A Few Things Ill Considered is just as happy as the next vile, hate-spewing, far left smear machine that Barack Obama actually won the recent US Presidential election, but I have to say I am so ready to be really disappointed!
Call me a cynic, but we've had progress waved under our noses before, only to have it snatched away by spineless, self-serving Democratic congress people and the harsh reality that the real power structures in the US are not all elected officials.
Nevertheless, when it comes to tackling climate change, the signs are really hopeful, even if the challenge is enormous.
I saw this over on Things Break, as well as excerpts at other places
No equivocating, no "as long as it does not cost a single job" qualifiers, no rhetorical loop-holes, no "all hail the free market" crap.
And perhaps more significant, from the congress, there is this news for those familiar with the insider games.
Fingers crossed!
Politics
Environment
Comments
Yes, Waxman will assure that the last nail is driven in the coffin of the economy. And what little human freedom that we have will be further diminished by the eco cultists that Waxman answers to. The cultists seem to be very excited that Waxman will force the nation to do what it doesn't want to do.
Posted by: Tilo Reber | November 20, 2008 3:27 PM
Careful, Tilo! I may have to have you assigned to the engine room of the Sea Shepard shoveling coal when Obama ushers in the New Order. Waxman knows the wisdom of obedience, you would be wise to learn the same...
Oh, and about what the people want:
PIPA poll on climate change action
Posted by: coby | November 20, 2008 3:43 PM
Yes, that's an interesting polling organization. Looking at their results and the kinds of other polls that they conduct it is clear that they have a left wing slant and that they use polling as a means of effecting policy, not as a means of gathering information.
For example, if I wanted to get certain results to certain polls here in Colorado, I know that I could go to Boulder or downtown Denver and get one kind of result, or I could go to Fort Collins or Grand Junction and get completely different results. If the collecting organization isn't neutral, the polls are worthless.
For example, in one of their polls.
"A new WorldPublicOpinion.org poll of 17 nations finds that majorities in only nine of them believe that al Qaeda was behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States."
A good example of this organization's ability to find people with leftist political convictions and their heads up their backside.
Posted by: Tilo Reber | November 20, 2008 4:28 PM
Tilo, I strongly advise against judging the credibility of information of an organization based solely on whether or not it agrees with your own conception. This is indicative of a severe case of "confirmation bias".
What is "left wing" about taking an opinion poll on climate change? It is unarguably one of the most prominent policy issues in politics today, believe in it or not. Their results on 9/11 attitudes is consistent with other polls I have heard about (and has no bearing on the reality of the question, BTW)
Do you have any logical reason to think the methods PIPA uses are flawed? They are thoroughly and openly described. Do you have any other credible polls that indicate US citizens do not want gov't action on climate change?
Posted by: coby | November 20, 2008 4:39 PM
How many factual errors were there in that speech? Hurricanes getting worse every year? Will cap'n'trade reduce CO2 emissions? Maybe he's hoping to revitalise the economy through green jobs. Will he stop flying around the globe to reduce his carbon footprint? Will the funds from carbon taxes be given to those "allies" he mentions that promote greener technology? Will they be given a competitive advantage? Have any of them financed his campaign?
Posted by: john | November 21, 2008 4:09 AM
Hi john,
I agree, there is no solid scientific basis at this time for the statement "hurricanes are getting stronger each year"
Thanks for the comment!
Posted by: coby | November 21, 2008 5:45 AM
john: How many factual errors were there in that speech? Hurricanes getting worse every year?
"...and storms that are growing stronger with each passing hurricane season."
The increasing intensity of the strongest tropical cyclones (Elsner et al., 2008)
Posted by: thingsbreak | November 21, 2008 2:15 PM
To be sure, I am not saying that the evidence is unequivocal on that front- but there is more scientific evidence behind that statement of Obama's than anything coming out of the White House for the last eight years.
Posted by: thingsbreak | November 21, 2008 2:17 PM
"What is "left wing" about taking an opinion poll on climate change?"
Look at all of the polls that they are taking and the kind of issues that they are looking for confirmation on. It tells the story very clearly.
Posted by: Tilo Reber | November 24, 2008 6:42 PM