Reality and proportionality

In a rational, logical world, the horrors of the San Bernadino shooting would never occur.  Instead of 24/7 coverage of everything related to the tragedy and its aftermath, most news coverage in the US would be focused on the Paris climate summit.  The 14 people who lost their lives are emblematic of the dysfunctional world brought to us by a deranged political party.  The republicans in the Senate voted down a bill which would have made it harder for anyone on the terrorist watch list to obtain weapons.  The same stupidity was on display when the majority leader in the House of Representatives stated his party's opposition to any pledge the President makes at the Paris conference on behalf of the US.  The problem of gun violence is pernicious and deadly to thousands of citizens each year.  The problem of climate change can potentially end human civilization as we know it.  Virtually every country at least acknowledges both challenges.  Only the US and to a lesser extent, Australia have no coherent policy to at least work towards solutions.  Even Australia has tackled the gun problem.  That leaves one political party in one country with the awesome responsibility of addressing the most pressing issue in human history and so far the Republicans are failing in a most spectacular fashion.  I hope the 2016 elections are a referendum on guns and climate.   A pretty large majority of Americans acknowledge climate change and feel we must have sensible gun control measures.  Let's hope they all make it to voting booths around the country next November.