The urgent need to combat climate change will take another hit tonight. According to the National Weather Service more than 200 locations across America will register new record low temperatures between now and Friday. In the North Country we are expecting up to a foot of snow tonight, followed by temps in the low single digits the following night. That is more like a January forecast.
What we will be told by our president* and his enablers is this is prima facie evidence that climate change is a hoax and if anything, we need to worry about a new ice age! The fact the rest of the globe has been broiling all year and indeed, 2019 will probably go down as one of the hottest on record will have no significance to many Americans. They will look at this cold blast as permission to drive gas guzzling pickups and continue business as usual.
Monday, November 11, 2019
Friday, November 8, 2019
Suffocating centrism
Aside from the control of most traditional media by aging boomers, the singular ideology which unites the opinion shapers is a creepy centrism which treats the views held by a majority of Americans as unworthy.
One of the founders of Politico, which along with Morning Joe on MSNBC is seen as must consume media by Washington Insiders, confesses to a reporter at Vox that he has a bad case of centrism. He reflexively dismisses populists like Bernie or Liz Warren precisely because they violate the tenets of the bipartisan fantasy centrists celebrate, even though they know it hasn't been in effect in over 40 years.
The average American these pundits prefer is socially liberal and economically conservative. According to polls, that label describes less than 4% of the public. Many, if not most of us are either socially and economically liberal or in the case of many tRumpists, socially conservative and economically liberal. Most of us don't fret over the national debt and are willing to fund things like the expansion of social security. But media elites self identify with the wealthy establishment wisdom that debt is bad, social security is unsustainable and foreign wars are great. Until someone like Sanders and/or Warren is elected, the best we can hope for is a return to the status quo pre tRump. As someone who lived through the Clintons, Bushes and Obama eras, I believe that is not enough!
One of the founders of Politico, which along with Morning Joe on MSNBC is seen as must consume media by Washington Insiders, confesses to a reporter at Vox that he has a bad case of centrism. He reflexively dismisses populists like Bernie or Liz Warren precisely because they violate the tenets of the bipartisan fantasy centrists celebrate, even though they know it hasn't been in effect in over 40 years.
The average American these pundits prefer is socially liberal and economically conservative. According to polls, that label describes less than 4% of the public. Many, if not most of us are either socially and economically liberal or in the case of many tRumpists, socially conservative and economically liberal. Most of us don't fret over the national debt and are willing to fund things like the expansion of social security. But media elites self identify with the wealthy establishment wisdom that debt is bad, social security is unsustainable and foreign wars are great. Until someone like Sanders and/or Warren is elected, the best we can hope for is a return to the status quo pre tRump. As someone who lived through the Clintons, Bushes and Obama eras, I believe that is not enough!
Thursday, November 7, 2019
It's not OK Boomers
Being of a certain age, I confess to not always being up on the latest slogans regarding the culture wars. I'm certainly old enough to remember my generation's rallying cry, "Don't trust anyone over 30". If that was a truism, I guess I can't even trust my youngest daughter, who passed that milestone last year. But the latest generational rallying cry, "OK Boomer" is a little mystifying.
Just like every generation that came before us, boomers include all classes, political outlooks and life experiences. We are certainly not a monolithic bloc. It pains me that quite possibly a majority of my fellow boomers are tRumpists, but it is not something I can do much about. I see the angry facebook posts by my contemporaries and remember all the Archie Bunkers I had to deal with as I made my way in the post 60s world.
Every generation has a large cohort which as it ages longs for a certainty that never existed in the imaginings of the youth they have lost. They tend to be bitter and also support those of their generation who would demonize and disempower the following generation. If each generation can remember that bit of "boomer" wisdom, perhaps they will not be so quick to criticize.
Just like every generation that came before us, boomers include all classes, political outlooks and life experiences. We are certainly not a monolithic bloc. It pains me that quite possibly a majority of my fellow boomers are tRumpists, but it is not something I can do much about. I see the angry facebook posts by my contemporaries and remember all the Archie Bunkers I had to deal with as I made my way in the post 60s world.
Every generation has a large cohort which as it ages longs for a certainty that never existed in the imaginings of the youth they have lost. They tend to be bitter and also support those of their generation who would demonize and disempower the following generation. If each generation can remember that bit of "boomer" wisdom, perhaps they will not be so quick to criticize.
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Truth and Consequences
Even with a visit from tRump and state so deep red that republicans won every other state wide office, Matt Bevin was unable to eke out a win against Andy Beshear and so Kentuckians elected a democrat governor of the state.
Democrats may gloat about that victory, but it took an unusual set of circumstances for it to happen. Bevin managed to alienate teachers, police and virtually every labor oriented organization. He also tried to reverse and destroy the state's popular Obamacare clone, Kynect which was installed by the last democratic governor, Beshear's father, Steve. Even though he proved he is a thoroughly loathsome human being, Bevin still only lost by a half percent and will probably demand a recount. Of course, his national avatar won the state by over 30 points in 2016, so any margin of defeat for Bevin is a stern rebuke. I guess there are some lines even a tRump crazed electorate will not cross.
In other election news, dems consolidated their hold in Virginia, winning both houses of the state legislature and effectively turning the state blue. Despite gerrymanders, voter suppression and sundry dirty tricks, the handwriting is on the wall for all to see.
Democrats may gloat about that victory, but it took an unusual set of circumstances for it to happen. Bevin managed to alienate teachers, police and virtually every labor oriented organization. He also tried to reverse and destroy the state's popular Obamacare clone, Kynect which was installed by the last democratic governor, Beshear's father, Steve. Even though he proved he is a thoroughly loathsome human being, Bevin still only lost by a half percent and will probably demand a recount. Of course, his national avatar won the state by over 30 points in 2016, so any margin of defeat for Bevin is a stern rebuke. I guess there are some lines even a tRump crazed electorate will not cross.
In other election news, dems consolidated their hold in Virginia, winning both houses of the state legislature and effectively turning the state blue. Despite gerrymanders, voter suppression and sundry dirty tricks, the handwriting is on the wall for all to see.
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Looking for the new bogeyman
Since the media and republicans can't seem to entice Hillary out of retirement, it looks like it's time to find another scary bogeywoman under our collective bed. Step up Elizabeth Warren and show your socialist face!
A new poll being brandished by the NYT supposedly shows Warren, as well as Bernie and Biden being toast in the same battleground states which gave Cheetolini his electoral college victory in 2016. Since Warren is either leading the democratic gaggle or running second to Biden in most polls, she is the target of the MSM and republican leaning pundits. There have been a flurry of op-ed pieces pointing out the flaws in many of her famous plans, but especially of her Medicare for All details.
It seems the mostly male opinion makers can't seem to deal with a strong woman who is fighting for structural changes which will cost them money. Even tRump, with all his baggage would seem preferable to Warren's brand of enlightened capitalism according to many. If Warren manages to win the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, look for an all out attempt by a "sorrowful" media to take her down. Since the Pocahontas meme won't fly anymore and the latest trial balloon launched by the NYT regarding her work for corporations in the 80s died quickly, the search for an e-mail like scandal will jump into high gear.
A new poll being brandished by the NYT supposedly shows Warren, as well as Bernie and Biden being toast in the same battleground states which gave Cheetolini his electoral college victory in 2016. Since Warren is either leading the democratic gaggle or running second to Biden in most polls, she is the target of the MSM and republican leaning pundits. There have been a flurry of op-ed pieces pointing out the flaws in many of her famous plans, but especially of her Medicare for All details.
It seems the mostly male opinion makers can't seem to deal with a strong woman who is fighting for structural changes which will cost them money. Even tRump, with all his baggage would seem preferable to Warren's brand of enlightened capitalism according to many. If Warren manages to win the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, look for an all out attempt by a "sorrowful" media to take her down. Since the Pocahontas meme won't fly anymore and the latest trial balloon launched by the NYT regarding her work for corporations in the 80s died quickly, the search for an e-mail like scandal will jump into high gear.
Monday, November 4, 2019
Where we are
With a few minor exceptions, the garden is rapidly approaching its seasonal end. We finally had the killer frost which ended the galinsoga plague in the spinach patch. Unfortunately, the dead leaves will weld themselves to the healthy spinach leaves, rendering them useless. That will probably be moot point as increasingly cold weather begins to damage even the collards and kale. The torrential rains and wind we experienced last Thursday and Friday added to the stress on late season vegetables, so I guess it is time to turn the page and start looking for spring catalogs!
Meanwhile, a couple of stories related to energy production caught my eye this morning. Increasing oil production from Norway, Canada, Brasil and Indonesia will keep the price of the commodity stable or lower for at least a few years. A second story about the increasing demand for oil from the countries of Southeast Asia in coming years sounds even more dire. If we can't wean humanity from fossil fuels in the face of climate change, we may as well write our race's obituary. It seems these nations are spending money of fossil fuel exploration instead of solar and wind research. Why is this?
Meanwhile, a couple of stories related to energy production caught my eye this morning. Increasing oil production from Norway, Canada, Brasil and Indonesia will keep the price of the commodity stable or lower for at least a few years. A second story about the increasing demand for oil from the countries of Southeast Asia in coming years sounds even more dire. If we can't wean humanity from fossil fuels in the face of climate change, we may as well write our race's obituary. It seems these nations are spending money of fossil fuel exploration instead of solar and wind research. Why is this?
Friday, November 1, 2019
Moving the goalposts
My local congresscritter, rising GOP star Elise Stefanik voted with every other republican in the House against the authorization of the rules for an impeachment inquiry. This, after Stefanik has been echoing the party line which up until now was all about demanding the authorization vote. Now, it is all about the chairmen of various committees "abusing" their power and limiting the rights of the minority. What she really means is limiting the ability of republicans to turn the hearings into a media circus and discredit witnesses. I'm sure if the chairman of the intelligence committee, Adam Schiff offered to step down in favor of Devin Nunes republicans may be satisfied. Short of that outcome, they will keep moving the goalposts and nattering about process. That is all they have, and unfortunately for American democracy it may be enough to prolong this farce of an administration for another year.
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