Live For Today???

Posted on by under Environmental Issues, Global Issues, Political commentary, Social commentary

If there is a stack of dirty dishes in the sink and laundry piled halfway to the ceiling, will you wash the dishes and the clothes, or go sit down and read a book, hoping that the mess will go away?  If you choose the latter, then please contact me, for I have a lovely bridge for sale … cheap!  I’ll even throw in a book of fairy tales for free!

We in the U.S. have many worries these days.  We have a madman at the helm who is steering our ship toward a huge iceberg.  Our civil rights are being stripped, bigotry is on the rise, education is seriously deficient, income disparity is greater than at any other time, and the list goes on.  But, frankly, none of those things hold a candle to the seriousness of one single issue:  the environment.

Climate change is not going away on its own any more than your dishes and laundry are going to wash themselves, folks.  Just this past weekend, many areas of the Midwest have seen devastating tornadoes, including several last night a mere 20 miles north of my own home.  Remember last year’s wildfires in California, and right now, as I write this, there are two wildfires in Alberta, Canada, eating everything in their path.  Remember the hurricanes, the floods, last summer’s excessive heat?  And still, Don Trump and his minions not only fail to act, but take great pains to further the devastation.

The latest?  As if it wasn’t enough that Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accords, making us the only nation on the globe not onboard to address the crisis.  It wasn’t enough that he has, by means of executive order thus bypassing democratic process, rolled back most every environmental regulation on the books.  It wasn’t enough that he has tried everything in his power to stifle the development of renewable energy sources in his support of the coal and oil industries that are wrecking our environment in multiple ways.  No, none of that was enough.  Now, he is launching a new assault on our planet, on our health, on our very lives.

In the next few months, Trump plans to officially rescind what’s left of Obama-era regulations to curb emissions from tailpipes and power plants.  But it doesn’t stop there.  U.S. Geological Survey Director James Reilly — a former petroleum geologist appointed by Trump — has ordered his office to only study the effects of climate change up to 2040.  Scientists say that would give a misleading picture because the biggest effects of current emissions will be felt after 2040. Models show that the planet will most likely warm at about the same rate through about 2050. From that point until the end of the century, however, the rate of warming differs significantly with an increase or decrease in carbon emissions.

And … remember the National Climate Assessment that was released last fall saying, “Earth’s climate is now changing faster than at any point in the history of modern civilization, primarily as a result of human activities”?  Since that didn’t fit in with Trump’s policy to support the fossil fuel industry, it will not be included in the National Climate Assessment or other scientific reports produced by the government.

Earlier this month, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, speaking of the melting of glaciers in the Arctic at a meeting of the Arctic Council in Finland, said this …

“The Arctic is at the forefront of opportunity and abundance. It houses 13 percent of the world’s undiscovered oil, 30 percent of its undiscovered gas, an abundance of uranium, rare earth minerals, gold, diamonds, and millions of square miles of untapped resources, fisheries galore. Steady reductions in sea ice are opening new passageways and new opportunities for trade [that could] potentially slash the time it takes to travel between Asia and the West by as much as 20 days. Arctic sea lanes could become the 21st century Suez and Panama Canals.”

Think about that one for a minute …

William-Happer

William Happer

Trump is said to be in the process of creating a scientific review panel with the intention of disputing the findings of climate scientists and discrediting the idea that climate change is a national security threat.  The man he is considering to lead the panel is named William Happer.  Let me tell you something about Mr. Happer.  He does not believe humans are responsible for climate change. In fact, he once likened CO2, the greenhouse gas most responsible for warming temperatures, to the Jewish people during the Holocaust. “The demonization of carbon dioxide is just like the demonization of the poor Jews under Hitler.”  Say WHAT???  No, Mr. Happer, you are comparing apples to oranges.

Happer has received money from the ultra-wealthy Mercer family, one of the principal causes of which is to deny climate science. The Mercer family also supports Trump.  Are you beginning to see a pattern here?  Trump and his wealthy donors, most of whom are benefitting greatly from Trump’s rollbacks and might actually see their profits reduced if proper regulations were in place, see no further than the tip of their nose.  Their motto?  Live for today and to hell with tomorrow.  As long as they are raking in the dollars and enjoying their hedonistic lifestyles, it matters not to them whether our children and grandchildren can breathe the air or have food and water in 30-40 years.  It matters not to them if every living thing on earth is gone by the end of this century, for they will have lived their lives.  Just because we won’t be here to see it doesn’t mean we don’t have a responsibility to future generations!

For those of us who do care about the future of this planet, consider this:

  • The U.S. is the second largest total emitter of carbon dioxide
  • The U.S. is the largest per capita emitter of carbon dioxide
  • The U.S. is the nation that is doing the least to reduce carbon emissions

CO2 emissions by nation.png

A number of states are enacting their own regulations, as are some corporations, but without consistency, without support from the federal government, it simply is not enough.  Not only is our ignorance and greed dooming our own nation, but the rest of the world as well.  There will be a price to pay … probably sooner than we think.

45 thoughts on “Live For Today???”

  1. Here’s a song that I just found, written by a friend of mine on twitter that is appropriate for this topic.

    If you enjoy this one, please let him know.

    Liked by 2 people

    • You’re right … that song speaks volumes about the mess we are making of our planet. I don’t know how to let your friend know, but please do let him know for me that it is a very good and timely song. Thanks!

      Like

    • I think they know it to be true, but are able to ignore it, to tune it out, to even deny it, for to admit that climate change is real would mean they must act to do something about it, and that would be damn inconvenient and costly for them. They cannot see … or just don’t care … beyond the end of their own shallow lives.

      Liked by 2 people

  6. Here’s the problem I have with this whole notion of the perception that those evil rich republicans don’t give a damn about climate change or its effects for the future.

    It is predicated on the idea that the very people who you say don’t care either don’t have families, are not fathers and grandfathers and therefore don’t have descendants who will be inhabiting the planet when they have died, in which case, the idea of shortsightedness would make some sort of sense. But I really can’t believe that the people who may work for and own some of these companies who donate to trump, who come home at night to be with their families, children and maybe grandchildren on the weekends, are so cruel, so bereft of emotion and morality that they would sacrifice the future of their own descendants for a political ends. Now, that would truly be Hitlerian wouldn’t you say? Think about it from that perspective for just a brief moment.

    Liked by 3 people

    • I fully agree with you … it is Hitlerian! Mind you, I’m not saying that there aren’t some corporate CEOs who do have a conscience, who are able to think beyond their own life and want to do what’s right for future generations. But the reality is any who are involved in industries that might suffer under strict environmental regulations, such as the coal and oil industries, big agriculture, and the auto industries, are almost without exception against environmental protections and put their own happiness, if that’s what all that money brings them, above life on earth. Sure, they have kids and grandkids, but they aren’t thinking that far ahead. They are thinking about how much money they can make, and if they think about their grandkids’ future at all, they think of leaving them lots of money. But, the reality is that all the billions in the world won’t matter if we cannot breathe the air or have viable food and water. Frankly, everyone talks about the economy … but you know what? There is more to life than the economy … what will it matter at the end of this century if we had low unemployment rates or the stock market soared? Not one bit if we don’t do something to stop destroying our environment. Most people seem to just think that somehow it will fix itself, or that the God they believe in will take care of it for them. Ain’t gonna happen, my friend. It’s up to us.

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      • speaking of the environment, have you seen this about the gulf of Mexico? The first thing I asked myself is why, if the media and democrat politicians are so concerned why are they not screaming through their megaphones of influence about this. After all, this is pretty bad is it not?

        Maybe it’s because the politicians are in the back pockets of these environmentally destroying companies like Monsanto?

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  7. There is not much time left! 💥 A lot of Inuit communities in Alaska have already been forced to leave their traditional villages due to the melting permafrost soil under their feet. 🤬 And even new settlement places of the Inuit are not secure, quite a lot had to move again a second time. ⛑ Similar processes in the Russian tundra or in the European Alps. 💥 Without a unified international approach including the USA or Brazil it will be difficult to find solutions urgently required just now. Greetings from Berlin!

    Liked by 3 people

    • You are so right, my friend. There is really no time left, but the U.S. sits on their hands, dooming not only their own nation, but the rest of the world as well. I give you all permission to take us over, or destroy us, whichever you deem appropriate, for we do not deserve any degree of respect or consideration. Frankly, at this point, I would welcome a takeover by Germany, the UK, the EU … I don’t care, just please rescue us from ourselves!!! Greetings returned from the U.S.! 🙋

      Liked by 3 people

        • I don’t think it’s scared so much as … disillusioned perhaps? Or, perhaps we, the silent majority, still believe, foolishly perhaps, that the rule of law, the Constitution, will ultimately win the day. Or perhaps it’s that we lack organization and lack a leader to get the ball rolling. It would be really nice to have someone along the lines of Martin Luther King to rally the troops, to motivate and inspire. I think, perhaps, we are still stunned from the onslaught and know not where to begin. Sigh.

          Liked by 1 person

  8. Jill, speaking plainly, any politician who does not recognize the threat of climate change or speak of solutions should not be voted for. And, the job growth is in renewables. Solar jobs in US are 4x coal jobs, with a widening differential.

    Keith

    Liked by 3 people

  10. Key words here and in just about any negative action tRumpsky has taken … Obama-era. It just demonstrates what a vindictive person he is — to the detriment of not only the people of earth, but the planet itself.

    Liked by 3 people

    • A very small person is Trump … and in the past, he could only destroy on a small scale, but now he has the capability to destroy the entire earth. I really want to hurt anybody who voted for him. Sigh.

      Liked by 3 people

  12. Hello Jill. Our government is having to reinvent itself to fit tRump and Pence. All the government departments, staff, web sites, and even the assistance that use to be given based on science now must reflect the preconceived feelings of tRump ( climate change is a hoax from China ) and the religious fervor of Pence ( LGBTQ rights are bad, transgender is not a thing, and discrimination as public policy is a right ). Tell me, does this remind anyone of certain other countries? Maybe hardline authoritarian dictatorship and / or theocratic nations? Information from the government must uphold, support, and further the rulers ideas as they continue their graft and corruption of bleeding the countries treasury dry. Sad old story I thought was relegated to history and a few despotic countries. Now I see it is back like an outbreak of measles in an orthodox / fundamentalist religious community. Hugs

    Liked by 3 people

    • You are so right. When I go digging for information, I don’t even bother with the government sites, for I know it is all a bunch of propaganda, nothing more. We no longer have a government and must rely on private sources for information. We no longer have, if in fact we ever did, a democratic republic, but rather a oligarchical plutocracy. In other words, we are a ship adrift, heading for a gigantic iceberg. I’ll actually be relieved when we hit it, for this b.s. is too much. We are naught but a tinpot dictatorship now, but the republicans think all is well. They are in for a rude awakening. Hugs!

      Liked by 2 people

  15. Oy vey!! Hand to forehead five times…..It’s not the ridiculous tweets, lies, and insults. Those are bad enough. But, it’s what he’s doing that is even more troubling. I read the other day where China has far outpaced us in clean energy. In fact, they are replacing all of their fossil fuel buses with electric ones. Great article in Think Progress on that one by Joe Romm. Eating our lunch, and loving every minute of it. They know we have the village idiot at our helm. While President Xi, the ‘forever’ leader, calmly sits back and waits out the tariff fiasco. Keep doing what you’re doing Jill. Exposing him for all of his awfulness is a full-time job!!!

    Liked by 6 people

    • Hello Brookingslib. yes. The US was a world leader in green technology. But now most of the push has died out due to the government pulling out of any research or funding. So China has soared to the front of the green tech front. They are positioning themself to be the world leader and supplier of reusable energy equipment and know how. The US lost a heck of a large market due to tRump’s ignorance. Hugs

      Liked by 2 people

    • Yes, I’ve read several pieces about China’s efforts to curb global warming. Every nation on earth is doing at least something, if not as much as they might, and sooner or later they will all get tired of spending money and making sacrifices to clean up the environment, while we keep throwing our trash on the ground. They will take action at some point, and rightfully so. Thanks for your kind words and encouragement, my friend! I shan’t go down without a fight!

      Liked by 2 people

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