In the Middle Ages sinners bought indulgences from the Church. This saved them from years in Purgatory. But "carbon neutral" is something new under the sun. The greedy rich now get to buy off their crushing damages to the planet by making donations to some mysterious Super Fund; this is called being "carbon neutral. "
The catch: the irreparable damages, the drastic climate changes, the loss of Mother Earth as we know her, don't get the carbon-neutral reprieve. There is no time unless all carbon emissions are stopped or drastically reduced immediately. This is fact-checked Science, folks, not to mention discoverable by heroes like Lonnie Dupre and Eric Larsen who saw first-hand the drastic harm to the Arctic last summer. Polar bears drowning, ice caps melting.
There is no time to waste. Shut down all the coal-fired plants and the nuclear ones too. Carbon emissions aren't the only way to destroy the planet and even peaceful nuclear uses can cause untold harm, as in Chernobyl, the death toll of which is incalculable because nobody knows what winds blew where.
There are plenty of renewable energy sources, notably wind and water and sun. Use them.
And for each and every person, what are you doing to reduce your carbon emissions footprint? Your poisonous waste footprint? Make a list, if you please.
True is shivering with cold to save electricity, and turning out lights and stumbling in the dark. He is actually driving the speed limit! to save on gas as well as perhaps preserve the life of some deer along the highway. He travels by car as little as possible, only for essential work and chores.
He lobbies for mass transit options (except by air) that move lots of folks for minimal damage. Trains, ships, buses... in Europe people have these choices.
True's challenge: What are YOU doing to reduce your carbon and planet-poisoning footprint? Do you accept and approve of Minnesota Power's coal-fired plant, touted as a model that reduces SOME toxic emissions but doesn't address the fact that coal is the big "sinner"?
Here's a story to read, if you like:
Carbon-Neutral Is Hip, but Is It Green? - CommonDreams.org - Breaking News & Views for the Progressive Community
Monday, April 30, 2007
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Sales tax reprise: county to hire lobbyist!
The Cook County board will spend up to $10,000 on a lobbyist to support the sales tax proposals currently wending their way through the legislature.
The board takes this step after hearing a lot of public criticism, including Yours Truly, against more sales taxes that are hardest on the poor.
Also, it comes after their knee-jerk response to the self-justifications and manufactured facts presented by the so-called Cook County Economic Analysis Council, a self-serving group that represents resort owners and others who consistently pay the lowest wages to their employees, so that they can fund yet MORE PR stuff on their own behalf than they already get from taxpayers. (See previous posts, including "Tourism sales: one-third or 82 percent?" Click on the labels for tourism, taxes, and economy.)
True thinks of forming a Cook County Bullshit Analysis Council, writing a more truthful and fact-checked report about the county's economy and our need to promote NON-tourism jobs, and making as much noise as the ATV and CCEAC folks.
As for the dropping the cap on the hospital levy, True does support this. It is a fair tax and we need our hospital. As for the so-called "infrastructure" tax, True agrees that we need infrastructure improvements in the county, but there are plenty of state and federal and private grant programs that ought to be looked at first. $10K would pay for a powerful lot of grantwriting. Moreover, the proposed improvements in the present version will all go to Grand Marais. West-Enders, a lot of whom didn't like the sales tax idea in the first place, will get shafted.
As for the three-percent recreation tax, the idea here seems to be that only tourists will be paying it. Not so, struggling young families will be paying it so their kids can have some fun.
VOTE NO on the one-percent referendum! But the ordinary citizen apparently won't even get a vote on the three-percent, if it passes the legislature. True calls this TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION! Only the CCEAC is represented, not the vast majority of voters and taxpayers.
The board takes this step after hearing a lot of public criticism, including Yours Truly, against more sales taxes that are hardest on the poor.
Also, it comes after their knee-jerk response to the self-justifications and manufactured facts presented by the so-called Cook County Economic Analysis Council, a self-serving group that represents resort owners and others who consistently pay the lowest wages to their employees, so that they can fund yet MORE PR stuff on their own behalf than they already get from taxpayers. (See previous posts, including "Tourism sales: one-third or 82 percent?" Click on the labels for tourism, taxes, and economy.)
True thinks of forming a Cook County Bullshit Analysis Council, writing a more truthful and fact-checked report about the county's economy and our need to promote NON-tourism jobs, and making as much noise as the ATV and CCEAC folks.
As for the dropping the cap on the hospital levy, True does support this. It is a fair tax and we need our hospital. As for the so-called "infrastructure" tax, True agrees that we need infrastructure improvements in the county, but there are plenty of state and federal and private grant programs that ought to be looked at first. $10K would pay for a powerful lot of grantwriting. Moreover, the proposed improvements in the present version will all go to Grand Marais. West-Enders, a lot of whom didn't like the sales tax idea in the first place, will get shafted.
As for the three-percent recreation tax, the idea here seems to be that only tourists will be paying it. Not so, struggling young families will be paying it so their kids can have some fun.
VOTE NO on the one-percent referendum! But the ordinary citizen apparently won't even get a vote on the three-percent, if it passes the legislature. True calls this TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION! Only the CCEAC is represented, not the vast majority of voters and taxpayers.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Most doctors get money, gifts from industry - USATODAY.com
"Doc, Doc, gimme the news!" is the pitiful and plaintive cry from patients everywhere. We trust our docs, even while we shy away from the for-profit medical providers that push designer drug sales and other scams while fighting every little claim by little clients.
But, so many docs are wooed and won by the drug industry. Probably they don't even realize how they are compromised in most cases (at least True hopes so)...But, if we can't trust our docs who can we trust? Read on, folks:
Most doctors get money, gifts from industry - USATODAY.com
But, so many docs are wooed and won by the drug industry. Probably they don't even realize how they are compromised in most cases (at least True hopes so)...But, if we can't trust our docs who can we trust? Read on, folks:
Most doctors get money, gifts from industry - USATODAY.com
Spell It Out: "I-M-P-E-A-C-H!"
After house speaker Nancy Pelosi chased her cat "Impeachment" off the table last fall, that sneaky little sucker has jumped back on, in a big way.
Oh, heck, we all know the crimes of Bush and Cheney against the American people, the Iraqi people, international human rights, and too many others to name, are impeachable. Even though the MSM has refused to report most of the evidence, it is well documented and readily available via Google searches. Poor old Tricky Dick Nixon was a cupcake compared to these birds. He opened the door to diplomatic relations with China; he lowered the highway speed limit to save energy. By today's far-reich standards he was a visionary following in the moderate reign of Dwight Eisenhower. Oh, so, he was paranoid, ya you betcha and Vietnam was a major blunder inspired by his rigid anti-Communist agenda. Lots of folks signed on to the Cold War paranoia in those days, including the still-revered Henry Kissinger who guided several administrations into stupid errors. But Dick wasn't guilty of high crimes and treason against the Constitution and humanity.
Local governments are signing on to the Impeachment Bandwagon. Today, April 28th, the people with their bodies are spelling out "Impeach" all over the place.
Read on:
Spell It Out: "I-M-P-E-A-C-H!
Oh, heck, we all know the crimes of Bush and Cheney against the American people, the Iraqi people, international human rights, and too many others to name, are impeachable. Even though the MSM has refused to report most of the evidence, it is well documented and readily available via Google searches. Poor old Tricky Dick Nixon was a cupcake compared to these birds. He opened the door to diplomatic relations with China; he lowered the highway speed limit to save energy. By today's far-reich standards he was a visionary following in the moderate reign of Dwight Eisenhower. Oh, so, he was paranoid, ya you betcha and Vietnam was a major blunder inspired by his rigid anti-Communist agenda. Lots of folks signed on to the Cold War paranoia in those days, including the still-revered Henry Kissinger who guided several administrations into stupid errors. But Dick wasn't guilty of high crimes and treason against the Constitution and humanity.
Local governments are signing on to the Impeachment Bandwagon. Today, April 28th, the people with their bodies are spelling out "Impeach" all over the place.
Read on:
Spell It Out: "I-M-P-E-A-C-H!
DFL-led House OKs shift in tax burden, Pawlenty promises veto
Governor Tim Pawlenty, best known for a swell haircut, a toothy smile and a total lack of understanding of Minnesota history and values, has promised to veto a House bill shifting some of the state's tax burden to those who can afford it.
Dear old Hubert H. Humphrey, our long-winded and well-beloved former Vice President, who faithfully spoke his joyful message at DFL bean feeds, would be glad today at the House vote. Paul Wellstone, the people's senator, would be jumping up and down with joy.
Minnesota has (until the bad old Reagan years) always been about its people, its workers, its children and their collective well being. AND also, about supporting local governments and schools so the big tax burdens don't fall on the few.
True is proud to provide the link to this story from the Strib. Hopefully people in Cook County will recognize that the old Minnesota way that produced a great way of life is still the best way.
Read on:
DFL-led House OKs shift in tax burden
Dear old Hubert H. Humphrey, our long-winded and well-beloved former Vice President, who faithfully spoke his joyful message at DFL bean feeds, would be glad today at the House vote. Paul Wellstone, the people's senator, would be jumping up and down with joy.
Minnesota has (until the bad old Reagan years) always been about its people, its workers, its children and their collective well being. AND also, about supporting local governments and schools so the big tax burdens don't fall on the few.
True is proud to provide the link to this story from the Strib. Hopefully people in Cook County will recognize that the old Minnesota way that produced a great way of life is still the best way.
Read on:
DFL-led House OKs shift in tax burden
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