Very alarming if true.
We Have Five Years To Save Ourselves From Climate Change, Harvard Scientist Says
Yes, I say, human caused global warming is happening, but do we absolutely have to turn this ship (so to speak) around in only 5 years? This Harvard scientist says yes. Drastic reduction in our carbon emissions. He also talks about the need to artificially reflect more sunlight away from the atmosphere. I think it may have to come to that, if these dire predictions are true. Due to the economy and our culture, it doesn't look like we have the will to drastically cut carbon emissions in the real near future.
I would like to see some drastic changes, like higher gas taxes and so forth. It will take more than even that. It might be easier for me as a single person, on my bicycle, but (as people often say) I'm not raising a family.
Responding to another article, or part of an article.
Africa's high birth rate is keeping the continent poor
Overpopulation is a big problem in parts of Africa. Could be a source for more refugees and immigrants to the west. This article interested me, but, not being a subscriber to the Economist Magazine, I only saw the first few paragraphs.
Personally, I think about the debate over things like gay rights that's taking place within a lot of church denominations. Churches, such as the Episcopal and Methodist, are split between the more liberal theologies of their western branches and the more conservative, traditionalist theologies of their African branches. In many cases Africa wins by majority rule. Some of these church organizations are splitting.
I think we need less traditionalist theology to adjust to climate change; especially because most people of the world, even if poor, seem to aspire toward having a fairly consumptive lifestyle. Even if not as crazily consumptive as American, consumptive still. Don't be forcing lifestyles of procreation on every last person. We need a more feminist agenda. More friendly toward singles, gays and family planning.
And yet another.
People might think I'm Africa bashing, but this article comes to mind also. Yes, there's the rich elite in more countries than just the USA. It can be bad where ever it is; including USA, but Africa isn't necessarily of moral superiority.
Meanwhile back in USA.
A recent meeting about infrastructure, between Trump and Congressional Democrats, was discussed on this edition of On Point Radio. One analyst said Republicans, in Congress, would not allow much spending on infrastructure. Trump likes to sound good and offer some generous proposals that sound good to the Democrats. Republicans, except for Trump, normally ask; "where's the money going to come from?"
Money seems to only be able to come from more deficit spending. The idea of raising the federal gas tax is plausible. It needs to be higher, but the gas tax (and I would also say any carbon tax) is pretty much a regressive tax. Hits poor people who say they have to drive the most.
Democrats, in that meeting, were willing to consider a politically difficult gas tax if Republicans were willing to roll back the recent Republican tax breaks that mostly went to the wealthy.
Looks like we'll just continue with gridlock.
Show was opened up to callers who came up with some innovative ideas. Besides the normal political gridlock, we are on the cusp of some game changing technology. Think Uber, think self driving cars, think hail the car rather than owning and having to park the car. Think cyber travel and virtual reality, think information age. Think change.
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