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Darrell's avatar

This was quite the thought-provoking newsletter today, Bill! I vaguely remember it from 5 years ago but a lot has filled my brain in the meantime so it is well worth repeating.

What is it with this administration (historically conservatives in general) and science? Trump hates and wants to cancel wind farms yet Denmark (for example) obtains over 70% of its electricity from wind and solar. They hate vaccines that are proven to work, including the mRNA platform. Climate change? Neuter the EPA?

“Conservatives have a long and complex history of disliking science because scientific results may counter their own religious beliefs or sometimes science goes against their commitment to corporate and personal profits. If there is one topic that exemplifies these statements, it is ‘climate change,’ and Republicans are now finding themselves completely alone in the world as they desperately grasp onto the denial that it exists. An article in Rolling Stone stated it best, “For the modern-day Republican Party, protecting fossil fuels wasn’t a pet issue; it was a religion. The Church of Carbon.”

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/solar/chart-countries-most-renewable-energy

https://rantt.com/why-do-republicans-hate-science

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/conservatives-science-distrust-research-study-b2734467.html

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Darrell's avatar

The links I provided support my position. What position are you using these links to support?

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Lisa Maniaci's avatar

Swimming in the Chicago river...ew.

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Paul Vail's avatar

So... we would be using an unelected official to assume the office? I have more trouble with that than flipping parties. Yes, the political oscillator is becoming more worrisome. We survived the political winds of Burr/Jefferson, of Lincoln and FDR, and Trumpism will not long be viewed with pride within our lifetime. I'd rather have the current system with elected officials available for our condemnation and comedy.

Perhaps we would be better off without parties at all, as GW wisely wished. Then, the individuals of Congress could vote for what their constituents wanted, not their party machines. This alone would neuter much of Trump's power, or any Big-R or Big-D wannabe in the future.

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Darrell's avatar

Sounds good to me. Short of that ranked choice voting would flatten the landscape.

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Melissa's avatar

I am more interested in the puzzle piece that has randomly appeared under my desk, trying to figure out which puzzle it is from, than I am about musing over president replacements. The beauty of not living in the zoo that the US has become.

I have swum in bodies of water that were supposed to be “clean and safe” and got some nasty rashes. Now the only outside body of water I trust is the ocean. I am fortunate to live just a few blocks from said ocean.

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