But honest and informed people can disagree. I see Mr. Shelby as the one who wishes to silent debate and ideas. His posts are very defensive and attacking. I actually find them quite enjoyable as they indicate sensitivity to reasonable response as a counter argument.
I have argued and will continue to argue for reasoned debate to an open issue. Mr. Shelby clearly wants to close debate and limit discourse. I want open ideas to continue.
I appreciate Mr. Page’s posts and embrace the difference of opinion. I feel free to offer counter opinion.
But who is attempting to close debate, silence opinion, and name calls? Could it be the liberal person in this instance? I wonder if hypocrisy is understood by some.
Distinct majority. Decidedly overwhelming majority, even among those who are “not scientists.”
What’s the verdict on Keystone XL today? I haven’t heard anything.
Keystone XLPipleline. What will Obama do? Approve or reject?
From the above commenter:
“What’s the verdict on Keystone XL today”? “I haven’t heard anything.”
From the article below more information and research for our citizen voters and our appointed and elected officials to seriously contemplate…
“Keystone XL Pipeline: Down but not Out”
“On November 18, Senate Democrats derailed Keystone XL (KXL) pipeline plans. For now. Republicans controlling next year’s 114th Congress vowed to continue fighting for passage. It remains to be seen what follows.”
“Tuesday’s Senate roll call fell one vote short of passage – 59 to 41. One additional vote approves construction.”
“A nearly 1,700 mile, $7.6 billion project. Alberta, Canada to Port Arthur, TX pipeline. Transporting around 830,000 toxic tar sands oil from Western Canada to refineries on America’s Gulf coast daily.”
“Canadian tar sands oil lie beneath the world’s largest intact ecosystem. Alberta’s Boreal forest. An important carbon sink. Biodiversity rich. Unspoiled bodies of water. Supporting large populations of numerous species. A buffer against climate change. Food and water shortages. Extracting tar sands oil destroys forests. Endangers indigenous populations.”
“It doesn’t matter. Big Oil wants it. So do Republicans and conservative Democrats. Congressional passage virtually assures Obama’s approval.”
“He’s beholden to Big Oil. Throughout his political career. Strongly pro-business and then some. His Senate voting record supported strip-mining on public and private land. Backed secretly drafted Bush administration energy policy. Rhetorically opposed it. Saying one thing. Doing another. Consistently throughout his career. Supports vastly expanded nuclear power. Lax industry regulations. Billions of dollars in subsidies. Other handouts demanding rejection.”
“Biofuels production. Other agribusiness interests. Harmful to human health GMO foods and ingredients. A corporate stooge and then some. Ralph Nader calling him the greatest “con man (ever) in the White House.” A corporatist “from A to Z.”
http://dissidentvoice.org/2014/11/keystone-xl-pipeline-down-but-not-out/