Editor,
Your Other Voices selection (in the Aug. 29 edition of the Daily Journal) from the China Daily entitled “Inflation Reduction Act shows political divide is entrenched” is an insult to your readers. The China Daily (owned by the Chinese Communist Party) has no purpose commenting on the passage of this act other than to try to stir up political division in the United States, and it does not serve your readers to repost this bit of propaganda.
The piece completely misses the point that the passage of the act was a watershed moment in the battle against climate change and the largest single piece of climate legislation ever passed by Congress. It allocates $370 billion toward subsidizing renewable energy, providing tax credits for electric vehicles, promoting building energy efficiency, and many other measures to address climate change.
Several independent analyses indicate that it will reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of the United States by around 40% (relative to 2005) by 2030, well on the way to meeting our Paris climate accord commitment of 50% reduction.
The China Daily piece did manage to get one thing right. Not a single Republican in either house of Congress voted for the act. Rather than reflect the political division in the country, this shameful lack of support by congressional Republicans merely indicates that their party is still in denial about the threat of climate change. They ignore the fact that a substantial majority of Americans want their government to take action to address climate change.
Bob Steele
Redwood City
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(36) comments
Bob - "They ignore the fact that a substantial majority of Americans want their government to take action to address climate change." at any cost? Did you take the time to read the bill's provisions? Most of the materials that would supposedly reduce our carbon footprint will come from China. Do we really want further subsidization of and entanglement with that corrupt regime? And by now, do you believe anything that comes from the White House? Come on, man!
Hey Dirk, c'mon man. You are questioning the credibility of Biden's WH when we had 4 years of over 30K lies, and who promotes the Big Lie to this day? And yes, we do want the carbon footprints to be reduced regardless of origin. Speaking of costs, it is now apparent to everyone except Republicans that the cost of doing nothing will be greater than doing something. Thanks to Democrats, we have evidence of forward thinking.
Hey Rel - I didn't know you borrowed Jorg's broken record.
How did I get pulled into this?
Dirk...
Joe will make a speech tonight which will probably treat Republicans harshly. That's OK. He's the president and he can say whatever he wants. Last week, Jorg and I kicked around the NBC poll which reported that 74% of Americans believe our country is on the wrong track. Further, 21% of those polled said they believe threats to our democracy is their No. 1 concern. That's a sizeable number, and in that number are respondents who believe that the threat comes from the left-wing progressive agenda. If Joe cites the NBC poll, I hope he mentions that Amercians from both sides of the aisle have the same concern.
And Rel - you probably believe that the border is secure, there was no inflation in July, Biden was completely unaware of the raid on Trump's house, and Hunter, the most intelligent person who he knows, never had a laptop. And crime? What crime?
Dirk... oh, there's more.
Joe's America... loans are forgiven not repaid, teachers unions members carrying more picket signs than books, police vilified and made the enemy until 9-1-1 is called, fleeing from a military conflict is seen as a victory, etc.
And Dirk, when you don't like the message, slay the messenger, even if Jorg had nothing to do with it.
You also likely believe that inflation is not coming down; that oil prices have not dropped a third in the last two weeks resulting in dropping prices at the pump; that the FBI should not do their job even though we have a citizen violating our national security and endangering lives; and that Biden has a long list of accomplishments of which you would never acknowledge. And a Big Lie. What Big Lie?
Hello, Rel
I think Dirk was trying to interject some levity into the conversation, but let's move beyond the back and forth of this thread for a moment. Let's look at Jon Mays' column. There is wisdom in Jon's words.
If the comments section can serve as a microcosm for the Blue v. Red division in our country, maybe we could apply Jon's advice to the readers who frequent these pages... let's have no enemies list. It's worth a try... do you agree?
While we cannot control what our leaders say, we don't have to embrace their divisive rhetoric. The election is over... the left did not steal it. Not everyone agrees with a progressive agenda... the right is not comprised of extremists just because they don't like that agenda. So, who really benefits from the divisive rhetoric? The leadership on the left and right. It's time for some new leadership.
I watched the president's speech last night. His words did not surprise me... he has said the same things before. I read the response from his political opponents. Those words did not surprise me. They were more of the same. In both cases, the leaders... left and right... were excoriating those on their enemies list.
Jon's advice may be helpful in selecting new leaders. We need leaders who will look for common ground... leaders who will put a greater emphasis on compassion and understanding. The folks who contribute to the comments section can start doing those things now. It's worth a try... do you agree?
Jorg
I have it on good authority that the "broken record" remark was in jest.
However, you posted to your blog today more of your Republicans are dishonest and stupid commentary. I have a question... you write very well... is it possible for you comment on persons over on the right side of the aisle without using insults and pejoratives?
As an aside... your post today references what you describe as the Russian hoax. Yet, an independent investigation determined there was no collusion between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign. Since that investigation was completed, we have learned more about how the Democratic Party's 2016 campaign planted false information leading to allegations of Russian collusion. More on the subject of hoaxes, journalists and social media platforms were encouraged by the Democratic Party's 2020 campaign to cancel stories about the Democratic Party candidate's son that could damage the candidate's chances in 2020, and to blame those stories on disinformation from... wait for it... Russia. Any thoughts?
Jorg... how did Obama get pulled into this?
Some comments and questions related to your "Hypocrisy, honesty - or what?" LTE posted at 2:47 pm. Any thoughts?
Good point, Dirk
"But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao, you ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow..." John Lennon, 1968
Let's be honest. Joe just says what his radical staff puts on the teleprompter. It is obvious that he has no clue about what really goes on in this country. Mr. Uniter is doing just the opposite and HE is a threat to our democracy by trying to jail anyone of importance who disagrees with him. That is the real threat and a far cry from the intent of the Constitution.
Dirk, please make an effort to be honest and stop using the trite talking points of Fox. If Joe only uses a teleprompter, at least he knows how to read one unlike his predecessor. Joe seems to be doing well enough for our economy. Did you know the U.S. is on a pace to grow the economy faster than China for the first time since 1976, 46 years ago? Speaking of a threat to our Democracy, what could be more threatening to our democracy than spreading the Big Lie, thus the 1/5 insurrection? Do you not want your vote to count? Do you think the Constitution believes the citizens should throw out elections of which they do not agree?
Dirk: You don’t appear to have much public speaking experience, do you? I remember the same nonsense was said about President Obama. For someone to make the speech President Biden gave yesterday, and President Obama in the past, you have to own the speech. It has to be yours! Certainly, busy people like that use speech writers, but you have to work through it to make it yours. What a cheap shot, Dirk!
Ray: I would appreciate if you addressed your post comments to my blog, and not here, where others have no idea what you refer to. However, since you brought it up, foreign interference in the 2016 election has not at all been found non-existent, far from it.
AG Bill Barr tried to explain it away to protect Trump back then, but it is coming back again as a real issue. Stay tuned!
Jorg... I would love to submit comments on your blog but you censor them. No thanks. Besides... your blog posts are usually just longer versions of your Daily Journal LTEs. They match up very nicely... so, everyone pretty much has an idea what's going on. Have some faith… there are some smart folks from both sides of the aisle who frequent these pages.
You skipped over the question… is it possible for you to comment on persons over on the right side of the aisle without using insults and pejoratives?
Yes! I believe the Russian leadership most definitely wants to interfere with our elections. No doubt. However, there was no collusion between the Russian leadership and the Trump 2016 campaign.
The real collusion was the Democratic Party's 2016 campaign paying to plant false information leading to allegations of collusion between Russia and the Trump 2016 campaign. Again… any comment?
Then, journalists and social media platforms were encouraged by the Democratic Party's 2020 campaign to cancel stories about Hunter Biden that could damage his father’s presidential run, and further falsely claim that those stories were Russian disinformation. Again… any comment?
Ray, speaking for myself, I would appreciate it if you addressed your comments to this site. I’m all caught up and I’d prefer Jorg to not be able to censor any of your responses.
Ray: For the record, let me make something clear: My blog is what the title says, my honest opinion, which is personal. It is not a discussion platform, like the DJ Opinion pages, although I do accept comments I find of value and informative, even counter points if I think they ad to the understanding I’m trying to promote. I have a growing and much wider audience world-wide than the DJ Opinion site. If you want to be a contributing part to that effort, you are welcome! If I find that your comment(s) add to the understanding I am promoting, I’ll accept it, but be brief and to the point. My blog is not a site for your, or any other’s, opinion.
Jorg...
Thanks for the honesty about your "honest opinion" blog... and here it is... no one else gets an honest opinion. OK... but I'm still scratching my head why you invite commentary "for the rest of the world to see!" You invite comments then censor them. I believe a conversation would be better than lecture. That's just me.
No response to questions posted yesterday at 2:47 pm and 7:07 pm? I'd like to hear your honest opinion about those questions.
Jorg, you’re giving us all the perfect reason why Ray shouldn’t comment on your blog – because you’d censor him and anyone else who isn’t part of your echo chamber. Come to think of it, with most of your questionable viewpoints, I can see why you’d want to censor opposition.
Ray: I have not said that “Republicans are dishonest and stupid”! What I said, was that if you believe Trump’s Big Lie about the election stolen from him, and that he actually won by a landslide, - yes, you must be stupid! Or do you prefer dumb, mislead, misinformed, or just plain ignorant? How else can you explain such alarming gullibility? And, if you don’t believe it, but claim that you do, I said you are dishonest. Or do you prefer liar? What’s your response?
For the rest of your questions, I have no response, or interest for now. Just stay tuned, and let’s see what comes up.
Jorg... wow
You have been labeling those who disagree with you as uninformed, uneducated, un-American, dishonest, stupid, mentally impaired and more for years. About six weeks ago, you called for civility and an end to inappropriate and degrading language in the comments section. I totally embraced your suggestion. However, within a couple of weeks, you were back to business as usual. At one point, you actually defended your use of pejoratives by saying they were factual and provable characteristics applicable to those who do not share your political view.
Jorg... I have been discouraging ad hominem commentary for a long, long time. Since your call for civility, I have posted several comments refuting left leaning ideology and the president's policies without resorting to insults and name calling. When asked if you can do the same, you try to justify your inflammatory rhetoric by saying someone must be dishonest or stupid if they disagree with your partisan political viewpoint. You do not have to resort to insults and name calling... you choose to use them.
It's interesting... you vilify the RNC's 2016 and 2020 campaigns, but when asked to comment on the DNC's support of planting false information in 2016 and suppressing true information in 2020... you give them a pass. What would you call your reluctance to answer direct questions that refute your opinions?
Ray: OK, have it your way! If you insist on calling those stupid or dishonest enough to support Trump’s Big Lie claim, Republicans, fine with me!
But don’t expect me to have an opinion on everything you bring up, especially not issues still under investigation. Even if I do have an opinion, doesn’t mean that I’m anxious or interested in spending time debating it, instead of waiting for an official resolution. Fair enough?
Jorg
I saw someone post advice in the comments section a while ago. They said... when you are digging yourself into a hole, the best way to get out of the hole is to stop digging. Now you decline comment on what you feel are unresolved issues?
Well, the report is in... no collusion between Russia and the Trump 2016 campaign plus the FBI acknowledged the Democratic Party's 2016 campaign paid to plant false information. A week or so ago, I provided cites to left leaning news outlets confirming that information. MSM journalists (NYT) and social media platforms (Twitter and Facebook) have confirmed they suppressed stories about Hunter Biden's laptop in the weeks before the 2020 election.
You don't have to wait for anything else to happen before giving us your "honest opinion" on these matters. I would like to hear how your opinion on these matters stacks up against your claims that the RNC is dishonest.
Ray: I don’t think you can call Trump an honest guy! He doesn’t seem to know what truth is, nor understand what it means to be truthful. But what would you call his supporters, other than co-conspirators to his dishonesty? Or, do you mean they aren’t bright enough to understand what they are supporting, and not grasp that Trump has been, and still is, a serious threat to national security?
SS, DD... Same Stuff, Different Day
Enjoy the rest of the day and tomorrow, too!
Mr. Steele, assuming there is a thing called (man-made) climate change. Don’t you need to get China, India, and other developing nations to reduce their carbon emissions? Remember, it’s global warming, not local warming. If not, why should the American people be okay paying for this boondoggle through increased energy costs with no measurable benefit? You may have heard that Germany is firing up coal plants because they can’t get enough natural gas from Russia. China continues to approve more coal power plants because they need more electricity. And closer to home, Gov. Newsom has already authorized five new gas plants to provide electricity, and just recently, the CA legislature authorized a nuclear plant to extend their lease. BTW, a substantial majority of Americans want their government to address more pressing matters, such as inflation, health care, and violent crime much more than climate change. Perhaps those issues are more important to Republicans than this man-made man-made climate change thing.
Well said Bob. It is very much in China's interest to stir political discord in this country, and our press should not repeat their propaganda. The press promulgating of Russian propaganda talking points is part of why we got Trump.
Every year we spend more and more billions mitigating climate disasters. And we are running out of time to avoid a total collapse of planetary ecosystems. I'm so relieved that some positive legislation was finally passed. Let's keep the momentum going.
Hey Westy - I believe you have this bass awkward "The press promulgating of Russian propaganda talking points is part of why we got Trump"; generally consistent with your opinions. It was us, the deplorables, that got Trump.
Indeed, Dirk, - it is more than deplorable that a minority that didn’t know better, or didn’t care, got the lying, incompetent, poorly educated egomaniac Donald Trump into the WH, with resulting disasters still exposed daily, with likely even worse to follow. Indeed, something to be proud of for the Trump cult.
SS, DD... Same Stuff, Different Day
Ray: Repetition is apparently necessary before even the most obvious sinks in for members of the Trump cult. Sad Stuff, Difficult to Deal with!
Jorg
"Repetition is apparently necessary" when asking direct questions that refute your claims. Why is repetition necessary? You skip over questions. When your affinity for using pejoratives is questioned... you justify inappropriate and degrading language because, according to you, anyone who disagrees with your point of view deserves such treatment. Hasta la vista, baby.
Having to endlessly repeat him/herself without breaking new ground is a sign of .....?
Remember... "Be Nice."
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