My Response to Paul Ryan Remarks on Climate Change

greenhouse effect
© James Steidl - Fotolia.com #1248622

According to several articles online, Paul Ryan has admitted that the climate is changing. He doesn't see why we should do something to try to stop the warming. Admittedly, having a Republican admit that there is global warming is a step forward. But to claim that any and all attempts to control the warming is a --I assume he regards it as such--tax scam.  (MY words, not his)

In my view, he misses the crucial concern over global warming. Evolution will occur at increased rates due to the stress of climate change. This concept is anathema to the Creationists of the Conservatives, I know, but it is the fear of those who accept modern science as knowing how the world works.

By the way, MRSA is a prime example of evolution in action. Influenza, HIV and ebola are constantly evolving, but viruses are not living entities, just prime examples for modeling how evolution can occur in living species.

A cornfield near Waco, TX, years ago

Consider the idea that many plants and some animals will perish if the carbon dioxide levels change by even just 1-3 % points. Photosynthesis in corn, for example, shifts to favor an alternate pathway. Some plants cannot make the shift successfully. Expect huge evolutionary changes with increased warming, shifting of climate regions, and increased carbon dioxide.

The age of the dinosaurs demonstrates the speciation that occurs with these changes,
as do other epochs and eras. HOW WILL HUMANS CHANGE? The immediate results of the current warming shift will be economic, devastatingly so. But the long-term changes will be biological.

We are headed into a scary future for humankind. REMEMBER, past climate changes resulted in new species, extinctions, and a total change in the ecosystems. Yes, climate change has always occurred. Man's worry is what effect the current change will have on mankind and our culture. The earth as a biosphere will go on, but will we?

Allowing religious conservatives--fundamentalists--to control policy is frightening to me who believes in the correctness of views espoused and accepted by modern science. I really do fear a return to the Dark Ages where only prayer--and midwives and alchemists--could cure disease and only one leader had any say over how the masses lived.  Our entire culture is headed for a massive change where freedoms will by stymied and lives ruled by senseless corporate greed and religious control--where Big Brother is the church spy who tells on you and the punishment is excommunication or stoning.

Biblical Law looks just like Sharia Law, People. Ask the Inquisition or the Salem Witch Hunters. They were good Christian folk, too. So were every Christian nation that sincerely prayed for victory as they fought each other in countless battles and wars.

Only the true believers win? Ask that of each team in a football game when both sides sincerely pray for victory.

Get real!

An Opinion on Republican States Establishing their own Health Care Plans

This is taken from a Facebook comment on the Democratic Party Wall.

" Even though the Republican states can have their own health insurance policies, the rhetoric against Obama-care is still the same. when will the citizens of these states get tired of the promises of a better way and actually vote to experience the already-established better way? Vote the Republicans out, people. Before you lose everything: jobs, health care, the right to negotiate better working conditions, the right to live without State government interference in your private lives, the right to believe in your own religious principles not the Fundamentalist Right's version."

Why the Republican Candidate Won the Senate Race in Massachusetts

Discipline, Change, Policy, Campaign Strategy, Defeat. These are the reasons being touted for the election of a Republican to the Senate by Massachusetts.

Let's examine the claims of the pundits.

Obama has not disciplined the Democratic Congress sufficiently according to a GOP Strategist on CNN this morning around 8:35. I guess they want Obama to threaten ostracism like Palin did when a Republican got out of line. Bush controlled the party with an iron fist, not democratic compromise. Sorry, but the President's job is not to control Congress. He may lead, but Congress makes law, not the President, whose only real legislative power is the veto.

Change from the Republicans sounds like a metaphor for business as usual. The public voted on a president who promised to change certain societal wrongs. Then he was given a destroyed economy and now is being blamed for not providing a quick fix. Sorry. but I do not see the Republicans working to make jobs available. I do not see Republicans making needed changes. How does Brown expect to make changes when his political party will not support needed changes to current regulatory law and needed social supports? Will he be willing to get his party to stop Obama-bashing long enough to actively participate in actual governance? What solutions--workable solutions--do the Republicans have to offer the American people?

Policy is what the people voted on. The main points that were suggested by the pundits to be of concern to the American People is that they want jobs, they want Washington to stop spending money, and they want no new taxes.  Jobs come from industry and take time to develop. The banks that received the TARP money were asked to pass the money on to industries. But big business, left to regulate itself, took the money and ran. Maybe we would have been better off if we had let the conglomerates fail. At least we would now be on a real route to recovery and not this business-as-usual backslide. However, now that we have spent tax money on the rich, the middle class and poor are to be left out. Again. Banks that could have held off on foreclosures and restructured mortgages on their own were too afraid to help the people so now are taking huge losses on foreclosed loans--or are taxpayers paying the insurance coverage on these loans? Will the Republicans in Congress participate in rewriting laws to control these vultures? Or will they, too, take the money and run. Lobbyist and corporate campaign contributors pay out a lot, after all.

Campaign Strategy seems to be more important than issues in political campaigns. An active attorney general, holding down a full-time, taxpayer-paid job, should drop everything and work only at campaigning? She had a job for her state that had to be done. She let her personality come through, even in her gaffs. Ok. But surely her ability to do the actual job is the key issue here.

Defeat, the final issue being touted by the pundits. The vote in Massachusetts was so close to 50:50 that this vote can not be called a "crushing defeat."  What this vote does illustrate is that the American people are equally divided in what changes they want for this country. Half want the status quo, half want sweeping changes. In a diverse country, such differences in opinion is normal. As a supporter of the current Democratic Platform, I find the statistics today disappointing, but not a reflection of total defeat and failure. I suppose the Democrats should step back and make less sweeping changes, but here's hoping the the laws that are now crafted will do less harm than did the Republican policies of the last decade.  Here's hoping the Republicans will take stock of what changes are necessary for minimal good governance, at least.

Apparently, the American People actually do have distinct differences of beliefs. And they have a huge fear of the changes that most voted for in electing Obama. The Republicans managed to scare people enough that many who wanted change are no longer brave enough to fight for it. Why? Some say a fear of socialism. Some say a fear of higher taxes. Some say if we just let the communities and businesses of America solve their own problems,  then over time social evolution will result: what changes work will survive and what changes do not will go extinct.

Could government regulation and efforts push this process towards recovery any faster? Most likely. Will as many people be left unemployed for as long? Possibly longer. Will we slip into a depression? Maybe. The socialism that people claim to fear as a reason for denying the public option in health care is the same socialism that the people are declaring is necessary to provide jobs, increase and continue unemployment benefits, and generally make life easier for everyone--as long as health care is not of the package and as long as taxes are not raised. Socialistic policies pave roads, build bridges, control crime, isolate criminals from society and educate children--and send our young men and women to war so we can stay safely home.

How do we resolve these differences? As in the past, our Congress must work together--in a give-and-take across party lines--to pass the minimum laws to keep the country going. It would be great if Congress could actually accomplish something, but maintaining the status quo in a nation of 50:50 differences of opinions means there is no winning side. As in the past, common needs will author legislation which will then be doctored by the added special interest bits and pieces that are always added to garner needed votes and appease the special interests who donate so hugely to the lobbyist efforts and the campaign funds. Maybe business as usual will get some successful and needed changes through. Maybe. At least we have a President who I believe is wise enough to veto the bills that would actually be harmful.

The American People are so fearful of increased taxes because the current tax policies are so unfair. The percentages for taxable situations, incomes, inheritances, businesses, investments, etc., are too arbitrary and too high. A reasonably low percentage with absolutely no loopholes would make so much more sense. As would strict regulations on taking money earned in this country out of this country before and without  being taxed.

Offshore accounts used to evade one's tax liabilities should be regulated and taxes paid. If corporations want to be treated as individuals under the law, then treat them as such. If the corporation breaks the law, discontinue its business within the US. And do this within a court system that applies the law based on the truth of the case, not the money and ability of the lawyers.

Truth is truth. There should not be a winning of a case on trial, but an identification of truth and the admistration of actual justice. Lawyers should not win cases, rather the facts of the case should determine which way the verdict goes.

Taxes are the last point I wish to cover. Somehow the things that have to be done must be paid for. Taxes pay for this. If you want a government solution to the need for jobs, for increased needs for unemployment, for help with foreclosures in the form of money for refinancing loans, and for infrasturcture, then you must accept that taxes are necessary. Otherwise, everything must be privatized.

My state of Mississippi is facing the possibility of letting 2500-3000 prisoners go free because the state budget must include cuts to state prisons. Will private groups help these people when they are released?  Will privatized help, which will ask for tax-supported grants to run their agencies, be able to assist these people to stay out of crime?

And how much money is saved by privatizing agencies that function by being paid by the government to do the job?

Taxes will be needed to keep us going. How can we all be taxed fairly? Maybe the rich Republicans and Democrats together can come up with an equitable solution. I suspect the solution will mean drastic cutbacks on what our government can do for us all. Oh, well. Give us time. the naysayers today will be adding handouts back in soon enough. And there is always the fundraising solution to get monies for one's favorite programs. Make celebrities your friend. Get the really rich megachurches busy doing social outreach programs to all members of a community. Stop spending money on lost causes and actually help people in need.  Go ahead and run a business like a religious theme park--paying all necessary taxes--since that brings in needed money for projects. Churches and Organizations, decide on the value of a ministry or non-profit and tax any income over that value. Why should donations go to the support of a lavish lifestyle just because there is a claim of religion or charity involved?


Amidst all this angst today is the worry over the people of Haiti. I am grateful that the American People are so generous with money, effort, government funds and time to help where it is needed so drastically. I am proud of our whole international community for stepping up to help. I hope and pray that the Haitians can recover as soon as possible, knowing it will take a long time. I hope that the repressions of the Haitian past will be lifted by all oppressors in the future. I hope the US and corporations will deal more fairly with Haiti in the future. 

Health Care Bill Passes House, but Frustrations Remain

Pro-life Democrats insisted that a no-abortion-coverage amendment be placed in the health care bill before they would vote for it. That is OK as far as it goes, although I do not agree with that position.

This flame Tied in Knots©2009, expresses my frustrated joy in the passing of the health care bill by the house.

But why would they have to get permission from the Catholic Church to vote for the bill?  Why is the permission of their constituents not enough reason to vote?  When did a government that expresses Freedom of Religion and Separation of Church and State to be the Law of the Land allow a religious leader control over what Congressional members do?  Neither the Catholic Church nor any other religious group should be making laws for the United States.  Influence, ok, just as other special interest groups have influence.  But to control the vote is anathema to the Constitution of this country.

Maybe legislatures should be prevented from discussing an upcoming vote within 12 hours of a vote with any lobbyist, special interest group--including religious leader, or non-congressional member. Then they would be forced to vote their conscience and/or what they know their constituents want.  No, I guess that wouldn't work.

Maybe, the amendment will be declared unconstitutional since it is obviously religious in text and motivation. Oh, that's right, there is a preponderance of Catholics on the Supreme Court, too.  Hmm. Who controls their judgements?  As Americans, we trust that our Supreme Court  to rule on constitutionality, not religious belief.  I hope so.  Otherwise, a group analogous to the Taliban will rule this country as Thought Police--and that is no more extreme an hyperbole than those the Republicans are tossing out when they say America is in a Civil War and Obama is Hitlerian.

The Republican lost the 2008 election. Why are they crying foul?  Republicans, you lost. Get over it!  Stop trying to hurt this nation in your snit over having the majority rule!  While I am fussing at you, Republicans, would you please stop it with the lies and hypocrisy?  "Three years ago" problems were being covered up; and when they finally forced an economic crisis, Republicans had just been voted out of office. The Obama Administration did not create the national debt or the recession. That occured under the Bush Administration, under the Republican watch. Why do you speak as if Obama created the problem?  Everyone knows Obama is cleaning up the mess the Republicans created.  The huge national debt we face today is money spent to clean up the Republican mess plus the excessive spending during Bush's term in office.  Just because Bush's Presidency brought us to the brink of ruin is no reason to not take care of the US citizenry today.

And how do you Republicans plan to recover from the disastrous national debt in place at the end of the Bush Presidency without raising taxes?  I suppose you think you can just pretend it ain't so and it will all go away.  Do not blame Obama and Democrats for the need to raise taxes. Your careless placement of this country in debt means someone has to pay your bills. Be grateful the Democrats are fiscally responsible enough and politically courageous enough to bail you out so when the country is back on its feet you can claim their rightful credit as your own.

Back to the issue at hand:  Thank goodness the health care bill passed the House. Now if only it doesn't get gutted before it clears the Senate!

And why must the war mongers insist that a woman  have an unwanted baby?  The Republican's war is currently killing our sons and daughters.  I guess they want to insure that a new crop of poor kids will be around to repopulate the army so their wars can continue to be fought.

Yes, I am also tired of the Conservatives, no matter what religion, forcing their religious views on all of us, too.