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ramapo

(4,751 posts)
1. Good luck kids
Tue Nov 26, 2024, 10:51 PM
Nov 26

Last edited Wed Nov 27, 2024, 08:51 AM - Edit history (1)

I am seriously all out of fucks.

Jimmy Carter got the boot for Reagan who famously blamed trees for pollution, appointed James Watt and Anne Gorsuch (yes that Gorsuch) to Interior and EPA, dismantled Carter's early efforts to promote solar energy and conservation. Eight years lost.

Then came Bush the First. While Bush did sign important climate legislation, dealt with the ozone hole and even campaigned and was concerned about climate change, his Chief of Staff John Sununu (yes that Sununu) convinced Bush that it was all bullshit and set the Republican Party on a 35-plus-year road of denial. Four years lost.

Clinton was somewhat more friendly towards the idea of climate change. Kyoto Protocol was signed. Lots of words, not much action.
Eight years lost.

Al Gore lost (had the election stolen) because people in Florida couldn't fill out their ballots properly and a bunch of geniuses thought they'd show us and voted for Ralph Nader . Maybe Gore would've lived up to his book although Congress is always ready to make sure nothing gets done.

Bush the Second. Eight years lost.

Finally we get Obama. He knew action was needed. He had a trifecta and got a cap-and-trade proposal thru the House. Dead in The Senate (making sure nothing ever gets done). Voters were pissed that he tried helping Americans obtain health care and to do something about the climate change that everybody is so concerned about. So voters kicked a whole bunch of Democrats out of Congress and that was that. He still did manage to do some stuff. Signed some documents. Helped get some solar firms started and an upstart EV manufacturer, Tesla, going. Eight years...not all that much to show.

Ugh. Trump One. Take eight steps backwards. Four years lost.

Biden. Ok...back on track although most of the world wonders if its for real. Made a lot of investments. We'll see how that all works out. Did much really get done? Maybe.

Trump Two. Well nobody talked about climate change during the campaign. Some people worry about it but not many would be willing to change anything in their lives to save the Earth for their kids. But the Trans people are coming for you and your family (if the immigrants don't get you first).

The next four, eight, twelve years are lost. We are going back.

So whats the score? 50 years squandered...at least. The United States could have led the world. But now denial wins again.

When the shits hits the fan, people will probably wonder why nothing was ever done. Too late now anyway. Get the popcorn and watch the greatest disaster movie of our lives play out.

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