From a Certain Viewpoint, The Environmental Protection Agency Provides Comic Relief
Today is the 38th anniversary of the debut of “Airplane,” arguably the funniest movie every made. (more…)
Certainty Has an Intellectual Appeal, but It’s Really Unnecessary
About 45 years ago, I wrote a philosophy paper in which I disputed the importance of Descartes’ famous “cogito ergo sum” (I think therefore I am). This may be the only real certainty with which we live; I think that I’m at my desk writing this post right now, but it’s possible that I’m actually asleep and dreaming, or in a laboratory, my brain hooked up to some computer that is deceiving me. (more…)
From Guest Blogger Mohan Naik: Top Eight Green Business Ideas for Environment Lovers
Everybody, consciously or unconsciously contributes to the global warming phenomenon. World leaders have understood the repercussions of the depleting ozone layer and are now encouraging people to go green with emphasis on cutting down energy consumption, and finding eco-friendly sources of energy. (more…)
From Guest Blogger Lana Hawkins: Five Ways to Make Your Green Home Healthier
You can have a green and eco-friendly home that’s great for the environment, but not so much for the home’s inhabitants. A green and healthy home is the one that provides a safe and sanitary space for the homeowners that will prevent disease and ensure they have a healthy and happy life. If you also want to make your green home healthier, here are five easy ways you can do that. (more…)
The World Is Still Blessed with Lots of Heroes
Fred Rogers represents what’s best in all of us, and his life’s work stands as a reminder of some of our basic and beautiful truths. In particular, the world is crying out for kindness and compassion, and there will always be those who respond regardless of the circumstances.
He calls them “heroes.” So do I.
U.S. Supreme Court and Democratic Socialism
I thought I’d publish part of the conversation I’m having with my mother, who, as is the case with many Americans, both young and old, sees our country going to the dogs. Her particular concern is that the Supreme Court is going to start reinterpreting the U.S. Constitution in terms of modern sensibilities, (meaning too liberal), ultimately resulting in socialism. I write: I wonder what tenet in the US Constitution that could be reinterpreted worries you most. For the majority of the right, of course, it’s gun control. The idea that someone could be forced to undergo a background check before purchasing a weapon
tan wipe out an entire schoolyard, church, movie theater or concert arena in a matter of a few minutes is anathema to them. News flash: Kenyan-born Muslim socialist Obama is not coming for your guns. Seriously, though, all decent people want common sense gun laws.
From our conversations, I know that you believe the First Amendment is under attack because some colleges won’t permit certain forms of speech (hate speech or pseudoscience being passed off as legitimate thinking) on their campuses. As you know, I side with the colleges here; IMO, the right of free speech doesn’t protect all forms of expression, especially when it’s overtly criminal, e.g., inciting violence.
I also wonder how a conservative could complain that the Supreme Court isn’t conservative enough, especially given where it’s been going over the past several decades, and the speed with which it’s continuing to move to the right. Even before Antony Kennedy’s retirement: labor unions are being actively disemboweled, we’re very likely going to recriminalize abortion, we’re one of only four industrialized countries on Earth that still executes people, corporations are free to control the outcome of our elections, Obamacare has been gutted, Planned Parenthood is going away (resulting in millions of unwanted pregnancies and a huge spike in breast, ovarian, a cervical cancer), discrimination against gays has been upheld, we have unprecedented criminal prosecutions of government whistleblowers, the EPA is powerless to protect our air and water from corporate polluters, we have a travel ban on people from a religion with 1.8 billion adherents, and our courts are allowing massive violations of numerous international laws every minute of every day on our southern border. Maybe I’m missing something, but I’m not sure what else you could still have on your wish list.
If the U.S. somehow gets past this horrible attack against its democracy and the blow to what were formerly well entrenched and internationally revered American values of decency and fairness, it seems to me that it will, in fact, take on a tinge on socialism, i.e., “democratic socialism,” much like the rest of the developed world, in which healthcare and education are regarded as rights. As you know, I don’t see this this as the end of the world; in fact, when I look at the list below, I see a great number of affluent and refined countries, and I will be happy and proud when/if the U.S.takes its place among them.
Norway 1912 Single Payer
New Zealand 1938 Two Tier
Japan 1938 Single Payer
Germany 1941 Insurance Mandate
Belgium 1945 Insurance Mandate
United Kingdom 1948 Single Payer
Kuwait 1950 Single Payer
Sweden 1955 Single Payer
Bahrain 1957 Single Payer
Brunei 1958 Single Payer
Canada 1966 Single Payer
Netherlands 1966 Two-Tier
Austria 1967 Insurance Mandate
United Arab Emirates 1971 Single Payer
Finland 1972 Single Payer
Slovenia 1972 Single Payer
Denmark 1973 Two-Tier
Luxembourg 1973 Insurance Mandate
France 1974 Two-Tier
Australia 1975 Two Tier
Ireland 1977 Two-Tier
Italy 1978 Single Payer
Portugal 1979 Single Payer
Cyprus 1980 Single Payer
Greece 1983 Insurance Mandate
Spain 1986 Single Payer
South Korea 1988 Insurance Mandate
Iceland 1990 Single Payer
Hong Kong 1993 Two-Tier
Singapore 1993 Two-Tier
Switzerland 1994 Insurance Mandate
Israel 1995 Two-Tier
I would also like to see an end to the “ultra-capitalism” that marks this era, i.e., the aggressive redistribution of wealth in favor of the uber-rich. The tax “reform” is a good example: take $1.4 trillion more out of the treasury (now more than $20 trillion in debt) and give 80+% of it to the top 1%.
The huge and growing disparity between rich and poor is not sustainable. IMO, there are huge moral issues associated with making it harder for middle and lower class families to survive, while billionaires continue to subvert our law-making processes and make themselves wealthier. It’s amazing how overt and brazen all this has become; I was amused at the slip-of-the-tongue that Republican Chris Collins made a few months ago when he told a reporter, “My donors are telling me, ‘If you don’t pass this tax reform bill, don’t ever call me again.'”
Yet it’s the practical more than the ethical consequences of this that concern me most. A national of people who find it increasingly difficult to meet their daily needs will wind up uneducated, underemployed, stressed out, diseased, apathetic, uninvolved in government, and disposed to commit crime. Their country will eventually find itself increasingly irrelevant in the world, as its economy sputters due to its lack of competitiveness in the global marketplace.
When we say we want to Make America Great Again, it raises the questions: Well, when WAS it great in the past? and What did we do to make that happen? The only real answer one could muster is the days between WW II and the Reagan administration, where, for 35 years, we had high high taxes on the rich and an enormous government commitment to improve the lives of the American people. The top tax rate under Eisenhower and Kennedy was 91%; in 1989 it was 28%, and, as a result the working classes have struggled, leading to their understandable frustration with their lives today.
Enter Trump.
The promise? I’ll make life good for you. I’m a master negotiator, and I work for you. At the time time, I’ll salve your wounds by protecting your guns and beating up on blacks, Latinos, Muslims and poor–all the people you hate.
The truth? I’m totally clueless on economic matters, but you’re too ignorant to be able to figure that out. Besides, I kept all my racists promises, and you’re so full of hate and fear that you’ll love me regardless of how criminally I behave and how badly my childish and impulsive behavior further wipes you out financially.
Again, unsustainable. We can only hope this phase of American history is moved quickly and safely behind us.
From Guest Blogger Lizzie Weakly: Home Energy Efficiency–Four Ways to Reduce Your Cooling Costs
As it gets hot during the summer, most homeowners look for cost-savings methods. Attempts to lower your utility bills while staying cool at home can be frustrating. Review these ideas to stay comfortable while reducing the bills for keeping your home cool. (more…)
From Guest Blogger Mike Johnston: Seven Long-Term Benefits of Investing in Sustainable Buildings and Infrastructure
Urban architecture has set sustainability as one of its most important objectives, which is most perfectly reflected in the concept of sustainable buildings. In fact, sustainable buildings are no longer just a concept, but a world-acknowledged practice based on eco-friendly principles and environmentally responsible construction. (more…)
Renewable Energy Plays Key Role in GE’s Future
As shown here, the past 18 years haven’t been kind to investors in U.S. industry icon General Electric–but exactly what went wrong? The common wisdom is that the enterprise was simply so diverse and far-flung that it had become unmanageable. (more…)
When It Comes To Climate Change Mitigation, Ignorance Is Strength
In order to keep the electorate here in the U.S. ignorant on the subject of climate change, Senate Republicans have taken a bold new approach: stop an attempt to educate TV meteorologists. (more…)
