JeffB’s Recent Comments

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  Science ain't working for the people....

  I hate to say this but we need to steal a line or two from the Great Communicator Ronald Reagan.  Ronnie was successful because he didn't care about facts or data...he spoke to our hearts and emotions.  And that is how Americans react to problems these days.  Don't bother me with facts, data, and statistics because a) they are too complicated to understand, b) you can always find some data or statistics to prove a point, and c) your just going to use the data and statistics to manipulate me and I'm not going to let you do that.

  So we need to appeal to people's emotions by saying...

  "God told us to take care of his creation."

  "We need to protect our way of life for our childran and grand-children.  So we need to make sure there are places to fish, hunt, and go 4-wheeling.  If there is too much development, everyone will be at the same fishing hole, duck blind, mud waller...."

  "We shouldn't be sending our money to the Arabs who just support terrorists."

  "Americans are the smartest and most innovative people on the earth who can do anything that they set their mind on.  So we should be smart enough to figure out how to run our air conditioners without having to take off the tops of mountains.  I can't believe that we're letting the Germans and Spanish get ahead of us."On Seeing the light in the Pew poll on Americans' top priorities posted 9 months, 2 weeks ago 14 Responses

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  Sierra Club has no b*$#%s on immigration

  Sierra Club continues to hound me to become a life member and contribute to the national organization.  But I can't support to this level of financial commitment as long as the organization refuses to addess the issue that US immigration rates and resulting population growth makes it more-and-more difficult to address issues of loss-of-habitat, water pollution, and climate change.  It is pretty simple...the more people that there are makes it more difficult to solve our problems.  In Pope's new job, he is just going to continue the same policy of ignoring the obvious for the sake of not upsetting anyone.On Carl Pope stepping down from helm of the Sierra Club posted 9 months, 2 weeks ago 24 Responses

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  States will lead......

  David
  I came to the conclusion quite some time ago that any expectation for there to be national action on climate change is an unrealistic expectation.  We are in the unfortunate situation where a significant portion of the public at large believes science to be politicized.  This is reflected in results from a 2008 Gallup poll which indicate that 70% of Democrat respondents believe climate change over the past century to be due to human activities but only 40% of Republicans to have the same belief.  Importantly, this is a decline from 52% which was the response for Republicans in 2002.

  http://www.environmentmagazine.org/Archives/Back%20Issues ...

  With over half of Republicans doubting climate change (and I'd expect that the most of the doubters are from the Republican base which have disproportionate influence on a congressman's position), we should expect continued intransience in Congress.  This will most likely happen in the Senate were Senate rules make it easy to stall controversial legislation.

  So what is the most likely outcome....

  I'd expect the Obama administation to take steps addressing climate change where only executive action is permitted.  We can also expect legislation on climate change to be incorporated in omnibus legislation which is difficult to stall.  Most importantly, I expect the Obama administration to make it easier for progressive states like California to take action.  So look for the states to take the lead.On What the Obama presidency means posted 9 months, 2 weeks ago 26 Responses

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  Borrowing a play from the Republican playbook....

  I heartily agree!  Dump the term "renewable energy"!  Use the phrase "FREEDOM ENERGY!" because solar, wind, and hydro-electric are MADE IN THE GOOD OL' USA!On Time to stop using the phrase 'renewable energy' posted 1 year, 3 months ago 65 Responses

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  The best argument yet for no new drilling

  The best argument yet for postponing drilling on OCS and Anwar is - we need to save some oil for  our grandchildren.

  The pro-drilling pols really don't have an answer to that argument.On House Dems fail attempt to make Big Oil drill on the land it's got posted 1 year, 3 months ago 5 Responses