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Barack Obama's Oslo Speech: A Caption-Summary With Excerpts
Commented Dec 12, 2009 at 11:37:54 in World
“This speech was more complex and nuanced, as a sophisticated work of international leadership than academics are apparently prepared to appreciate. It seems to have gone over a lot of people's heads.”
lilalove replied on Dec 12, 2009 at 12:51:15
“I could not agree more.”
jhamm1 replied on Dec 12, 2009 at 12:40:47
“Once again, another endorsement of Obama's speech as being "insightful" and "sophisticated" without being able to present a single example to support your arguments.
Quite the contrary. This may surprise you, but most of us GET IT when it comes to realizing that war sometimes needs to be implemented if only as a last resort. This argument offers nothing even remotely sophisticated, insightful, original, or anything other than a characteristic lesson which we have heard more than a billion times before.
IF anything, this portion of his address (which comprised roughly 80 percent of his speech) proved entirely pointless, its sole purpose serving as an overt and inaccurate implication that those opposed to the Afghan War oppose wars in general.
And furthermore, the entire conglomerate of Bush-era, self-righteous diatribe pertaining to "necessary wars", "liberating from tyranny", and reserving the right to act unilaterally "to defend [his] nation" only highlight what he shares in common with his predecessor in a propensity to resort to sensationalistic metaphors in order to compensate for his miserable attempts to make his case.”
Quite the contrary. This may surprise you, but most of us GET IT when it comes to realizing that war sometimes needs to be implemented if only as a last resort. This argument offers nothing even remotely sophisticated, insightful, original, or anything other than a characteristic lesson which we have heard more than a billion times before.
IF anything, this portion of his address (which comprised roughly 80 percent of his speech) proved entirely pointless, its sole purpose serving as an overt and inaccurate implication that those opposed to the Afghan War oppose wars in general.
And furthermore, the entire conglomerate of Bush-era, self-righteous diatribe pertaining to "necessary wars", "liberating from tyranny", and reserving the right to act unilaterally "to defend [his] nation" only highlight what he shares in common with his predecessor in a propensity to resort to sensationalistic metaphors in order to compensate for his miserable attempts to make his case.”
chrisfrmchi2 replied on Dec 12, 2009 at 11:52:31
“Or it would have been better for him to give that speech and then decline the award and prize.
Cause he hasn't done anything of substance.”
Cause he hasn't done anything of substance.”
We Are Now in a Crucial Moment -- It's Time to Make a Decision
Commented Dec 08, 2009 at 11:50:11 in Green
“I am really glad to see Al Gore contributing to every possible venue for his message.
I am also glad to see that he seems to be doing a good job of rising out of the crowd of yahoos to be heard. Jonathan Swift depicted humans as "yahoos" who reacted to anything by shouting irrelevancies, shitting and pissing on each other and generally being stupid. That was satire from hundreds of years ago.
Humans have never considered acting on a truly planetwide, or human race wide basis before. A million years from now, this time we live in, will be studied as the time when Cro Magnon man built a planetary communication system and began to use it as a means of facilitating a species wide ability to identify and study problems and then to implement ways of dealing with them.
E.O. Wilson and other scientists are warning of a bottleneck period that we are NOW ENTERING. The question is whether we will learn to anticipate worldwide problems and deal with them as a whole human race, or whether we will have to suffer the consequences of a crash that may devastate human populations to the point of extinction. If mankind survives all the problems we have created from nuclear proliferation to ways to kill the oceans, our evolution will have reached a new stage.”
I am also glad to see that he seems to be doing a good job of rising out of the crowd of yahoos to be heard. Jonathan Swift depicted humans as "yahoos" who reacted to anything by shouting irrelevancies, shitting and pissing on each other and generally being stupid. That was satire from hundreds of years ago.
Humans have never considered acting on a truly planetwide, or human race wide basis before. A million years from now, this time we live in, will be studied as the time when Cro Magnon man built a planetary communication system and began to use it as a means of facilitating a species wide ability to identify and study problems and then to implement ways of dealing with them.
E.O. Wilson and other scientists are warning of a bottleneck period that we are NOW ENTERING. The question is whether we will learn to anticipate worldwide problems and deal with them as a whole human race, or whether we will have to suffer the consequences of a crash that may devastate human populations to the point of extinction. If mankind survives all the problems we have created from nuclear proliferation to ways to kill the oceans, our evolution will have reached a new stage.”
smpj replied on Dec 08, 2009 at 12:56:59
“We have, as a species, been inordinately selfish. But most every individual of every species is so, relative to their environment. Have we passed the point of no return relative to our natural place on earth and the disfunctional social & political contracts between so many countries? Please, where's the evidence we haven't?”
We Are Now in a Crucial Moment -- It's Time to Make a Decision
Commented Dec 08, 2009 at 11:47:54 in Green
“I am really glad to see Al Gore contributing to every possible venue for his message.
I am also glad to see that he seems to be doing a good job of rising out of the crowd of yahoos to be heard. Jonathan Swift depicted humans as "yahoos" who reacted to anything by shouting irrelevancies, shitting and pissing on each other and generally being stupid. That was satire from hundreds of years ago.
Humans have never considered acting on a truly planetwide, or human race wide basis before. A million years from now, this time we live in, will be studied as the time when Cro Magnon man built a planetary communication system and began to use it as a means of facilitating a species wide ability to identify and study problems and then to implement ways of dealing with them.
E.O. Wilson and other scientists are warning of a bottleneck period that we are not entering. The question is whether we will learn to anticipate worldwide problems and deal with them as a whole human race, or whether we will have to suffer the consequences of a crash that may devastate human populations to the point of extinction. If mankind survives all the problems we have created from nuclear proliferation to ways to kill the oceans, our evolution will have reached a new stage.”
I am also glad to see that he seems to be doing a good job of rising out of the crowd of yahoos to be heard. Jonathan Swift depicted humans as "yahoos" who reacted to anything by shouting irrelevancies, shitting and pissing on each other and generally being stupid. That was satire from hundreds of years ago.
Humans have never considered acting on a truly planetwide, or human race wide basis before. A million years from now, this time we live in, will be studied as the time when Cro Magnon man built a planetary communication system and began to use it as a means of facilitating a species wide ability to identify and study problems and then to implement ways of dealing with them.
E.O. Wilson and other scientists are warning of a bottleneck period that we are not entering. The question is whether we will learn to anticipate worldwide problems and deal with them as a whole human race, or whether we will have to suffer the consequences of a crash that may devastate human populations to the point of extinction. If mankind survives all the problems we have created from nuclear proliferation to ways to kill the oceans, our evolution will have reached a new stage.”
Pray to the Gods of Capital, Or Build a New Economy
Commented Dec 08, 2009 at 11:20:25 in Business
“The web is very wide but not real deep. When you get into serious discussions about the true nature of the paradigm we are suffering under and how truly profound change might occur, it tends to be beyond the bounds.
This would seem to be a great subject for a seminar on the future of the economy, except that academic discussions aren't necessarily any better. People tend to want to show off how smart they are be going into ever more abstractly complex language.
Individual efforts to find new ways are fraught with the same problems that face any entrepreneurial departure from the conventional path. Solutions to the available dillemmas are not apparent and must be discovered by brave people who believe they are smart enough to step out onto thin ice.
Most people would rather contemplate this from the safety of a comfortable armchair with a warm cup of coffee. This gets left behind when it is time to go back to that corporate cubicle.
There really are opportunities to create a new economic way. They are, however, not easy to understand or find engagement with. Few people have a real handle on it, and fewer still are able to find a way to monetize their pioneering.
MoveOn is probably not a bad example, on the non-profit side.”
This would seem to be a great subject for a seminar on the future of the economy, except that academic discussions aren't necessarily any better. People tend to want to show off how smart they are be going into ever more abstractly complex language.
Individual efforts to find new ways are fraught with the same problems that face any entrepreneurial departure from the conventional path. Solutions to the available dillemmas are not apparent and must be discovered by brave people who believe they are smart enough to step out onto thin ice.
Most people would rather contemplate this from the safety of a comfortable armchair with a warm cup of coffee. This gets left behind when it is time to go back to that corporate cubicle.
There really are opportunities to create a new economic way. They are, however, not easy to understand or find engagement with. Few people have a real handle on it, and fewer still are able to find a way to monetize their pioneering.
MoveOn is probably not a bad example, on the non-profit side.”
Liberal Elitism? No. Some People Are, Sadly, Stupid
Commented Nov 14, 2009 at 10:11:37 in Politics
“Hooray. Someone said it.
It is way past time to call stupid people out for what they are.
When you have Republican politicians saying stuff with a straight face to obviously pander for the votes of the most stupid people in the population, what is really going on is that no one is willing to say what is really going on.
Stupidity. Brain cells lacking or deliberately turned off. Knuckle dragging backwardism.”
It is way past time to call stupid people out for what they are.
When you have Republican politicians saying stuff with a straight face to obviously pander for the votes of the most stupid people in the population, what is really going on is that no one is willing to say what is really going on.
Stupidity. Brain cells lacking or deliberately turned off. Knuckle dragging backwardism.”
Many Issues With Tragedy at Ft. Hood -- A "Muslim Problem" not One of Them, FOX News
Commented Nov 07, 2009 at 10:46:33 in Media
“Most likely the reason the military does not appear to be very responsive when there are clear signs that, in retrospect, seem like they should have obviously foretold a catastrophe, is the macho thing.
The military is the ultimate macho paradigm. Suck It Up is the standard advice for any problem. To actually recognize that there are issues stemming from the core purpose of militarizing people, is to impost values on the macho paradigm that go against the grain.
Thus, we see a long history of various incidents, all related to the paradox of military conditioning in a civil society context.
Somehow, that paradox needs to be addressed. Some individuals are just not able to handle it without help.”
The military is the ultimate macho paradigm. Suck It Up is the standard advice for any problem. To actually recognize that there are issues stemming from the core purpose of militarizing people, is to impost values on the macho paradigm that go against the grain.
Thus, we see a long history of various incidents, all related to the paradox of military conditioning in a civil society context.
Somehow, that paradox needs to be addressed. Some individuals are just not able to handle it without help.”
Many Issues With Tragedy at Ft. Hood -- A "Muslim Problem" not One of Them, FOX News
Commented Nov 07, 2009 at 10:33:18 in Media
“I looked into some early twentieth century newspaper archives for obituary notices on family members and discovered a dramatic story similar to the Ft. Hood incident.
It seems a soldier who had returned from WWI had shot his wife, his three kids and himself, causing a tiny town in upstate New York a huge ordeal of grief. It was one of the great incidents in that town's history.
At the University of Texas in Austin, there was an effort to compile all the reference material students would ask about each your about Charles Whitman, the Tower shooter. What emerged from that exercise was a clear record showing that the local media was avoiding the central most important part of the story: Whitman was ex-military and suffering from PTSD, in an era when no one recognized that term. He was partly set off by a campus atmosphere that was highly charged with anti-Vietnam War sentiment, as well as by a really hard core fundamentalist religious upbringing what made being flexible and tolerant of others very difficult for him.
These cases provide clues which may or may not be relevant. But one thing stands out: stereotyping and media prejudice in shaping the story do not help. Being honest and open about the special vulnerabilities posed by the paradox of military training and civilian life might be a start.
That, unfortunately, may be easier said than done.”
It seems a soldier who had returned from WWI had shot his wife, his three kids and himself, causing a tiny town in upstate New York a huge ordeal of grief. It was one of the great incidents in that town's history.
At the University of Texas in Austin, there was an effort to compile all the reference material students would ask about each your about Charles Whitman, the Tower shooter. What emerged from that exercise was a clear record showing that the local media was avoiding the central most important part of the story: Whitman was ex-military and suffering from PTSD, in an era when no one recognized that term. He was partly set off by a campus atmosphere that was highly charged with anti-Vietnam War sentiment, as well as by a really hard core fundamentalist religious upbringing what made being flexible and tolerant of others very difficult for him.
These cases provide clues which may or may not be relevant. But one thing stands out: stereotyping and media prejudice in shaping the story do not help. Being honest and open about the special vulnerabilities posed by the paradox of military training and civilian life might be a start.
That, unfortunately, may be easier said than done.”
Danlantic replied on Nov 07, 2009 at 12:40:44
“An addition to your reading should be "Shook Over Hell: Post-Traumatic Stress, Vietnam, and the Civil War" by Eric Dean, Jr.
From records and personal journals he alternated between Civil War veterans and Vietnam veterans showing the parallels.
We have cultural legends of the mean gunfighter of the west who was a Confederate veteran who wanted an inchoate revenge on the world, "I shot first and he fell with a thud/ And I rode away on the Tennessee stud" but Dean documents how many Northern veterans ended up in mental institutions.
The title is a quote from a Civil War veteran, "We was shook over hell."”
From records and personal journals he alternated between Civil War veterans and Vietnam veterans showing the parallels.
We have cultural legends of the mean gunfighter of the west who was a Confederate veteran who wanted an inchoate revenge on the world, "I shot first and he fell with a thud/ And I rode away on the Tennessee stud" but Dean documents how many Northern veterans ended up in mental institutions.
The title is a quote from a Civil War veteran, "We was shook over hell."”
Jorge Al-Subbad replied on Nov 07, 2009 at 11:05:42
“And yet one of the most pre-eminent experts ON the issue of PTSD and its effects on military veterans ... was the guy who just shot 40 people. There is a difference between stereotyping people and noticing a clear motivation or pattern for behavior. Seeing a black person and assuming that person is a drug dealer based on assumptions derived from race independent of correlating factors is one thing. But it is clear that there is an animus towards the western countries and America's military presence and activity as it relates to the Muslim world. And even though this man is an American.. he is also of Palestinian heritage and could be expected to be displeased with America's support or lack thereof of Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims in general throughout the world. Yeah he might have snapped cuz the guy scratched his car too.. but shooting 40 people leads one to a more deeply upsetting issue being the likely one.”
New TIME Cover on Glenn Beck Ignores Facts, and Worse
Commented Sep 17, 2009 at 15:02:13 in Media
“Has anybody looked up what the Time-Warner corporate holding company own? Both Time and Newsweek, CNN, HBO and many of the cable franchises in local towns across the US. The
empire is vast.
The problem for the public is that corporations like Time-Warner own nearly all of the means of
communication in the US. The owners are people who do not live like everyone else. The
CEO salaries are in the hundreds of millions. The look down at the streets from the penthouse
suites and see ants crawling around on the sidewalk. At best, probably think we are cattle. To
them, Glenn Beck probably represents the opportunity to play the sort of games kids play in the
junior high school classroom. Kick somebody under the desk and watch them get in trouble
because they yelped. Thank God the internet exists - for the present.”
empire is vast.
The problem for the public is that corporations like Time-Warner own nearly all of the means of
communication in the US. The owners are people who do not live like everyone else. The
CEO salaries are in the hundreds of millions. The look down at the streets from the penthouse
suites and see ants crawling around on the sidewalk. At best, probably think we are cattle. To
them, Glenn Beck probably represents the opportunity to play the sort of games kids play in the
junior high school classroom. Kick somebody under the desk and watch them get in trouble
because they yelped. Thank God the internet exists - for the present.”
Gib replied on Sep 17, 2009 at 15:35:16
“Corporate control of the media and thereby of the flow of information is the number one problem for democracy in the US.”
Cycadeoidea replied on Sep 17, 2009 at 15:12:00
“It's ridiculous. I realized things were taking a turn for the worse when in 1996 Time had a cover story about tornadoes at the same time Warner Bros. released the movie Twister. Coincidence? You decide.”
Glenn Beck To Get Key To City; Protesters Say "Change The Locks!"
Commented Sep 03, 2009 at 12:00:39 in Media
“Mt. Vernon has seen an influx of immigrants, because it is an agricultural area and a lot of Hispanics come off of the migrant farm worker cycle and move into places like this. No doubt there is a contingent of immigrant haters that the mayor thinks he represents.”
delvis replied on Sep 03, 2009 at 12:21:26
“yes the Skagit tulip Festival, the flowers and bulbs are harvested on the backs of the local hard working Mexicans of Skagit Valley.”
A Giant Lost
Commented Aug 26, 2009 at 09:59:04 in Politics
“Now is the time for Democrats to consider themselves and their actions in the effort to pass health care reform, particularly the public option, in the light of John Kennedy's "Profiles in Courage."
If this fight is lost because our candidates, now elected leaders, fail at high noon, the losses in the next election could lead to a whole lot of nihilists getting elected who believe in nothing but negativism. That would mean an effective paralysis for a long time. The stakes are high. We need our people to live up to the best and boldest vision of the Kennedy legacy.”
If this fight is lost because our candidates, now elected leaders, fail at high noon, the losses in the next election could lead to a whole lot of nihilists getting elected who believe in nothing but negativism. That would mean an effective paralysis for a long time. The stakes are high. We need our people to live up to the best and boldest vision of the Kennedy legacy.”
mtwashingtonmike replied on Aug 26, 2009 at 10:35:41
“If the fight is lost it will be lost to a particular Democratic failing, over reaching. One of Kennedy's greatest regrets was not hammering out a heath care deal with Richard Nixon in the early 70's. Nixon was willing to deal, Kennedy was not. He could have had half a loaf then and ended up with nothing. Barak Obama is in a similar situation. He has the ability to come away with a sensible comprimise that will not satisfy his base but may actually help people and the country. Or he may go for it all, and end up with nothing.”
stick458 replied on Aug 26, 2009 at 10:21:23
“Since you bring up politics, conservatives are not "nihilists who believe in nothing but negativism". Actually, we believe that people are best served by freedom from government intrusion, and that individuals, not government, improve their own and one another's lives, through innovation and charity. Welfare doesn't work - we know that now, don't we? Nothing negative about that.”
Obama, Progressives and Health Care Reform
Commented Aug 22, 2009 at 10:05:47 in Politics
“There is a reason for the term, "liberal firing squad," a circular formation firing inward.
People tend to be much more harshly judgmental towards liberal/progressive candidates who get elected than they are of conservative opponents who get elected. This isn't new. It has been a
tendency for such a long time, one wonders if this doesn't have something to do with DNA.”
People tend to be much more harshly judgmental towards liberal/progressive candidates who get elected than they are of conservative opponents who get elected. This isn't new. It has been a
tendency for such a long time, one wonders if this doesn't have something to do with DNA.”
peaceplez replied on Aug 23, 2009 at 02:16:09
“I think it has more to do with the power structure in this country and the strong link between corporations and the media. There is a tremendous amount of money and pressure to keep progressive voices/values marginalized.”
A Cry for Help from Rural Alaska. Where Is Sarah Palin?
Commented Jan 15, 2009 at 20:11:10 in Politics
“If a tornado hits a small town in the Midwest, or too much rain ruins a crop year, or some other disaster overwhelms local resources Governors and other officials step up, and do whatever needs to be be done. It is an essential responsibility.
This crisis was foreseeable, at least since the initial oil barge was frozen out of delivering. That was when some sort of assessment and planning should have been done.
When Bush was Governor of Texas he was pretty good at getting to someplace where flooding or some other disaster took place and quickly signing disaster declarations. This isn't about anything other than getting resources to a situation in need.
The question is when will supplies get there and what is the state doing to assess the situation and deal with it?”
This crisis was foreseeable, at least since the initial oil barge was frozen out of delivering. That was when some sort of assessment and planning should have been done.
When Bush was Governor of Texas he was pretty good at getting to someplace where flooding or some other disaster took place and quickly signing disaster declarations. This isn't about anything other than getting resources to a situation in need.
The question is when will supplies get there and what is the state doing to assess the situation and deal with it?”
NoMoreFreepers replied on Jan 16, 2009 at 00:31:47
“Wasilla Barbie's not going to show anywhere to sign anything unless she's being filmed while doing it. I'm sure if the good people of Emmonak contacted the closest major television stations in Alaska and told them of their plight, then perhaps Governor Avon Lady will show her face and get involved. It's worth a shot!!”
keclxivq replied on Jan 15, 2009 at 22:13:48
“"When Bush was Governor of Texas he was pretty good at getting to someplace where flooding or some other disaster took place and quickly signing disaster declaratio
George Bush has never been good at anything his entire life, not even pretty good!”
George Bush has never been good at anything his entire life, not even pretty good!”
Did Israel Use Disproportionate Force?
Commented Dec 31, 2008 at 15:46:46 in World
“This is way over disproportianate force. I blame the Bush Administration for eight years of very stupid action in this issue. Essentially the US has been throwing gasoline on the fire instead of looking for ways to reduce it. The Israeli and the Palestinians are locked into a classic conflict relationship in which violence feeds on violence and everybody slowly goes insane, making violence normal.
It will take Obama a long time to begin to repair the damage that has been done here by the US, which is on top of damage done by wrongheaded leadership on all sides going back quite a ways.
What a tragedy that the Holy Land should be the scene of such a protracted and seemingly intractable example of the worst in human nature dominating over the best.”
It will take Obama a long time to begin to repair the damage that has been done here by the US, which is on top of damage done by wrongheaded leadership on all sides going back quite a ways.
What a tragedy that the Holy Land should be the scene of such a protracted and seemingly intractable example of the worst in human nature dominating over the best.”
trstrap replied on Dec 31, 2008 at 18:33:04
“Poor Hamas. What's the sole mission of Hamas? To kill Jews and destroy Israel. Whoever is next is anyone's guess. They're mad at Egypt too. Egypt doesn't want Hamas in Egypt and they are co-religionists. FYI - Israel isn't just dreaded Jews. There are Christians, Christian Arabs, ' Druze, Muslims. Tourists of all stripes .The citizens in Gaza are in a vacuum and while Hamas is indiscriminately killing anyone in the crosshairs - Israel is defending its multinational state from a terror organization that considers Gaza and its people,collateral damage. Hamas wants to kill Jews. Think Hitler. Think Torquemada. Think Ahmedinejad. If you admire any of them then badmouth Israel. But if the mission of Hamas was to protect Gaza and Gazans from Israel it would put both countries on the same page. But Israel gave back Gaza. Hamas occupies Gaza. They are practicing ideological warfare on a deadly scale. If you fire rockets without provocation expect to have your ass kicked. Feel sorry for ordinary Gazans who have no government that wants their welfare. Hamas is not a government and therefore it is as culpable as the folks who did 9/11. And please consider this: no Israeli who is a non-Muslim methodically trains their children to become suicide bombers. They have engaged themselves in a self-fulfilling prophecy of death. Don't cry for them - Hamas is doing exactly what they exist to for and Israel - a sovereign nation-state is fighting back. There are NO rules of engagement.”
Why Would Progressives Make "War" on Christmas? It is a Celebration of Progressive Values
Commented Dec 25, 2008 at 16:13:32 in Politics
“"Progressive" tends to mean a long term view of the future, and an optimism that progress can be made to improve the most enduring, worst human tragedies.
"Conservatives" have tended to side with Scrooge, who Dickens depicted as a caricature of industrial age Calvinists who see people either as productive economic units -or fit for the slag pile.
The Social Darwinist has no real interest in helping people or the community if they are impaired in some way. When they hark back to prehistory they highlight stories in which the elderly and the mentally or physically handicapped were left behind for the wolves. They don't like anthropology which studies the communal system that helps the elderly and the less able through a system of sharing resources.
This shouldn't be confused with Christianity, but it gets caught up in it because there is a need to use Jesus to justify power over others. This is why so often, Jesus' name is invoked, but the Old Testament is cited. Most people are really uneducated about the Bible, they just repeat stuff they have been indoctrinated with.
I hope that as time goes on, this becomes evident to more people. The problems we face in dealing with the future for all humans and the whole planet have gotten to be extremely critical. We need clear thinking about this. Very likely billions of people are at risk of dying, beginning now - and let's not be deluded that we can't be among them.”
"Conservatives" have tended to side with Scrooge, who Dickens depicted as a caricature of industrial age Calvinists who see people either as productive economic units -or fit for the slag pile.
The Social Darwinist has no real interest in helping people or the community if they are impaired in some way. When they hark back to prehistory they highlight stories in which the elderly and the mentally or physically handicapped were left behind for the wolves. They don't like anthropology which studies the communal system that helps the elderly and the less able through a system of sharing resources.
This shouldn't be confused with Christianity, but it gets caught up in it because there is a need to use Jesus to justify power over others. This is why so often, Jesus' name is invoked, but the Old Testament is cited. Most people are really uneducated about the Bible, they just repeat stuff they have been indoctrinated with.
I hope that as time goes on, this becomes evident to more people. The problems we face in dealing with the future for all humans and the whole planet have gotten to be extremely critical. We need clear thinking about this. Very likely billions of people are at risk of dying, beginning now - and let's not be deluded that we can't be among them.”
JulieSA replied on Dec 25, 2008 at 19:08:01
“""Conservatives" have tended to side with Scrooge,"
No, no it if you look at the stats. Conservatives give more time and money to the needy through voluntary charitable giving.
http://www
No, no it if you look at the stats. Conservatives give more time and money to the needy through voluntary charitable giving.
http://www
Considering All the Benefits of Residential Renewable Energy is Critical
Commented Dec 15, 2008 at 13:09:24 in Green
“I hope the Obama administration is aware of municipal efforts over the past decades to move towards energy conservation or alternative fuels through rebate systems or changing zoning.
National policy should be made following the research into practical methods already done in those places where there are years of financial data to review. In Austin, Tx, for example, a coalition of progressive voters put a city council in place beginning in the early '80s that was motivated to push for alternatives to massive indebtedness to build a power plant based in the all-electric model that created incentives for greater consumption. People got free home energy audits, some subsidized rebates for installing more efficient systems, and the zoning codes were adjusted to promote green building.
It took a few years to prove the case to the more conservative voters who were concerned about taxes and utility rates. However, a lasting majority in support of conservation economics came of the effort. Also, green building became a national buzzword as a result of the pioneering by Roger Duncan and others. Anyone interested in how policy can really be effective ought to check it out.”
National policy should be made following the research into practical methods already done in those places where there are years of financial data to review. In Austin, Tx, for example, a coalition of progressive voters put a city council in place beginning in the early '80s that was motivated to push for alternatives to massive indebtedness to build a power plant based in the all-electric model that created incentives for greater consumption. People got free home energy audits, some subsidized rebates for installing more efficient systems, and the zoning codes were adjusted to promote green building.
It took a few years to prove the case to the more conservative voters who were concerned about taxes and utility rates. However, a lasting majority in support of conservation economics came of the effort. Also, green building became a national buzzword as a result of the pioneering by Roger Duncan and others. Anyone interested in how policy can really be effective ought to check it out.”
Republicans Kill any Help for Detroit
Commented Dec 12, 2008 at 11:45:22 in Business
“Detroit made bad decisions, but they were enabled, if not pushed by Republican politicians under heavy influence by the oil companies not to move away from a dependency on oil towards alternative forms of automotive power. Bush specifically made a statement by insisting on driving around in SUVs and showing nothing but smirking disdain for CAFE standards and any other way of addressing the relevant issues.
The Republicans have been blind and stupid about government policy due to self delusion coming from the absolute certainty of religious superiority coming from pandering to the evangelical base.
It wasn't the better wages people have been fighting for through unions that caused the collapse of the auto industry it was short sighted policies influenced by big oil that created government policy that either persuaded or forced Detroit into failing to rise to the need for innovation. This didn't happen in a free market vacuum.
If the Bush administration had been smart, they would have seen that we were at a Peak Oil point in history and there was a need to steer towards greater efficiency standards and conservation and then towards research and development into energy innovation.
The Republican Party deserves to go down in the history books as failing to see the writing on the wall and creating disaster by believing in their own delusions instead. It really is a Hoover moment.”
The Republicans have been blind and stupid about government policy due to self delusion coming from the absolute certainty of religious superiority coming from pandering to the evangelical base.
It wasn't the better wages people have been fighting for through unions that caused the collapse of the auto industry it was short sighted policies influenced by big oil that created government policy that either persuaded or forced Detroit into failing to rise to the need for innovation. This didn't happen in a free market vacuum.
If the Bush administration had been smart, they would have seen that we were at a Peak Oil point in history and there was a need to steer towards greater efficiency standards and conservation and then towards research and development into energy innovation.
The Republican Party deserves to go down in the history books as failing to see the writing on the wall and creating disaster by believing in their own delusions instead. It really is a Hoover moment.”
SiberianRat replied on Dec 12, 2008 at 12:23:08
“I agree. I'd add to it that the UAW itself failed its members be not holding carmaker management's feet to fire to get them to innovate and bring the companies into the 21st century. I'm a union supporter for sure, but part of protecting the workers includes making sure that the companies are able to support their employment in the long-run. We've known for a long time that this industry was doing poorly on many fronts, and complacency prevented movement until it was too late.”
Arianna On ABC's This Week, Along With George Will, David Brooks, Robert Kuttner
Commented Nov 23, 2008 at 13:09:51 in Media
“Hopefully, Arianna's inclusion here, along with people like Kuttner this week and Krugman before means that the MSM recognizes that there are famous shortcomings in all aspects of their coverage.
George Will made the same assertions about the New Deal before and was also countered by Krugman. He seems insistent on making sure history conforms to Republican talking points.
There are points of view and whole areas at issue that a right-wing versus moderate right-wing discussion will not bring out. In the situation America is in, wallpapering over serious issues is even a worse idea than it was when the Bush administration was doing it.
Most importantly, with Arianna at the table, this shows that there is a grudging respect, newfound because of what happened in this election, for the internet-f
George Will made the same assertions about the New Deal before and was also countered by Krugman. He seems insistent on making sure history conforms to Republican talking points.
There are points of view and whole areas at issue that a right-wing versus moderate right-wing discussion will not bring out. In the situation America is in, wallpapering over serious issues is even a worse idea than it was when the Bush administration was doing it.
Most importantly, with Arianna at the table, this shows that there is a grudging respect, newfound because of what happened in this election, for the internet-f
islanbatman replied on Nov 23, 2008 at 13:43:19
“George Will is an Ar$$.”
