MN_man’s Recent Comments

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  There is so, so much that I find troubling in the remarks made by these two members of Congress.  Among the most troubling, though, is there undying insistence of a skepticism among scientists about climate change.  They cling to a few (and perhaps shrinking number of) scientists who claim that climate change is not taking place or not due to human activity.  Forget that every major scientific society is urgently calling on all governments to takes steps to reverse it.

  And then, of course, they have to trot out the notion that we can't possibly determine the amount of change wrought by human activity, so therefore we should hold back on even taking steps to determine our role.

  I LOVE the whole "Carbon dioxide is a part of nature and the life cycle," as if there is a 1:1 positive correlation between the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmospher and the quality of life on Earth.  Perhaps they should sit in a tent of C02 sometime to contemplate their wisdom.

  And lastly, of course, they trot out that they are the party of Theodore Roosevelt.  They never fail to mention, of course, that TR actually was paying close attention to the nascent science of conservation that was emerging at the time.  He was taking the advise of his scientific advisers such as Gifford Pinchot at face value, not public casting doubt on their validity

  This is a stalling game for the Republicans.  They are praying that if they just cast enough doubt that constituents will grow actually doubt the science and grow weary of the debate over climate debate.  Fortunately, the Republican Party represents a shrinking perspective typified by baby boomers and their predecessors that the Earth is an endless store, a commons with no limit, that will always yield another field of abundance for us to tap at our leisure, and a sink that can absorb whatever by-products we produce.  These are the people who can't admit that humanity, or the American Dream more specifically, has an upper boundary.  They fear admitting that capitalism and the American way of life that emerged after WWII have flaws.  They would sooner advocate clubbing baby seals than reflect on the validity of our society's activities.

  To me, that is intellectually lazy and a complete abrogation of resposibility.

  On Republican incoherence on climate change posted 6 months, 3 weeks ago 10 Responses

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  If it is that harmless, then let's ramp up the production of CO2, for the sake of humankind!  Please...

  It's just amazing that she doesn't understand that something in small concentrations (her infamous 3% of 3%) can have a dangerous impact.  She probably wouldn't believe that a tiny amount of botulism can kill a shockingly large number of people.

  
  She's doing her job to cast doubt.  That's the only thing she knows how to do.

  
  And it kills me that this nitwit of a person represents my state of Minnesota, though she thankfully doesn't represent my district!

  On Rep. Michele Bachmann says CO2 is 'a natural byproduct of nature' posted 7 months ago 5 Responses

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  I hope this becomes a reality in my lifetime.  There will be lots of obstacles, especially with property rights and just basic logistics.  Consider that the TGV high speed routes are straight as an arrow and have absolutely no grade crossings.  And they are fenced for the most part.  Right now, the train between, say, Chicago and St. Louis is riddled with grade crossings.  So, we can't just improve the tracks and dial up the speed.  Tracks will need to be laid or moved, and that won't be easy given the density in some of these areas.

  Overcoming those obstacles will be worth it.  I would much rather take a train to Chicago than deal with airports.  Imagine going straight downtown to Union Station in Chicago and then hopping in a cab instead of battling traffic way out at O'Hare.

  On Obama lays down plans for high-speed rail posted 7 months, 1 week ago 19 Responses