Inflation is temporary, climate change is constant

Jul 20, 2022
Jul 20, 2022 Updated Apr 13, 2025
18

Editor,

The news about Joe Manchin’s rejection of climate legislation in the reconciliation package because of inflation is appalling. But Manchin isn’t the only problem. Where are the Republicans’ climate plan?

(18) comments

Terence Y Jul 20, 2022 8:48am

Ms. Dooley, why do Republican’s or anyone else need to provide any type of climate plan if they don’t believe there’s man-made global warming? For those that do believe there’s man-made global warming, why aren’t they doing anything about China, or India, or any other developing nations’ contributions to global warming? They’re part of the global landscape.

Westy Jul 20, 2022 10:48am

Well possibly, Terence Y, you should believe in human contributions to global warming because the scientific models made 30, 40, and 50 years ago led to so very many predictions that continue to be born out. And to answer your (as usual not very thoughtful) question, there are people in every country working on the issue. If your great-grandchildren have a human-habitable planet to live in, it will be thanks to these people.

Dirk van Ulden Jul 20, 2022 12:17pm

Westy - please show me where and when those predictions came true. You are a babe in the woods and probably do not remember the fairly recent global cooling and overpopulation scare. BTW, I am still waiting for your comments on Matt Grocott's column. Too inconvenient for you? Out off your comfort zone?

Jorg Jul 20, 2022 12:47pm

Dirk: If you cannot see for yourself, melting icebergs, warming waters, troubling weather patterns, etc, why not pay attention to those who really know about global warming, and that it is partly manmade, namely the world’s scientists, who are in consensus about what is happening? Don’t be fooled by the fake “scientists” paid off by the petroleum industry, - even though Trump told you to!

Westy Jul 20, 2022 1:55pm

Oh Dirk, no, I'm not commenting on Matt's column. It's an embarrassment to the SMDJ, which is a publication I actually like. I'm not sure he makes a single well-thought out point--it seems to be rambling regurgitation of reTrumplican stuff. Trying to draw an equivalency between refugees at our southern border and Russian soldiers bombing Ukraine to rubble, just for example.

Terence Y Jul 20, 2022 12:49pm

Westy, assuming you have valid scientific models (doubtful if they’re based on the bogus “hockey stick” graph), 50 years is less than a blink of an eye to Mother Nature. Perhaps you can explain Earth's five Ice Ages, but no “steam” ages. In the past, temperature and CO2 levels have been much higher than today and that was when there were no pesky humans burning fossil fuels, no air conditioning, no aerosols, etc. Maybe you can find a way to make volcanoes erupt more often, since spewed ash seems to help with global cooling.

People have lived past the Rapture and Al Gore’s first end of the world prediction in 2016. All predictions of the end of the world due to global warming have not rung true. In 2008, “experts” predicted the Arctic was to be ice-free by 2018. Al Gore needed a second end of the world prediction because his first prediction failed miserably (sorry, I don’t know which year Mr. Gore’s thinks the world will end – again).

To respond to your (as usual, not very thoughtful) response, what people in what country, and besides just talking about it, what are they doing to actually reduce their global warming contribution? I see virtue signalers contributing more global warming than reducing it. To wit, Mr. van Ulden’s comment. How much carbon was emitted last year due to 30,000+ people flying into Scotland for COP26 – including an estimated 400 aircraft and over 50 private jets? How about Germany firing up coal plants because they can’t get enough natural gas from Russia? How about China approving more coal power plants because they need more electricity? Closer to home, how about Gov. Newsom authorizing and firing up gas plants to provide electricity? Seems to me, your “people” in every “country” working on the issue are working in the wrong direction.

Of course, if you’re really worried about man-made global warming, shouldn’t you live it up for the next 9 years (AOC in 2019 predicted the world would end in 12 years)? I predict billions of children and great-grandchildren will live long past 2031 in a human-habitable planet. I only wish we’ll have much fewer virtue signalers than today, and many more realists.

Westy Jul 20, 2022 2:00pm

Yes, blink of an eye. Exactly. Never has the climate changed so much in the blink of an eye. Gosh, what other events on the planet does this particular bliink of an eye correlate with? See also Jorg's comment :-)

Terence Y Jul 20, 2022 7:56pm

Yes, blink of an eye. Exactly. Never has the climate changed so much that Mother Nature has not been able to take care of whatever man throws at her. As for Jorg’s comments, his only valid points are exclamation points as Jorg is unable to provide a valid foundation and can only deflect with his constant “orange man bad” balderdash.

Westy Jul 20, 2022 8:53pm

Please re-read Jorge's point - to wit, Science. Scientists are in agreement. The scientific models have proven valid in predicting the rise in climate change vs. activities of humans (greenhouse gases).

Terence Y Jul 21, 2022 8:12am

Please re-read my points above - inconvenient truths for the global warming crowd. And if you dare, perhaps you can respond to a few of my questions. BTW, you may want to avoid Jorg’s wrath - he’s a bit touchy about the correct spelling of his name. Of course, he may give you a pass as a fellow leftie.

Dirk van Ulden Jul 20, 2022 9:07am

Hey Ms. Dooley - boohoo, they had to leave their plush vacation in Southern France. Did they even realize that their airfare to Europe contributed grossly to the CO2 crisis? We lost more jobs to China already than the climate crisis may cause. What is your answer to that? Do you also realize that by switching manufacturing to such gross polluters as China and India is eventually going to affect us? Please take all of these studies by consultants with a grain of salt, they benefit from these scare tactics and fuel unconstrained actions by political entities.

Westy Jul 20, 2022 10:38am

I look forward to hearing your suggestions, Dirk, for how to move jobs from China to the US. How do you intend to overcome the current labor shortages and high wages in the US given that you are entirely against immigration? Do you think consumers are willing to pay way more for technology products if they are made here? But I'm just joking with you. I'm guessing you have never met a positive and constructive plan that you liked.

Dirk van Ulden Jul 20, 2022 12:09pm

Westy - you surprise me in that you are presumptuous leftist. I am an immigrant myself and served this country in the military, went back to school and occupied technical and management positions until retirement. I have likely hired into and created more jobs than you cannot even fathom. You appear to be a bleeding heart, typical liberal who knows nothing about hard knocks but can take pot shots. Immigrants should be qualified before they come. If the will is there, the Apple's of the world can start paying folks here decent wages although it would reduce their obscene margins only. I have always been a supporter of higher minimum wages but those positions should never become a career. But, what do you know. Feeding off liberal talking pints is your forte.

Westy Jul 20, 2022 1:48pm

You neglected to touch on your plan. Or is it that Apple and other tech companies will reduce their margins? I don't think its a feasible plan for moving jobs from China to the US. Also, you say "qualified" immigrants, yet it seems like the jobs you want to move here are the low level manufacturing assembly line jobs? This is what China exceeds at.

And no not surprised you are an immigrant. Many immigrants want to slam the door after they get in. I'm all for coherent immigration laws, the trouble is that what we have is not coherent.

Westy Jul 20, 2022 10:29am

Thanks Ellyn for a well-thought out letter. Action on climate change, done right, will have a very positive benefit for jobs and energy independence. Not acting continues to contribute to the unfolding disasters, human suffering, and irreversible ecologic damage.

Dirk van Ulden Jul 21, 2022 1:08pm

Westy - Since you did not want to touch Mr. Grocott's comments, perhaps you can add your wisdom here:" Not acting continues to contribute to the unfolding disasters (at the border) human suffering (at the border), and irreversible ecologic damage (at the border)". For you, lofty platitudes are more important than our immediate needs. But, what the heck, no political hay can be made with our dire problems that your Administration totally ignores.

Mike Caggiano Jul 21, 2022 8:27am

I'll just jump in with one small comment. The western media has been mistakenly calling China the biggest polluter when the US is. They keep getting away with not using per capita numbers rather than bogus geographical constructs, meaning border lines on a map. Per capita is the only meaningful metric and they keep dumbing us all down with foolish comparisons. Also foolish are the silly remarks about not using aircraft to get around the world to necessary meetings. They all can't take a solar sailboat like Greta Thumberg did. I wish that was on my bucket list though.

Dirk van Ulden Jul 21, 2022 1:02pm

Hey Mike - if our children are forced to use ZOOM-like communication and both of my professional sons conduct meetings via the Internet why do these limousine liberals insists on flying to these exotic locations? Are the meetings necessary? Look at their attendance including our chief carbon footprint creator, our energy policy envoy. The next meeting should be held in Zimbabwe, surface travel only, in an open field without amenities. Let's see how many will show up. These climate meetings are a joke and should be scrapped.

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