Home › Blog › Page 457

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

Here are people whose platform reads as follows:

There is a revolution of light that is breaking forth out of the heart of our nation and it’s overtaking the darkness! There is a divine shift taking place RIGHT NOW! We are living in the midst of the beginning of a Great Awakening!
God has established a purpose and a plan for us and for the nations! God needs US to be HIS hands and HIS feet here on earth to STAND IN FAITH against those who seek to spread the lies of the enemy!
Join hands with fellow believers and SIGN THE DECREE to STAND IN FAITH!
• STAND IN FAITH that righteousness, truth, and justice shall reign in this land!
• STAND IN FAITH that no weapon formed against God’s people shall prosper!
• STAND IN FAITH believing that the best is yet to come for the United States of America!
God is not done with this nation, and neither are we. The best is yet to come!
And guess what?  They need your money!
I’m reminded of the late, great social critic George Carlin who said, “God is all-knowing and all-powerful, but He just happens to have trouble handling His money!
Tagged with:

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Climate Change

I just met a woman who has a close connection to Robert Mondavi, who, some time ago, had addressed a  group of about 25 extremely wealthy people and explained why he sold his $400 million and his father’s $600 million wine businesses. Why did they cash in their chips at this particular point in time, given that the industry, particularly for those who can play at the high-end, is going through the roof?

Climate change.

Mondavi told this tightly focused, high-powered group that, within the coming 10 years, global warming will make most of their holdings incapable of producing the quality of grapes that enabled them to sell certain vintages of their Opus One for ~$500 per bottle.

As one might have expected, a few of the uber-rich laughed up their sleeves. Climate change?  Isn’t that for the socialists?

According to what my new-found friend told me, Mondavi replied, “You’re entitled to whatever you want to believe.  In my family, we track with science, not Republican politics.  Make your own choices.  And good luck.”

 

 

Tagged with:

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Climate Change

At left are the words of legendary environmentalist Paul Hawken, which convey the true barrier to climate change mitigation and other forms of ecological stewardship, i.e., that as a civilization, we care very little about one another’s well-being.

The plummeting costs of solar and wind are good, but they can only take us so far.

FWIW, this is why the meat of the 2GreenEnergy blog has shifted over the years from the technology and economics behind renewable energy to something that is far more central to the challenges we face if we are to survive as a species: how we need to organize our society around what is truly important.

Tagged with:

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

The meme here is from a group that asks, “Are you concerned that our culture has rejected God?” A couple of observations:

The quote they picked is more specific than acceptance of God; it’s Christian.  In fact, it explicitly rejects all other religions. That should get the attention of Jews, Muslims, etc.

More to the point, most Americans have the precise opposite concern, i.e., that religion is being forced into our government and our culture at large.

 

Tagged with:

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

At left we have Fox News’ position on the subject.

Putting it more precisely, everyone who cares about American democracy demands that justice be done in the case of a former president who tried to overthrow the United States government.

 

Tagged with:

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

There is a reason that MIT professor emeritus Noam Chomsky calls the Republican Party “the most dangerous organization in human history.”

 

 

Tagged with: ,

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Electric Vehicles

It’s pathetic to see garbage like this (at left).

General Motors sold 6 million gas-powered cars and light-duty trucks last year.  Their target for 2026?  Zero.  Not a single one.

GM, market cap $46 billion, has placed 100% of its chips on electric transportation.  It would be interesting to know what percentage of $46 billion the brave little author of the “20 Reasons” piece here has in the game.

I get, on average, one solicitation per day, telling me what a fool I’ll be if I don’t “make my fortune” investing in the next oil boom.  Big Oil continues to target idiots to jump into the industry.  And, let’s be clear, there are tens of millions of prospects for them, in the U.S. alone. Whether these people have two nickels to rub together  (or two brain cells) is anyone’s guess.

The “boom” is obviously not going to happen, and anyone who wants to profit from the suffering and death of Earth’s life forms needs to hope, in earnest, that there is no hell.

Tagged with:

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

Bernie’s right:  Many Americans with progressive values have bought into the idea that real chance is impossible. We may shop organic, drive electric, and teach peace, but we remain concerned that it’s too late for a culture in which Donald Trump is a key political player.

Cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead had something to say about this too:

Tagged with: , , , ,

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

The meme here reminds me of life in this small, God-and-country town in rural California. Here, we have entrepreneurs who promote themselves and their small business with a bit of political posturing.  As an example, you’ll see a Joe’s Plumbing truck, carrying both Joe and his equipment, with a Trump sticker prominently displayed on its tail bumper.

This doesn’t seem too smart.  Would I hire Joe to unplug my drain?  Never.  Why alienate a significant portion of your audience?

Now, if you have a gun shop, go for it.  Trump supporters far outnumber progressives when it comes to weapons’ purchases.

 

Tagged with: ,

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

About 5 million Americans turn 18 each year, thus achieving the right to vote, where about 3.5 million, mostly old people, die.  This is a factor that significantly affects the demographics of the U.S. electorate.

While there are exceptions, older people tend to watch more right-wing garbage on television and vote Republican, where younger people tend to be strong on gun control (as suggested at left) and human rights of all kinds, and vote Democratic.

It is for this reason that, barring a miracle, the Republican party is going to have one hell of a hard time in the 2024 election.  Instead of developing a platform that has broad appeal, it has been squirting to the right with cruel, inane, and extremely unpopular ideas like homophobia and banning abortion.

The GOP has abandoned the concept of “live and let live,” and, in response, American voters are increasingly abandoning the GOP.

Examples are all around us, take Florida governor Ron DeSantis and his war against Disney as one of the most glaring.  Disney is an extremely highly regarded company that has been charming our children for nearly a century, while helping them learn the difference between right and wrong. By contrast, DeSantis, in his vicious attack against Disney has the approval rating of a clump of maggots on a dung heap.

I’d love to meet the people who are driving the Republicans into this miasma in which they currently find themselves.   In all honesty, I have to thank them.

 

Tagged with: , ,