“The privilege of creating and issuing money is not only the supreme prerogative of Government, but is the Government’s greatest creative opportunity. By the adoption of these principles, the taxpayers will be saved immense sums of interest.”
“The money power preys upon the nation in times of peace and conspires against it in times of adversity. It is more despotic than monarchy, more insolent than autocracy, more selfish than bureaucracy. I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country.”
“Corporations have been enthroned, an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until the wealth is aggregated in the hands of a few and the Republic is destroyed … I feel at the moment more anxiety for the safety of my country than ever before, even in the midst of war.” —Abraham Lincoln
Tag: climate change
Mar 08 2009
Dystopia 4: The Trainee
Mar 03 2009
What is this all about?
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. – That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, – That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
Declaration of Independence
1776
Has our form of Governance become destructive to the majority? If so how shall we work to change our government? What would a future with a different form of government, economy, social order look? Where is our current governance taking us?
Once a week I publish an installment in the story. This is followed by the Concepts Behind the Fiction section. This section is filled with information and links for you to investigate.
About a week after I publish on this site, I will publish on The Daily Kos, Z Communications and here. Check my Links button on my website to connect to one of these discussions. These posting will happen simultaneously and on a Saturday or Monday afternoon (depending on which day of the week I have off from my paying job). The day of the posting will be announced on my website. I will make myself available to moderate a discussion and for comments and questions during that time.
A running Post of what readers think are the most important issues for our future and how to get to the future we want will then be created as part of these discussions.
If you are coming to this blog in the middle then check out the Characters List and the Plot Summary pages.
Feb 23 2009
Do the (Chinese) math: A review of Minqi Li’s “The Rise of China”
This will be a book review of Minqi Li’s “The Rise of China and the Demise of the Capitalist World Economy,” a book which is important for its calculation of the rising contradiction between capitalist growth and ecological sustainability, and for its perspective on Chinese history.
Li’s prose is clear and understandable, and his use of graphs and charts really drives his points home rather than (as is the case with some economic writing) confusing the reader. In this review, I will look at Li’s book with one eye upon a conference I have volunteered with Focus the Nation to help organize. Li will be the keynote speaker at the FtN conference at USC.
(crossposted at Big Orange)
Feb 06 2009
Thinking CAP? Curse Jar? Let X decide …
The other day, the Environmental Defense Action Fund opened voting for ‘the people’s choice’ as to the best 30-second video to explain how a Cap & Trade program to control carbon dioxide would help cut the nation’s dependence on oil. Putting aside questions as to Environmental Defense’s devotion to a CAP uber all, the best video seemed clear: The Thinking Cap. This choice seemed clear, evidently, to many as this video was the runaway victor for EDAF’s $1000 “People’s Choice” award. (The Climate Activists’ Choice Award.) But the experts, the experts had a different perspective. They went with the foul-language oriented Cursing Cap.
Jan 29 2009
The Latest from The Environmentalist
Four (wow) articles from THE ENVIRONMENTALIST (many more on the site):
US Climate Change Envoy in Place and Ready to Negotiate
by Jake Schmidt. Today, a ceremony was held at the US State Department to announce Todd Stern as the Special Envoy for Climate Change (see short bio and video of the event). As we outlined in our transition recommendations, it is crucial that President Obama appoint a climate negotiating team early in his Administration.
Deniability: Facing the War on Terror through Poetry
There are times in history when it is best for a people to move on from past mistakes. There are other times, such as now, when the past cries out to be explored. For those who are searching for meaning to the last eight years, a new book by American poet, George Witte, Deniability, is the place to start. This is not only for the writing that is spectacular in its simplicity, its perfect placement of each word, its prose, but for its bravery in peeling back the layers of the war on terror as an eight year journey that is stark and unforgiving in its verse.
Global Temperature Trends: 2008 Annual Summation
by James Hansen. The Goddard Institute for Space Studies has analyzed the global temperature trends based on 2008 surface air temperature leading to the conclusion that, despite the cold brought on by the strong La Nina event last year, 2008 was the ninth warmest year since measurements began in 1880.
Unleashing the Geeks
by William S. Becker. There is good climate change and bad climate change. One of the very best types is the radical warming of the atmosphere for scientific inquiry we’re already feeling from the incoming Obama Administration.
See The Environmentalist for more
Dec 29 2008
Oy!
What a world!
How does one even begin to comment?
Not to diminish the achievement of President Elect Barack Obama, it does seem in some ways a dirty joke on African American aspirations that we would finally elect an African American just at THE moment in history when the country is about to tank, and tank hard. Welcome to the presidency African America. Here’s the big, reeking pile of dung we’ve turned the country into for you. Good fuckin’ luck with that!
Dec 20 2008
It Has to Stop!
I think some the angst I’m feeling comes from my fear that, even with our historic victory, that too little will change in time to make a difference. Generals always want to fight the last war, while politicians want to wage the last campaign. It’s easy to look backward and hard to look forward, and far too few seem to realize the extent to which the stakes have been raised. Our circumstances have really become quite dire. That doesn’t sink in easily for the many who want to pretend that the world is always going to be the way it’s always been.
The politics of yesterday are not going to serve us any longer. We need more than change. We need more than a mid-course correction. We need the crazy to stop.
And I don’t mean just slow down a little, or be a little less crazy. I mean it has to stop. We have to reverse course in this damned country, not just modify it somewhat.
Dec 19 2008
Elation to Confusion to Elation Again: The Obama Appointments roller-coaster when it comes to energ
We wait and watch, with baited breath President Obama’s decisions about who will serve in senior positions in the Administration.
When it comes to the critical issues of climate change and the creation of a clean energy future, some appointments have created great elation, fostering hope for Change toward something better.
Euphoria has, more than once, shifted to confusion with appointees whose devotion to and experience for creating a sensible path forward remain (generously speaking) open to question.
That confusion (dismay even) can shift quickly, as it did today.
Yesterday, we had news of three absolutely stunningly impressive appointments when it comes to the arenas of science, global warming, and energy.
Today is a day for great elation and Hope. Let us hope that tomorrow provides reason for more elation.
Dec 11 2008
Coal’s Sacriligeous Caroling
In a time of year when it can be hard to go into public 
without being overwhelmed by Christmas carols, the sound of jingling bells can sicken many of us. And, it is hard for many to associate this season and carols with any form of religiousity due to the mass commercialization of across the spectrum of holidays of Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanza, and …
And, basically every single religious song has been parodied or spun off in multiple ways so that any idea of purity seems dead. Thus, it surprised me that I was shocked at the latest parody of a set of Christmas Carols courtesy of the coal industry’s mouthpiece, the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE): the “Clean Coal Carolers” with a set of lyrics that take their truthiness and deception to a whole new level of depravity.
Nov 27 2008
The US Chamber of Commerce and “21st Century Energy” — a glance with thoughts
For much of this year, the US Chamber of Commerce has been engaged in a public campaign related to energy issues. Early in the year, the Chamber aligned themselves with the National Association of Manufacturing in battling against any meaningful action on global warming, including running ads against action strongly reminiscent of the infamous Harry and Louise anti-health care advertising. In mid-2008, the Chamber’s Institute for 21st Century Energy, under the direction of General James Jones, USMC (retired) began to take a more prominent role in energy discussions.
To put it simply, the USCOC’s 21st Century Energy’s work lays out a path and recommendations that are recklessly dangerous in the face of the energy, financial, and global warming perfect storm.
Nov 24 2008
Waking up from the Bush nightmare: what’s the next dream?
This diary will suggest a sort of “Earthly dream” in light of the inspiration felt by millions to pursue the “American dream” of the age of nationalism. I want to proceed from an assessment of where we are now, to a short discussion of how we fit into the systems of which we are a part, to a look at how our hopes and dreams may be transformed into a future of ecological dislocation and crisis.
(crossposted on Big Orange)
Nov 19 2008
Obama speaks out against Global Warming
In his second substantive, issue-focused discussion since the election, President-elect Barack Obama spoke to the bipartisan governors’ meeting on climate change, with an extensive international audience. I recommend reading the speech (after the fold) and watching the video, but there are some key points worth calling out and perhaps just one important issue to raise.
This is a clear statement that Barack Obama’s discussion of energy and global warming issues during the campaign will translate directly into the White House and is core to the Administration.
I promise you this: When I am President, any governor who’s willing to promote clean energy will have a partner in the White House. Any company that’s willing to invest in clean energy will have an ally in Washington.
Obama makes a strong point about science and the view of it from the Oval Office come January 20th: “The science is beyond dispute and the facts are clear.” In the new ‘bipartisan’ era, can we hope that denialists need not apply?
More on Obama and clean energy below…