Friday, December 30, 2016

#2 Debating the Republican Disconnect from Earth's realities

My pal returned with another comment, which I gladly share in this second installment, since it affords me an opportunity to list a lot of valuable links that support my claims and that will help inform the curious.   Update, I've received an email from E.M. who requested I refer to him by his initials.  He also offered a four thousand word response that I want to read through before posting it, it'll probably be Saturday night or Sunday before I'll be able to do get it posted.  (12/30/16. 10PM). > It has been posted at #3 E.M. has his say. Debating the Republican Disconnect from Earth's realities.
______________________________________________________________________
E.M. at 11:26pm 12/29/16 writes:  You've got me entirely wrong. Don't warp my broad claim that both sides of this argument are self-interested into labeling me as an "astro-turfer'. 
_______________________________________________

Then why are your words so predictable?  It’s like you’re reading off the script.

Oh and you are entirely wrong about the scientists and I suspect you've never actually listened to them discussing their work and results.

I appreciate it's hard for someone trapped within the self-serving Republican mind-set to imagine a community of people dedicated to getting as close to objective truth as humans can hope for.  But, so it is.  This list is incomplete, but it's lecture videos I'm familiar with, I know there are many others out there.

Global Warming: Understanding the Forecast 
Video Lecture Series by David Archer PhD | University of Chicago
_________________________________________________________________________

University of California Television (UCTV)

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Understanding Climate Change
_________________________________________________________________________
Climate State
_________________________________________________________________________

University of Queensland Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)
_________________________________________________________________________

Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis
______________________________________________________________________
E.M. at 11:26pm 12/29/16 writes:  I think the misguided legislative agenda being pushed based on AGW research is both economically wasteful and does absolutely nothing to reduce the scale of human energy consumption and carbon emissions. It is an unfeasible, unattainable, unrealistic policy achievement with current methods of alternative energy.
_______________________________________________

A)  You’ve admitted that you know nothing about climate science, yet you feel in a position to label legislative efforts misguided.  How’s that work?
That reminds me, what are your favorite news sources?

B)  “Absolutely nothing!”  Really, how do you figure that?  What do you know about it?

C)  Finally you seem to believe that ignoring the science is okay, if what the science is telling us is inconvenience for your economic desires.  That's what I call Republican-infantile.

The thing you’re trying to ignore is we are talking fundamental reality about our physical planet!  It doesn’t matter to the planet what you think about it - it is what is happening. 

Choosing to misunderstand and distrust everything serious scientists are explaining to you isn't going to change the physical reality - but it will make you ignorant and ill-prepared to deal with the brave new world barreling down on us.

The Hot Map - extreme and disruptive weather events
http://www.climatehotmap.org
_________________________________________________________________________
Understanding the Link Between Climate Change and Extreme Weather
_________________________________________________________________________
Extreme Weather and Climate Events
_________________________________________________________________________
Extreme weather already on increase due to climate change, study finds
_________________________________________________________________________
New Evidence That Climate Change Is Altering Hurricane Season as You Know It
_________________________________________________________________________
Climate Communication
______________________________________________________________________
E.M. at 11:26pm 12/29/16 writes:  This is not to say alternative methods should be abandoned; on the contrary, we should continue to research both the climate and our impact on it as well as alternative fuel source optimization. Knowledge, legislation and technology aren't ready yet to address this issue. Case-in-point: see Germany's sustainable energy program.
_______________________________________________

Blah, blah, blah, and you wonder why I suspect you are nothing more than another astro-turfer doing his job to confuse people.  Your glib encouragement of more research is meaningless when you refuse to learn from what has already been learned.  

Worse, you ignore that the Republican political machine is already trying to muzzle research and now the incoming Trump Administration promises even worse.

Trump transition team for Energy Department seeks names of employees involved in climate meetings
_________________________________________________________________________
Trump, aided by fake news, wages a war on science and your children’s future
_________________________________________________________________________
The Trump Administration Attack on Science
_________________________________________________________________________
'Shockingly Stupid' Attack on Science: Trump to Eliminate NASA Climate Research
_________________________________________________________________________
How President-Elect Trump Views Science
_________________________________________________________________________
How the Trump Administration and Congress Should Use Science to Govern
_________________________________________________________________________
Will scientists fight back if Trump attacks research?
__________________
I’m a scientist who has gotten death threats. I fear what may happen under Trump.

More important, we were discussing the fundamental reality of manmade global warming; the climate change it drives; and the accuracy of the mainstream scientific assessment!  Why are you changing topics?  

We were also musings on the fundamental Republican faith-based disconnect from our planet's physical reality.  

Ironically, they assure us they got God on their side.

Why does that scare the hell out of me?  

Okay I know and can explain.  

First off, petty humans telling me they personally understand the God of Time and Creation, Life and Love, makes me laugh, it's an egomaniacal delusion.  It's a cartoon tale that's only possible for those who've never seriously considered the flow of eternity and the complexities of our wonderful planet and this universe that surrounds us.

It's the greatest ego trip a human can climb onto.  The stuff of adolescent dreams.  I'm reminded of 1 Corinthians 13;11 - "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me."

People who hide behind God in order to attain their avaricious dreams are spiritual and intellectual children and will always wind up being destroyers in the end.  I'm scared because that's exactly what I see our Republican leaders doing.  Whatever happened to the time when a person showed their faith in God through how they inhabited their religious beliefs and lived their lives and interacted with others?

want to be clear I have problem with a personal faith in God, just don't tell me your personal faith is some Universal Truth !  Because that claim is a crock.

Our Republican leaders and the oligarchs who own them possess a hubris that astounds me, but so it goes.  Now they have manipulated us into giving them our entire US government.  They got their self-certain faith-based entitlement and unquenchable avarice on their side.  Reminds me of a long ago poem.

ETHAN COEN  -   'The Drunken Driver Has The Right Of Way' 

The loudest have the final say,
The wanton win, the rash hold sway,
The realist's rules of order say
The drunken driver has the right of way.

The Kubla Khan can butt in line;
The biggest brute can take what's mine;
When heavyweights break wind, that's fine;
No matter what a judge might say,
The drunken driver has the right of way.

The guiltiest feel free of guilt;
Who care not, bloom; who worry, wilt;
Plans better laid are rarely built
For forethought seldom wins the day;
The drunken driver has the right of way.

The most attentive and unfailing
Carefulness is unavailing
Wheresoever fools are flailing;
Wisdom there is held at bay;,
The drunken driver has the right of way.

De jure is de facto's slave;
The most foolhardy beat the brave;
Brass routs restraint; low lies high's grave;
When conscience leads you, it's astray;
The drunken driver has the right of way.

It's only the naivest who'll
Deny this, that the reckless rule;
When facing an oncoming fool
The practiced and sagacious say
Watch out — one side — look sharp — gang way.

However much you plan and pray,
Alas, alack, tant pis, oy vey,
Now — heretofore — til Judgment Day,
The drunken driver has the right of way.

Excerpted from 'The Drunken Driver Has The Right Of Way' 
by Ethan Coen. Crown Publishing Group/Random House.

No comments: