The Fall of the American Empire Is Painful To Watch
My friend Cameron Atwood writes: Crass pandering–this (the commercialization of America’s national parks) sickens me.
Yes, it’s an ugly sign of the times, i.e., the decline of the American Empire. The U.S. has fallen on hard times, and now needs to compromise its values in order to keep its fiscal head above water. Too much arrogance, vain, blind militarism/imperialism, corruption/corporatocracy, voter apathy, failure to invest in education, decline in moral standards, xenophobia/bigotry/exclusivity, failure to tax the super-rich, etc.
The chickens are coming home to roost; it’s not pretty to watch.
A reader offers this suggestion: (There is a) study which indicated that slamming opposing points of view is less effective than strongly supporting one’s own point of view.
My friend Cameron Atwood writes: Curious to know your perspective on this article: 
Here’s a comment to which I’d like to respond. A reader notes in connection with my post on 
Going green is about finding sustainable ways to meet our needs while also considering the effects on the environment and future generations. What most people don’t understand is how easy it is to go green in their homes by making small changes that benefit Mother Earth, save them money, and improve their health. With that in mind, here are five ways to go green at home: 
Industrialisation has brought us many benefits in terms of a better standard of living and a higher quality of life. However, it has also had a serious impact on the environment and on our health and long-term wellbeing.
Try as we might, living in a modern home has a significant—and often negative—impact on the environment. If trying to make “green” food purchases was not taxing enough, it is essential that we consider the health of the planet when buying other household products, too. 
I thought readers would enjoy the comments by an Instagram follower, as presented below.
This summer in India, the hottest populated locations reached wet bulb 34 centigrade and a significant number of people died. This is right on the limit of survivability, any more, and people caught in the open even in the shade will not be able to survive. 
Question: It’s no secret that climate change is in the process of creating severe droughts in many places around the globe, and, by extension, generating a significant increase in the number and intensity of wildfires. Here’s an 
