Posts with the tag Environment

An Interconnected Community View of Economics

Ray Pairan — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:16:48 EST

It's impossible to conclude that our economic environment is not subject to the same diversity that comprises our natural environment. Given that an economy is a subset of the society that wrests itself from an unforgiving natural world riddled with chaos, why do some branches of economic thought continue to rationalize humankinds pecuniary endeavors down to neat tightly, clean, predictable outcomes. The structure of an economic system must reflect the multifaceted and diverse characteristics of the world in which it operates - a world of varying personalities all interacting in incoherent ways.

Our universe is not clean and orderly it-s very, very messy - nothing ever seems to work out according to the best conceived plans. It is therefore imperative that we not endeavor to extend our subconscious world view of tidy, neatly trimmed 'lawns' to any natural substrate in the living breathing messy struggle for life. There are no 'lawns' of perfectly crafted conception in nature so why extend the improbable to a natural world substrate? A prairie ecosystem is full of tall grass of varying varieties, riddled with ground squirrel holes, snakes in some regions, muck, and a variety of wildlife not allowed to intrude into our comfortable neat complacent checkerboard communities. But the interaction between the two does result in changes that affect both.

Similarly, our economic system must reflect the realities or 'ground truth' inherent in the natural environment, societal structure, and impractical, irrational interspersed behavior of the human substrate. So why continue to refine any economic model based upon illusion by further perturbing an already tumultuous society by injecting policies that don't align with any existing observable dynamic?

Over the past few years we've been led to believe that the Laissez-faire neoclassical economic realm of illusory conceptualization would translate into this wonderful world guided by some 'invisible hand'. Ours would be a service sector oriented economy never again requiring the utilization of dirty hands, and strong muscles. Every citizen would magically be endowed with all the necessary intellect, desire, and personality to expand the service sector into the preeminent sector of employment. There was just one problem with the distorted nation state competitive advantage simplistic view of our globe - it still left a substantial segment of our population underemployed, and unemployed because they just didn't fit into the special mold of a service sector laborer.

Expanding the concept of competitive advantage outside of its original boundaries centered in a particular industry was just another attempt to mold reality (only perceptually achievable by propaganda) to fit illusion. Over the past few decades we've been deluding ourselves into thinking that a viable economy can function stripped of its manufacturing sector. It has become abundantly evident that an economic system crafted for the benefit of the larger community cannot operate solely as a service sector economy devoid of a sustainable manufacturing base.

Competitive advantage must mold both the service sector and manufacturing components across industry segments that are jealousy defended by national policies within a completely economically integrated world. No economy can be sustained under just one of these core economic components they both must be merged together in order to achieve some semblance of economic and societal sustainability & stability.

We have witnessed the effective subversion of an already inherently unsustainable service sector nation-state competitive advantage model into something contrived and contorted beyond its illusory construct. Perpetuated by the 'information age' propagandists we were led to believe that an economy could be solely built upon a technologically oriented service sector. Factories were no longer needed within an economy based solely upon intellectual labor. The problems with this early nation-state competitive advantage centered model were three fold. First, it was myopically constrained to a nation-state centric advantage that never expanded across borders. Secondly, it failed to account for the unpredictable effects of human behavior within a tumultuous greed enhanced global society. Thirdly, as already conveyed, the competitive advantage of a technologically oriented service sector was too broad in scope to be maintained at the nation-state level.

But what mutated from this touted elegant distortion of reality was driven by the second factor, the uncontrollable greed educed by Laissez-faire religious tenants that encouraged human behavior contrary to the maintenance of sustainable and stable communities. Any behavior was permissible in the corruptly focused short-term greed addicted behavioral state. What evolved was a belief system built around the individual to the exclusion of the community a credo that any means was justified even the 'slash and burn' pillage of entire nation-states to fulfill the unquenchable desires of the few wealthy elite. Labor arbitrage became the 'club' of choice wielded by the 'strong arms' of an army of mercenary lobbyists fielded to sustain the wealthy fiefdom's ability to exploit workers by any means imaginable.

With so many interconnected messy threads weaving throughout our society, class consciousness, across unique behavioral responses to stimuli, and the turbulent at times dangerous physical world we inhabit it is abundantly clear that any economic theories must be conceived in the forge of reality. It is a reality that recognizes a simple requirement of all human beings - fairness. Without fairness or some form of equity, infused with equality the best conceived seemingly realistic policies will be nothing more than distorted illusion cloaked in a thin veil of reality. Human beings are very adept at perceiving whether certain aspects of their societal framework is fair, or slanted towards the interests of those ultimately in control. No amount of 'packaging' will deceive a community of citizens over the 'long haul' - this is aptly reflected in the current rejection by the general populous of the trickle down supply-side greed based economics benefiting the few practiced over the last few years.

Quakers believe that we are all our brothers keeper, that when we act in the best interests of our fellow human beings we serve the better interests of our communities. Thus, realizing that in order for a sustainable, stable economy to transpire we need to include everyone; those who desire or are suited to work in a vibrant manufacturing component, others who excel in a service sector intellectual or assistance driven component, and those who must be cared for by a compassionate community (government) because their unable to survive in either component of a competitively oriented sector of our economy. It is also important to integrate our nation-state economies into an 'International Economic Congress' whereby the interests of Capital (businesses) and Labor can be democratically resolved, and a coordinated oversight of all economically related endeavors can be achieved for the betterment of the entire global community. We are on the cusp of an appreciation that transcends any past global paradigm shift - our movement towards a sustainable, stable world community is very achievable. Let's make it happen.

Originally posted on my blog at:
http://structuraleconissues.blogspot.com/

Wrong-publicans

Grassroots Democrat Bruce — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:18:29 EDT

The Republicans have been wrong about several key issues: war (Iraq), deregulation (which helped cause the current financial system crisis) and the environment (global warming). Time to vote Democratic.

The T. Boone Pickens Plan & An Alternative Letter

Jonathan Zucker — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:05:53 EDT

I can't say I'm a fan of T. Boone Pickens (Swift Boater), but his Energy Independence Plan is certainly a start. Mr. Pickens is asking people to join him and send letters to their members of congress asking them to pledge their support for the Pickens plan. I just want to talk about some of the points in the plan that I think could be slightly misleading. I would like to clarify them and offer a counter letter for people to send to their congressional representative.

Palin's policies are radically anti-enviroment

Dawn — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 11:21:41 EDT

Polls out today show that most Republicans are infatuated with the idea of a "hockey mom" as vice president. Unfortunately, the scripted convention -- and the total inaccessability of Governor Sarah Palin -- presented a false picture of her policies in Alaska.

Why does that matter? Assuming that she believes deeply in her policies (and there's no reason to assume otherwise about "Sarah Barracuda"), then we could expect her to apply those policies to a Palin Administration if, heaven forbid, anything ever happened to John McCain.

Leonard Doyle, a reporter from the UK's Independent, took a thorough look at Palin's environmental policies and positions. See his comprehensive article here:

"Palin: the real scandal
"Seen from the air, Sarah Palin's state is an environmental wonderland. From Anchorage to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, there is a vast landscape of snow-capped peaks, fjords, crystal glaciers, coastal lagoons, wide river deltas and tundra.
The guardian of this wilderness – and Governor of Alaska – has, this week, become one of the most recognisable faces in the world. But behind her beaming smile and wholesome family values is a woman aligned with the big oil and coal firms that are racing to exploit Alaska's vast energy reserves. In the short term, that has bought her popularity at home."

McCain's V.P. Choice

funkfresh01 — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 18:12:16 EDT

After months of slamming Barack Obama for "inexperience," here's who John McCain has chosen to be one heartbeat away from the presidency: a right-wing religious conservative with no foreign policy experience, who until recently was mayor of a town of 9,000 people.

Huh?

Who is Sarah Palin? Here's some basic background:

She was elected Alaska's governor a little over a year and a half ago. Her previous office was mayor of Wasilla, a small town outside Anchorage. She has no foreign policy experience. (1)

Palin is strongly anti-choice, opposing abortion even in the case of rape or incest. (2)

She supported right-wing extremist Pat Buchanan for president in 2000. (3)

Palin thinks creationism should be taught in public schools. (4)

She's doesn't think humans are the cause of climate change. (5)

Sarah Shoots Wolves

4u2love — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 08:35:33 EDT

Sarah Palin requisitioned quite a bit of money for Alaska's aerial shooting of wolves program. According to the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund, she is an enemy to animals there.

How to Recognize a Conservative

Liz — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:44:14 EDT

Let me count a few ways

1. CONSERVATIVES ARE UNION BUSTERS

They don’t like to see workers get paid decent wages because this decreases the size of their dividends.

Reagan’s first act of any consequence as President of the United States was to bust a union. In August of 1981, Reagan held a press conference in the White House Rose Garden, where he stated that if the air traffic controllers "do not report for work within 48 hours, they have forfeited their jobs and will be terminated". On August 5, Reagan fired 11,345 striking air traffic controllers who had ignored his order to return to work, busting the union.

President Bush issued an executive order in 2001 dissolving the labor-management partnership council created by President Clinton in 1993.The order revokes Executive Order 12871, which created the National Partnership Council and required agencies to establish individual partnership councils and increase union involvement in agency decision-making.

On October 3, 2006 , the working world became a great deal more difficult for nurses, and it may get worse very soon some 8 million more workers. They are losing the right to be represented by labor unions and collectively bargain for better wages, benefits, and safer working conditions. Workers’ rights were severely curtailed by the very group of people charged with protecting America’s workforce from assault, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

CA-46: Better Leadership for Our People & Our Planet

Andrew Davey — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:40:41 EDT

(Proudly cross-posted at Clintonistas for Obama)

I live in Orange County, CA. I'm used to seeing scary Republicans that care nothing about environmental justice. But of all the crazy Republicans here, none can be crazier than "Crazy Dana" Rohrabacher. He's consistently voted against the best interests of our people and our planet, and it's time we do something about this. That's why I'm so glad to see some good friends of ours take real action for real change.

Follow me after the flip for the details...

Friday Forums Digest Edition 7-31-08

D. Tree — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:03:48 EDT

First off, a big thank you to all who participated in last Friday's discussion, and a special thanks to everyone who has joined the Friday Forums group and contributed posts!

In this Edition of the Friday Forums Digest:
1) Digest Edition of Friday 7/25 Blog Posts
2) Bonus Digest Edition of Anne K's "Issue Discussion" group posts
3) Why Join the Friday Forums partybuilder group?
4) Forum Topic suggestions for Friday, August 1 Forum + Call for next forum topics
---------------------------------

1) Forum on the Environment + "Farewell Mike Link, and Partybuilder Suggestion Box:

Someonewhocares
Weather making

pcmoore28
Going Nuclear - A Green makes the Case

Staten Island Democrat
Green energy on a local level

D. Tree
Greens as the New Liberal Majority?

Mr. Bill
Texas Oil Tycoon Urges US to Reduce Dependence on Foreign Oil
Off Shore Wind Farm Locations Found Via Satellite
NBC News reports on electric car conversion shop

Laura Schneider
Climate Change Dominates International Water Conference
New Process Converts Poultry Litter into Bio-oil
Melting Russian Permafrost Could Accelerate Global Warming
How global warming may destroy the Earth sooner than we think
The Energy Crisis -- changes we can make at the local level
Solar Taxi and other interesting ideas
The answer may be transit systems by rail and bus
Leave Your Carbon Footprint at the Door

Blueberry
Let Them Eat Cake. No, wait...let them eat ethanol!
Biofuels....savior or curse?

Jan CO
Solar Thermal Plants
partybuilder Ideas
Hemp Great for the Environment
Hemp The Bio-fuel #2
Hemp The Bio-fuel - Not just Marijuana
Hemp The Bio-fuel - Did you Know
Hemp The Bio-fuel #1

2) *Bonus Discussions from Anne K's "Issue Discussion" partybuilder group!*

Illinoismel
Wind farms Mr. Bill?

Anne K
WILDCARD night
3rd Party
Nipple Nazis
Thought for the day
Constitutionally Protected Freedom of Speech

Click "Read More" to vote on topics for tomorrow's discussion, and to see why you should join the Friday Forums group!

Oil-shale debate moves West

Jan CO — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:14:54 EDT

Oil-shale debate moves West By Anne C. Mulkern
The Denver PostArticle Last Updated: 07/23/2008 06:07:07 AM MDT

WASHINGTON — With six months left in office, the Bush administration moved Tuesday to accelerate oil-shale development across the Rocky Mountain West.

Shale deposits in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming could provide 800 billion barrels of oil, Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne said, enough to meet U.S. demand at current levels "for 110 years."

"We need to be doing more to develop our own energy here at home," Kempthorne said. "Public lands have a significant role to play in meeting our domestic energy needs."

Tuesday's release of draft rules for shale exploration by the Bureau of Land Management was the latest shot in the growing battle of politicians pointing fingers over $4-per-gallon gas and oil as high as $147 per barrel.

Oil shale, along with drilling offshore and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, is part of the solution, Republicans say.

Democrats counter that none of those actions would lower energy costs in the short term and that more must be done to develop alternative energy. In the case of shale, some argue, too many uncertainties exist to move forward aggressively.

"The administration is trying to set the stage for a last-minute fire sale of commercial oil-shale leases in western Colorado, despite the fact that we are still years away from knowing if the technologies for developing oil shale on a commercial scale are even viable," said Democratic Sen. Ken Salazar.

In a conference call with reporters, Kempthorne said it would be 2015 before shale development produced oil. Even so, he said, that could affect gas prices by signaling to the futures market that the U.S. is ramping up domestic production.

For now, the Interior Department is limited in what it can do. Language inserted in a spending bill by Salazar bars the department from issuing final rules on oil-shale development. That moratorium expires Oct. 1. Kempthorne and Republicans want to prevent Salazar from extending that through 2009.

Kempthorne said he plans to move swiftly if given an opening.

Issuing the preliminary regulations started the clock on the final regulations, which could be published in about two months if the moratorium dies.

Environmental groups that oppose oil-shale development said the 235- page BLM document with preliminary rules is unnecessary. In it, the BLM states that "currently, there is no oil-shale industry and the oil-shale extractive technology is still in its rudimentary stages."

Al Gore speaks today at Noon Eastern time

Liz — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:01:57 EDT

Per Gore's office:

The speech will offer a new way of thinking about our energy production and consumption and a new sense of what is possible when we choose to work together. It will propose a means of tapping America's innovative skills to build a more secure energy future.

Who: Former Vice President Al Gore

What: A discussion on the future of America's energy needs

Where: D.A.R. Constitution Hall 1776 D St., NW, Washington, DC

When: Thursday, July 17 at 12:00 p.m. EDT:

Why I STILL Have No Thrill for the Drill

Andrew Davey — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:58:40 EDT

(Cross-posted at MyDD and Clintonistas for Obama)

You know, I love Jerome Armstrong. I really do. When so many of us Hillary Clinton Democrats were being bashed around everywhere else, he provided us with a warm & welcoming home over at MyDD. I'll always appreicate him for that. Oh yeah, and he's wicked smart as well!

But you know what, Barack Obama is our Democratic nominee. I've made peace with that. Oh yes, and I really like his energy & environment plan. And while I agree with Jerome on many other matters, I just have to disagree with him on this.

Rocky Mountain conservation deal tops $500 million

Jan CO — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:02:33 EDT

July 1, 2008 - By MATT GOURAS , Associated Press Writer,

(AP) -- Some of the most prized land in the northern Rocky Mountains is being protected from development in a conservation land deal hailed as the largest of its kind in U.S. history.

More than 300,000 acres of critical habitat for threatened and endangered animals, including grizzly bears and lynx, will be transferred to public ownership in a $500 million deal with Plum Creek Timber. A ceremony was held Monday in Kalispell to sign the agreement.

Plum Creek Timber is turning over about a quarter of its Montana holdings in a deal backed by the federal government, which is pitching in $250 million, said U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.

The land includes huge parcels in the scenic Swan Valley north of Missoula, and near the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area. The Nature Conservancy and The Trust for Public Land said the land will be managed as a working forest with places of harvestable timber.

The deal, which involves the equivalent of 500 square miles, spans a region known as the Crown of the Continent, a place environmentalists say is one of the most intact ecosystems remaining in the country. The government is expected to eventually take ownership of a majority of the land.

In recent years Plum Creek has drawn the ire of environmentalists for selling off its land to private developers, sometimes turning forests into subdivisions. Critics have argued private owners were developing the land too quickly, closing off traditional access for locals and closing down logging.

Conservation groups said they will make sure the land remains open for recreational activities such as hunting and snowmobiling. Timber harvested on the land will still feed lumber mills owned by Plum Creek for at least the next 15 years, according to the arrangement.

What Clean Air?

Jan CO — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 15:04:45 EDT

Groups fear worsening air quality in National Parks

MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK, Colo.—Environmentalists and some civic leaders are protesting proposed changes to the federal clean air law that they say will worsen pollution in several Western national parks, including Mesa Verde National Park.

Advocacy groups held news conferences at the southwest Colorado park and three others Wednesday to call on the Bush administration to abandon the change being considered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The EPA has proposed changing the way the impact of a new pollution source on a park is calculated by looking at annual averages, rather than peak periods, of pollution.

"Mesa Verde sits at 7,000 feet, where the air is supposed to be clear and the skies blue, but we're already seeing the effects of ozone and haze because of the intensity of energy development in the Four Corners," said Jodi Foran, president of the League of Women Voters of Montezuma County.

The National Parks Conservation Association, San Juan Citizens Alliance and other groups contend the rule change is meant to make it easier to build coal-fired power plants near parks.

Mike Eisenfeld, the New Mexico energy coordinator for the San Juan Citizens Alliance, said the news conference was his first visit to Mesa Verde in two years.

"I was shocked. The visibility up there has decreased significantly since I was there last," Eisenfeld said.

He blamed the Four Corners Power Plant and San Juan Generating Station, both coal-fired plants in the area, for worsening air quality. Eisenfeld said he believes pollution would increase if the Desert Rock coal-fired plant is built as planned 45 miles to the south.

Mary Uhl, air quality division bureau chief at the New Mexico Environment Department, warned during a recent meeting in Durango that smog levels in Mesa Verde could exceed federal limits this summer.

Navajo Nation's Dine Power Authority and Houston-based Sithe Global Power want to build the $3 billion Desert Rock plant, which could produce electricity for up to 1.5 million homes in cities across the Southwest.

Under the federal Clean Air Act, national parks and other certain federal lands are considered "Class 1" air-quality zones, meaning they have the highest level of protection. Opponents say the proposed changes would permit more pollution by changing how and when pollution is measured, eliminating shorter-term monitoring periods intended to chart sharp rises.

Environmental groups point to another change that would no longer include some existing pollution sources when considering development of new ones.

Staffers in several EPA regional offices across the country and U.S. senators, include Colorado Democrat Ken Salazar, have criticized the proposals.

Jeff Holmstead, head of the environmental strategies group at Bracewell & Giuliani, the law firm that represents Sithe Global and the Desert Rock project, said environmentalists are focusing on worst-case scenarios. He was in charge of the EPA's air pollution control office when the proposed changes were drafted in 2005.

"What the EPA is saying now is, 'Let's use the appropriate tools, but not raise the highest hurdles we can,'" Holmstead said. "The environmental community wants it to be this way because it gives them leverage; it makes it easier to stop an individual project because otherwise it will foul the air in our national parks. But it's just not true."

McCain - The Anti-Green

John Dukovich — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 08:16:52 EDT

There is an article on the front page of today's Washington Post stating that McCain wants to "green" the government ("McCain Has Plan to Make Government More Green" http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/24/AR2008062401412.html?hpid=topnews). What McCain proposes is easily recognizable as green-washing.

McCain has proposed several things that are visibly green. However, you have to look at McCain's big picture. When he wants to drill for oil off of our coasts, cut the gas tax to pander to consumers, and increase production of corn-based ethanol (see his most recent energy ad), McCain shows his true stripes. He also loves nuclear power, which he says is "clean", yet he does not address how to handle the highly radioactive nuclear waste.

The most telling data is McCain's long-standing, poor environmental voting record. The non-partisans source for this data is the League of Conservation Voters -- check out McCain's meager environmental record here:

http://capwiz.com/lcv_stage/bio/keyvotes/?id=192&congress=1102&lvl=C

McCain loves to talk about his record. Well, here we can see his record: McCain generally ranges under 50% -- a failing grade.

John McCain -- an enemy of the environment.

Oil spills in Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

Barb — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:44:38 EDT

Senator Burr (R) of NC told MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell at the top of this hour that "not a drop" of oil was spilled during those hurricanes--an outright LIE!

St. Petersburg Times
Craig Pittman
pub. June 20, 2008

"Hurricane Katrina ripped into Louisiana and Mississippi in 2005, destroying 115 oil platforms, significantly damaging 52 more and setting adrift 19. More than 7-million gallons of petroleum products spilled, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. By comparison, in 1989 the Exxon Valdez spilled 11-million gallons in Alaska's Prince William Sound."

Sharing HOPE with my DNC Friends

Liz — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 07:45:21 EDT

Once in a while I stumble across a site that is so wonderful and encouraging in terms of what people are doing on the behalf of Democracy, our nation and the world that I want to grab everyone I meet by the lapels and say GO HERE. Wait until you see all the great things that the people of the USA are doing.

There are signs of poliitical life all over our nation. People are really standing up and saying no and voting in their state legislatures in support of their no.

The New Rules Project, Designing Rules as if Communiity Matters, is one of these sites. New Rules is a project of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

I am not a libertarian, but I am a Democrat who agrees with about 50% of what Libertarians advocate while being strongly opposed to the other 50%. To me most of the information on this site stresses local self-reliance within the context of a government that protects the people and provides oversight.

http://www.newrules.org/index.htm

New Rules is a project of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Problem: Linear Systems Don't Work on a Finite Planet

Liz — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:19:50 EDT

WHAT IS THE STORY OF STUFF?

"From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever."

Go here to watch the video if you like:

http://www.storyofstuff.com/

Help Protect California's Deserts & Mountains

Mozart Club — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 10:41:38 EDT

Please support the California Desert and Mountain Heritage Act (H.R. 3682):

To designate certain Federal lands in Riverside County, California, as wilderness, to designate certain river segments in Riverside County as a wild, scenic, or recreational river, to adjust the boundary of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, and for other purposes.

Read more about the bill and its status at:
www.opencongress.org/bill/110-h3682/show

You can write your representative at:
Write Your Representative.

Or, you can use the Friends Of The River website to send your message to the Congress.

Independence From Foreign Oil is Not Just About the Environment

smffy — Sat, 17 May 2008 21:16:56 EDT

The Democractic nominees for president have show a strong commitment to the development and production of alternatives to foreign oil dependence. Bio-fuels can be produced not only from corn, but crop waste, and sugar cane. The funding called for,for research and development will ensure that the most efficient, cost effective alternative are viable options.

McCain's "environmentalist" identity is weak. He has not voted on any legislation concerning this issue for a year. The strategy of no voting record to attack only serves to underscore his failure to COMMIT to environmental issues.

Because this issue is so important to our country on several levels, his record should be made public and the difference between his position and the democratic nominees should be emphasized.