<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Bushies laud state policies when excusing inaction, shut them down when they threaten contributors]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by stevenearlsalmony http://www.grist.org/article/the-bush-administrations-hypocrisy-on-federalism/ Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:42:18 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/the-bush-administrations-hypocrisy-on-federalism/1 Depraved dunderheads and worse.............

The spectacular failures to act responsibly by too many leaders-in-charge today present us with the most deplorable situation imaginable.  The implications of "rear-guard" defenses and other obstructive tactics to delay necessary action for the sake of a good enough future of our children are potentially profound and pernicious.  How on Earth can the leaders in my not-so-great generation intentionally mortgage as well as threaten the very future of the children and coming generations by remaining so selfish, crass and intransigent in the face of ominously looming global challenges, the ones already visible on the far horizon?

And for what?  

Steven Earl Salmony, Ph.D., M.P.A.
AWAREness Campaign on The Human Population
http://sustainabilitysoutheast.org/

]]> Depraved dunderheads and worse.............

The spectacular failures to act responsibly by too many leaders-in-charge today present us with the most deplorable situation imaginable.  The implications of "rear-guard" defenses and other obstructive tactics to delay necessary action for the sake of a good enough future of our children are potentially profound and pernicious.  How on Earth can the leaders in my not-so-great generation intentionally mortgage as well as threaten the very future of the children and coming generations by remaining so selfish, crass and intransigent in the face of ominously looming global challenges, the ones already visible on the far horizon?

And for what?  

Steven Earl Salmony, Ph.D., M.P.A.
AWAREness Campaign on The Human Population
http://sustainabilitysoutheast.org/

]]> Comment #2 by Sean Casten http://www.grist.org/article/the-bush-administrations-hypocrisy-on-federalism/ Wed, 19 Dec 2007 23:31:59 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/the-bush-administrations-hypocrisy-on-federalism/2 Yeah, but to be fair...

Completely agree, David, but I would point out that every ideology has folks who corrupt it for their own ends.  On the right, we have the Scalia's of the world who offer up constitutional orginialism until it confronts their own biases and twist accordingly.  (Presumably, a true originalist would support the right to bear muskets, but not AK-47s?).  And on the (far) left we have the Lenins and Stalins of the world who believed in the power of the proletariat, but didn't see that as inconsistent with placing themselves at the top of the food chain.  Or, for that matter, a legacy of environmental policy that mandates pollution cleanup devices that raise costs and CO2 emissions in the name of SOx/NOx abatement, and now is one of the larger obstacles to CO2 reduction, lest they roll back the perceived gains from 3 decades of flawed environmental policy.  Or, in the hot-off-the-press department, check the NYT article today on the resurgence of earmarks, but a congress elected in part on a promise to scale them back.  Do as I say, not as I do, right?

Don't take me wrong - I'm certainly not defending the Bush administration on this, and they are one of the worse offenders of this particular brand of doublespeak.  But it gets used pretty liberally on both sides of the aisle.

]]> Yeah, but to be fair...

Completely agree, David, but I would point out that every ideology has folks who corrupt it for their own ends.  On the right, we have the Scalia's of the world who offer up constitutional orginialism until it confronts their own biases and twist accordingly.  (Presumably, a true originalist would support the right to bear muskets, but not AK-47s?).  And on the (far) left we have the Lenins and Stalins of the world who believed in the power of the proletariat, but didn't see that as inconsistent with placing themselves at the top of the food chain.  Or, for that matter, a legacy of environmental policy that mandates pollution cleanup devices that raise costs and CO2 emissions in the name of SOx/NOx abatement, and now is one of the larger obstacles to CO2 reduction, lest they roll back the perceived gains from 3 decades of flawed environmental policy.  Or, in the hot-off-the-press department, check the NYT article today on the resurgence of earmarks, but a congress elected in part on a promise to scale them back.  Do as I say, not as I do, right?

Don't take me wrong - I'm certainly not defending the Bush administration on this, and they are one of the worse offenders of this particular brand of doublespeak.  But it gets used pretty liberally on both sides of the aisle.

]]> Comment #3 by usandthem http://www.grist.org/article/the-bush-administrations-hypocrisy-on-federalism/ Thu, 20 Dec 2007 04:46:03 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/the-bush-administrations-hypocrisy-on-federalism/3 transparency

You are blowing smoke into this issue sean.The problem is a government that says one thing one place to get what they want and says something else somewhere else to get what they want there or to just confuse the issue.
 We need transparency in government so that we can tell what is going on and track what is said by whom and for what purposes.Doublespeak is just another name for lying.You can cut it any way you wish,but those are the facts.
 I applaud David's information.This information was something that I was not aware of and probably would not have found,by myself.You can water it down and dilute it any way you want sean,but I like seeing a blatant statement by an administration representative indicating that they are lying to get an advantage in politcal territory.

Why not ask why!?



]]> transparency

You are blowing smoke into this issue sean.The problem is a government that says one thing one place to get what they want and says something else somewhere else to get what they want there or to just confuse the issue.
 We need transparency in government so that we can tell what is going on and track what is said by whom and for what purposes.Doublespeak is just another name for lying.You can cut it any way you wish,but those are the facts.
 I applaud David's information.This information was something that I was not aware of and probably would not have found,by myself.You can water it down and dilute it any way you want sean,but I like seeing a blatant statement by an administration representative indicating that they are lying to get an advantage in politcal territory.

Why not ask why!?



]]> Comment #4 by Sam Wells http://www.grist.org/article/the-bush-administrations-hypocrisy-on-federalism/ Thu, 20 Dec 2007 05:20:13 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/the-bush-administrations-hypocrisy-on-federalism/4 States versus The State

Funny how BushCo gets it all wrong. When Governor of Texas, the right thing to do was for each State to do its own thing, as specified and allowed under the 10th Amendment (fascinating read there).  Since becoming President, he has trampled these rights in the name of being at war with ... the "Democrat Party," boogie terrorists, or even himself, who knows? Funny now that BushCo is claiming Climate Change initiatives in most of the states! Of course, a national policy is out of the question with these bumbling idiots. Hey mon, we're dealing with a guy who looked into Putin's eyes and saw love, and his Pakistan Puto brings a twinkle to his eye!

Onward through the fog

]]> States versus The State

Funny how BushCo gets it all wrong. When Governor of Texas, the right thing to do was for each State to do its own thing, as specified and allowed under the 10th Amendment (fascinating read there).  Since becoming President, he has trampled these rights in the name of being at war with ... the "Democrat Party," boogie terrorists, or even himself, who knows? Funny now that BushCo is claiming Climate Change initiatives in most of the states! Of course, a national policy is out of the question with these bumbling idiots. Hey mon, we're dealing with a guy who looked into Putin's eyes and saw love, and his Pakistan Puto brings a twinkle to his eye!

Onward through the fog

]]> Comment #5 by Sean Casten http://www.grist.org/article/the-bush-administrations-hypocrisy-on-federalism/ Thu, 20 Dec 2007 05:34:16 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/the-bush-administrations-hypocrisy-on-federalism/5 Usandthem

We're on the same page - I don't excuse them for it, nor do I suggest that anyone else should.  My point is simply that we shouldn't presume that the problem is unique to this administration or political perspective.  Everyone has their particular "-ism", and damn few of us actually live our lives in a way that is perfectly congruent with the tenets of our particular -ism.  Does that mean the behavior is forgiveable?  Absolutely not.  Do I think the Bush administration is a good one?  No f'in way.  But that doesn't mean that their behavior is unique.

]]> Usandthem

We're on the same page - I don't excuse them for it, nor do I suggest that anyone else should.  My point is simply that we shouldn't presume that the problem is unique to this administration or political perspective.  Everyone has their particular "-ism", and damn few of us actually live our lives in a way that is perfectly congruent with the tenets of our particular -ism.  Does that mean the behavior is forgiveable?  Absolutely not.  Do I think the Bush administration is a good one?  No f'in way.  But that doesn't mean that their behavior is unique.

]]> Comment #6 by Sam Wells http://www.grist.org/article/the-bush-administrations-hypocrisy-on-federalism/ Thu, 20 Dec 2007 09:06:24 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/the-bush-administrations-hypocrisy-on-federalism/6 well you're right Sean

... I was having fun, although serious about the State-Fed thing. It used to be that the Fed would send loads of seed and grant money to state programs but that was pretty much cut to the quick. States, and I especially give credit to California, are actually leading the way. Texas, always second or third out of the starting gate, actually has a program to scrap older, high emitting cars for clean ones like the Prius. Way cool, and no Fed money.

Do I really think something radical, fresh, new, and exciting would come out of the new administration in Washington D.C.? Not really.

Onward through the fog

]]> well you're right Sean

... I was having fun, although serious about the State-Fed thing. It used to be that the Fed would send loads of seed and grant money to state programs but that was pretty much cut to the quick. States, and I especially give credit to California, are actually leading the way. Texas, always second or third out of the starting gate, actually has a program to scrap older, high emitting cars for clean ones like the Prius. Way cool, and no Fed money.

Do I really think something radical, fresh, new, and exciting would come out of the new administration in Washington D.C.? Not really.

Onward through the fog

]]>