Recent science-ignorant bills in Tennessee (and Oklahoma) got me reflecting on progressivism’s science problems. On the surface, it’s hard to see that they have one: at least since the early 20th Century, progressives have enthusiastically embraced science as a political tool. When scientific observations reveal human-caused threats to the environment or potential avenues of new … Continue reading
Here’s my latest for the Washington Post. Go read it! Excerpt: Without science, you wouldn’t be reading this right now. There’d be no LCD screen or fiber-optic cables or communications satellites or computer software, or…you get the idea. We love science — as long as it makes our lives more comfortable. Also, this video is … Continue reading
Noted climate scientist, ichthyologist, and mercury diet proponent Hank Rohs takes me to task (responding to this column) in today’s Kalamazoo Gazette. I wrote: There are 26 cement plants in the Great Lakes region alone, and they emitted more than 2,100 pounds of mercury in 2007. Rohs responds: It’s not like mercury isn’t regulated, but … Continue reading
Saw some new polling data on Representative Fred Upton today from the National Resources Defence Council Action Fund: 62% of Upton’s constituents believe that the EPA “needs to do more to hold polluters accountable and protect the air and water.” Only 33% believe that “EPA does too much and places too many costly restrictions on … Continue reading
Don’t have time to go into this in great detail, but I wanted to point out something that I noticed in yesterday’s Washington Post: In the 2009 Copenhagen climate accord, 21 developed nations and the European Union agreed to provide $30 billion over three years to help poorer nations adapt to climate change and reduce … Continue reading
It’s been fascinating to watch the blogosphere react to the last few rounds of GOP presidential candidate shuffling. Above all, it’s driving home the vast differences in perception across the American political spectrum. See, to a guy like me, here’s how our current political moment seems: The GOP’s field of presidential candidates looks downright hilarious. … Continue reading
Matt Miller, from his Tyranny of Dead Ideas (emphasis added): “If Abraham Lincoln had made the elimination of slavery the centerpiece of his campaign, there would be no Lincoln Memorial in Washington today, because he never would have gotten out of Illinois. If Franklin Roosevelt had shocked conventional sensibilities by pledging to run big deficits … Continue reading
To this day, I haven’t found a more compelling analysis of Americans’ environmental weakness than Keb’ Mo’s “Victims of Comfort.” I’m not crazy about this particular video version, but the song is peerless:
Perhaps because his last foray into op-ed writing was such a strained, unsuccessful affair, Congressman (and enviro-comedic genius) Fred Upton published another column on April 15th—this time at Politico. Just like last time, let’s take this point-by-point. Same format: Fred’s text is in bold. My commentary is not. Aiding environment and economy Not as strong … Continue reading
1) The Washington Post reports that prices are rising faster than wages at the moment… The resulting rise in prices likely reflects a long-term trend, separate from the routine ups and downs that are traditional for oil and other commodities. That, in turn, means that prices could be rising faster than Americans’ incomes for some … Continue reading
