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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

There is an astonishingly large correlation between states with low rates of COVID-19 vaccinations and those who voted for Donald Trump for president.  Even more amazing, some people are shocked to learn this, as shown in this video.

This is rather like being surprised to learn that unprotected sex leads to unwanted pregnancies.

At first, Trump referred to the pandemic as a “Democratic hoax,” before moving on to minimizing the severity of the disease (no worse than the flu), and claiming that it is being used against him politically (“After the election you’ll never hear of it again.”).  Is it surprising that people who believe this aren’t getting vaccinated?

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

Here’s a great article whose author argues that, where Trump’s policies were brutally neoliberal, racist, nativist, authoritarian, and narcissistic, they were not fascist.

I won’t try to summarize, except to say that there are, to be sure, different flavors of fascism, and I’ll concede that Trump was unable to achieve any of them.

I guess I would call his politics “proto-fascist.” (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

A reader notes:

Both MAGA Heads AND Dems live in their bubbles, believing lies, pontificating bs and supporting dishonest leadership. If you think “Not I” then you’re kidding yourself. (This is my opinion, not a fact – so it can’t be wrong.) Any chance 2024 will bring a reasonable middle ground? 

Here’s your problem with this: On most of these issues, their is no middle ground.  Human-caused climate change, sending our civilization towards catastrophe is real. It’s not half-real.  Widespread voter fraud in the U.S. 2020 presidential election doesn’t both exist and does not exist.  An increased rate of vaccinations will help us control the pandemic.  That’s not a half-fact. The proliferation of guns cannot make us both safer and less safe.

Aristotle called this the “law of the excluded middle.” It can’t be raining and not raining at the same place at the same time.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Climate Change

I’m sure this is true, if we can get past this rough patch, where we’re flirting with authoritarianism and Orwellian undermining of truth. Keep in mind that Biden is 65% – 31% in the age 18 – 24 segment.

Young people have several reasons for rejecting the Republican platform, and one of them is climate change.  Unless our civilization changes course, this planet is going to be hellish by the time they check out of here.

 

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

From The Nation:

Progressives in and out of Congress are leading a push to eliminate all subsidies for the fossil fuel industry, making a repeal of these multibillion-dollar giveaways a red line in the upcoming budget reconciliation package, the larger spending bill aimed at implementing most of President Joe Biden’s agenda. Environmentalists and left-leaning congressional Democrats are especially motivated to take on the oil and gas industries after a covertly recorded video, made in a Greenpeace sting this May, caught ExxonMobil lobbyists boasting about their efforts to sabotage climate initiatives in Washington. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Climate Change

Tropical storm Elsa has flooded much of New York City, most notably its subway system.  We refer to phenomena like these as “extreme weather events,” but they’re becoming so common that we’ll soon have to stop referring to them as “extreme.”  Incredible video linked above.

Subways run on 600 volts.  Not sure wading through waist-deep water is a good idea.

We need to hope that the infrastructure bill will pass, and that we will become better equipped to prevent disasters.  In this case, we’re talking about infrastructure in the form of climate change adaptation, e.g., building seawalls that keep us safe from rising sea levels and torrential rains.

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

Wow.  Here’s a cheery thought from behavioral scientist and researcher Caroline Orr Bueno, Ph.D, who specializes in studying disinformation.

What she says here is what the past and present might suggest, but will it get that far?  Even Fox News is stepping down off the “stop the steal” express. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

It’s possible that the late astrophysicist Carl Sagan is even more popular now than he was when he was alive.

Eminently quotable, Dr. Sagan is best known for his philosophical observances of humankind, irrational ways we think and act, and the price we pay accordingly.

What he says here about getting bamboozled cuts to the core of American society right now.  Astonishingly, we have 74 million people who, after four years of Trump, voted for four more. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

Someone sent me this screen shot from OAN, the ultra-right wing “news” source that makes Fox News seem sane and fair in comparison.

Wow! California went Trump. Who would have thought it possible? LOL

In reality, Biden won, 11 million to 6 million.  Anyone who’s been to California since Trump came to power can sense the deep loathing and contempt we feel for him.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

I wrote a post on this subject recently, but I want to re-express what a vile bastard Chip Roy is, and, by extension, how repugnant the entire Republican party is.  We now know, as if we didn’t before:

The GOP’s claim that they want to “come across the aisle” and work together with the Democrats is an absolute lie. (more…)

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