Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Voters: what is at stake in the November elections … by gimleteye

The Money Ball that passes for American politics is aiming to a November result in Congress.

The statistician Nate Silver just offered a prediction that the GOP has a 60 percent chance of seizing control of the Senate in November. Pray, not.

But more than pray, understand why it is necessary for control of Congress to return to the Democrats.

The Republican Party is controlled by an extreme right wing that belongs to the past. Trusting the GOP to manage future threats -- like climate change -- is madness (Mitch McConnell, from coal country, would be president of the Senate under GOP control.)

This week, HBO "Vice" showed what is happening on the climate change front -- that the GOP denies -- and why voters should care. Shane Smith, Vice co-founder, says of climate change: "It scares the piss out of me quite frankly." Watch it:

http://www.hbo.com/#/vice/episodes/02/12-greenland-melting-bonded-labor/video/debrief-greenland-is-melting.html/eNrjcmbOYM7XLMtMSc13zEvMqSzJTHbOzytJrShRz89JgQkFJKan+iXmpjIXcjIysoGgdGJpSX5BTmKlbUlRaSoAUBcXOA==

The problem with initiating government policies that could reverse C02 emissions is this: by the time the facts of sea level rise and food scarcities are triggering chaos, we will have neither the resources or will to do anything other than harden our bunkers.

A younger reader of this blog asked me recently, doubt mixed with cynicism: "Do you want to change the world?" My answer, no. I'd settle for changing the composition of Congress.

Democrats have a lot to answer for -- and I will write about the shortcomings of Democratic policies on climate change tomorrow. The GOP is the party of self interest, and in the case of climate change, self interest is surrender.

22 comments:

Geniusofdespair said...

That was scary. Now what, drink my coffee, read the paper and do a puzzle or two and look the other way?

Anonymous said...

Also vote YES on Amendment 2, Medical Marijuana in November. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

IMO the biggest difference between the crazy preppers and the very academic climate changers are preppers actually do something about their apocalypse.

When the tide's up around the old Miami News Tower, you guys can keep campaigning for the DNC and enjoy your swim. I'll be in Asheville with the crazy preppers.



Anonymous said...

The right answer would have been: Changing the world!
Because that is what it will take to change the current trajectory.

I'm afraid nobody is ready for that. Not under the current economic setup.

Anonymous said...

Sometimes the comments on this blog are unintentionally hysterical even though the topic itself is not.

Example: "Also vote YES on Amendment 2, Medical Marijuana in November. Thanks." which was posted right after Genius inquired whether to have coffee and do a puzzle, to the doomsday peppers having the best solution!

I like #2 anon and will vote yes on the #2 amendment!

As to Sea level rise, I'm pretty sure within 50 years I'll have water front property. That's going to really suck for those with current water front property which will be in the sea, and deservedly so.

Anonymous said...

A younger reader of this blog asked me recently, doubt mixed with cynicism: "Do you want to change the world?" How about just change yourself and your family? If everyone was able to take that obvious-but-apparently-difficult responsibility rather than wait around for politicians to do something, we might have a chance.

Anonymous said...

Control of the Senate happens one state at a time. We gave up a lot when we gave Rubio one of our seats there. It should have never been allowed to happen. Six year terms are difficult. Their performance as the minority party insures they won't get control of the Senate. Other states will have to do the heavy-lifting. President Obama as well as Clinton to come will need a working Congress focused on moving us and the rest of the world forward. The old failed republican approaches and policies didnot work in the past, and they won't work as we move forward in the 21st century as we approach new threats and opportunities.

Anonymous said...

$18 trillion in debt is the way forward?

Anonymous said...

To hysterical anon above: it was intentional. With legal MM, we can all relax while the seas rise around us. YesON2

Anonymous said...

Obama has destroyed our economy and our healthcare system, nearly doubled our national debt, granted amnesty to illegal aliens, and has destroyed our reputation throughout the world.

The Republicans can't do any worse than our current nightmare.

Anonymous said...

"The Republican Party is controlled by an extreme right wing"

Seriously? Please pull your head out of the wetlands and get real. The GOP Is fractured and the base is not running the party, at least not now.

Anonymous said...

The USA up until 2009 has always had a strong leadership presence. Right now we have an insurance salesman running things. Truth be told he can't even do that. There are more uninsured now then before the UCA.
UCA=unaffordable care act.

Anonymous said...

We have a great leader in Obama and I am so thankful we had the vision to put him there. After him, I don't think we will ever put a hot-headed dummy in that job. The stakes are too high, the risks too great.

Anonymous said...

The Democratic Party is currently controlled by an extreme left wing.

Anonymous said...

ABC reported in 3/14/14 that:
Obamacare and Barack Obama, have become political poison for Democrats in the upcoming midterm elections.

Anonymous said...

Hillary will not run in 2016. Who will be the Democratic candidate - Biden?

Anonymous said...

Obama's approval rating continues to fluctuate between 41% and 43%.

Anonymous said...

People who have ACA are very happy with it. The old healthcare system was not working and was not sustainable. Change was necessary and the country is moving forward. We won't be turning back, as a country we are moving boldly into the future and the republican party will be dragged along in the rear.

Anonymous said...

Heaven help us!

CATO said...

Both parties are run by professional opportunist and followed by amateur idiots.
If the term fits wear it proudly.

Truth is ACA SUCKS A BIG ONE As did TARP and all the other alphabet soup of half baked ideas who's sole purpose is to line the pockets of big $$$ supporters.

And fools on either side go to the barricades for such scum.
Gimspierre one question did Ten Years After ever sing about congress?

Anonymous said...

I'm a life long Republican and I'm voting all democrats this time around. I will continue voting democrats until so the TEA Party is taken over and the Republican Party is restored

Anonymous said...

With 9 million and counting signed up for ACA, republicans might need to start looking at another plan for the elections. Just like social security, anyone who is against it or who tries to take it away is doomed.