The End Is Nigh, Per The UN's Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change Report

I fully understand that we are not expected to challenge what we are told by politicians and the mainstream media.  After all, they know what is best.  Yes, I am aware of the fact that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that July was the hottest month on record, for the last 142 years for which records were maintained.  Yes, I know that the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change just issued a new report with a dire warning, telling us that it is a "code red for humanity."  

A USA Today editorial (reprinted in the 8/11/21 Ventura County Star) told us that global temperatures have risen nearly 2 degrees Fahrenheit, or about 1 degree Celsius.  The editorial also told us that "heat deaths are far outpacing every other form of weather killer in a 30-year average."  Does this mean we are not supposed to ask if the number of deaths as a result of cold weather has gone down?  Should they be telling us if that is so?  Or, would any good news detract from the dire messaging?  

The editorial also tells us that "the clock is ticking for planet Earth."  That sounds scary.  But are we allowed to ask what it means?  Is it ticking because the Earth is going to explode?  If so, when?  If not, what are they telling us - other than trying to frighten us.  One climate scientist said "I don't see any area that is safe...nowhere to run, nowhere to hide."  That is definitely scary.  But, if I am allowed to inquire, is every square inch of land on Earth going to be equally affected by whatever is going to happen?   

The Wall Street Journal reported (in their 8/10/21 editorial) that someone at Reuters wrote:  "Further warming could mean that in some places, people could die just from going outside."  If I am allowed to ask, how much further warming?  Two degrees?  A tenth of one degree?  In what places will this happen?  Or, as the sentence says "could" happen, what is the likelihood of that occurring?  According to the same editorial, the IPCC report has "low confidence" that the Antarctic sea ice will melt.  As for the Arctic sea ice, the "Arctic is likely to be practically sea ice free in September at least once before 2050."  Is one time before 2050 catastrophic?    

John Kerry is President Biden's Special Presidential Envoy for Climate.  He must be special as he gets to fly around in a private jet.  One site told us that his jet emitted 138 metric tons of carbon between 1/10/21 and 8/6/21.  The average car emits 4.6 metric tons of carbon per year, according to the same article.  But, you say, Mr. Kerry has to fly all over the world as a Presidential Envoy.  That is likely true.  But does he have to fly to places within Massachusetts, or nearby states?  Are we to believe that none of his flights were for personal recreation, such as to Martha's Vineyard?  Or, because Mr. Kerry is "special," are we not supposed to question his travel?  He did tell us:  "Today's report from the @IPCC_CH shows that we cannot afford further delay."  I guess; as long as he can continue to fly on his private jet.  

Full admission - I am not a climate scientist.  I am not any type of scientist.  But, I am an attorney, and as such I know how to ask questions.  Do not misunderstand.  I believe that the Earth has been warming.  But, as one scientist said:  "often adaptation is ignored, although it can alleviate much or sometimes all of climate damages."  Even if you do not agree that humans have an ability to adapt, or to discover ways to deal with a warming planet, my question is this:  are scare tactics even helpful to the cause?  Or are some people turned off by those tactics, with others concluding "what's the point, it's too late to do anything."  

In an Op-Ed in the 8/10/21 Wall Street Journal, Gerard Baker made this astute observation:  "Journalism is no longer about trying to tell us what happened; it's about telling us what we must believe on pain of moral peril.  On every major topic - climate, Covid, race relations, electoral law - almost every story blares out at us with censorious didacticism, the journalist's smug disdain for the unbelievers pouring through the prose."  And Baker tells us this:  "In its heyday journalism demanded skepticism and curiosity...the modern journalist is different.  His primary ambition is to be part of the expert class, to identify as a member of the cultural elite..."

Whatever the topic, I have always encouraged people to read different sources.  That advice is usually ignored by liberals that I know.  And learn to question; don't just read and absorb.  I know any number of otherwise bright individuals, who simply accept without question what their party and the mainstream media tells them.    

 

The Return of the Coronavirus - How the Elitist Democrats Are Looking Out For You

With the increasing number of Covid cases from the Delta variant, Los Angeles County is poised to order proof of vaccination for entry into various establishments, such as restaurants, gyms, entertainment venues and retail outlets.  Some bars and restaurants are already requesting such verification.  Yesterday, LA County reported 4229 new cases with 21 new deaths.  The day prior it was 3819 new cases with 19 deaths.  New York City, with a population of a little more than one million less people than LA County, reported a daily average over the last week of 1424 confirmed new cases, and another 358 more "likely" new cases, and 6 deaths per day.  To be clear, I personally favor the vaccines.  I had two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, and I am leaning towards getting a third dose.  Vaccinations have had an exemplary record of eradicating disease in our country.  However, I do not approve of the bullying by either side of the vaccination issue.  

The Democrat elites in Oregon are really looking out for their state's students.  Governor Kate Brown signed a bill that eliminated any requirement that high school students prove they are proficient in math, reading and writing.  Here's the Governor's deputy communications director, explaining how the lack of standards will benefit "Black, Latino, Latinx, Indigenous, Asian, Pacific Islander, Tribal, and students of color."  And this:  "Leaders from those communities have advocated time and again for equitable graduation standards."  Some leaders.  Lower or eliminate standards, rather than improve performance.  

It is insulting to all those student groups listed to suggest that they are incapable of ever achieving competency in math, reading and writing.  And it is racist.  I am amazed that anyone still believes that the do-gooder elitists in the Democrat Party actually care about people.  If they did care, they would see to it that high school students met the proficiency standards.  Otherwise, what will become of those students if they are unable to hold down a job in the real world?  I am reminded of the movie "Stand and Deliver," which told the story of Garfield High School's famous math teacher, Jaime Escalante.  Garfield High is in East LA, with many of the students being Hispanic (Latino, Latinx).  Yet, year after year, Escalante was able to get many of those students to pass the Advanced Placement Calculus exam.  His secret to success is no secret at all for right thinking people:  it's "a very time-honored tradition - hard work for teacher and student alike."  

Democrat elitist thinking does nothing but sow division within our country.  Sometimes, in the form of advocating for critical race theory.  Or, as CDC Director Rochelle Walensky told us:  "The rise in cases, vaccine hesitancy, and the increased risk of severe illness for pregnant people..."  Wait!  Pregnant people?  Are men now becoming pregnant?  According to the woke, Democratic left, yes they are.  You see, people who were born female, but identify as male, are still able to give birth (assuming they have not had gender reassignment surgery).  Let me be clear.  I have complete empathy for anyone who feels they were born into the wrong sex, the wrong body.  But let me also be clear - only women are capable of giving birth.  Although, the Democratic left finds it convenient to ignore the science when it suits their purposes.  Oh, these woke Democrats also talk about "chest" feeding.

With the latest census results out, it has been reported that whites now make up less than 60% of the US population, at 57.8%.  Hispanics constitute 18.7%, Blacks 12.4% and Asians 6%.  A person of the left advised me that this will be bad for the Republican Party.  But on the bright side, I was told that we Republicans will now have more people to hate.  What utter nonsense and tripe.  I replied by asking him this:  "Assuming Governor Newsom is recalled, will you be voting for Larry Elder, a black man, to replace him, or do you hate blacks?"  Of course, what I presented was a silly alternative, but no more so than what I was given.  And I wanted to make a point.  Not surprisingly, the other individual did not accept my comparison.  The most disturbing, of course, is his belief that Republicans hate people of color.  I assume that many other elitist Democrats feel the same way about Republicans.  Yet every Republican I have spoken to said they will vote for the black man, Larry Elder, to replace Newsom.  As will I.  

"Squad" member Cori Bush, a supporter of defunding the police, was asked to defend the $70,000 she paid for personal security.  Her answer to her critics was:  "They would rather I die?"  No, Representative Bush, no one I know wants to see you die.  But here's a question:  how will defunding the police help prevent a repeat of the 20,000+ murders that we saw in 2020 (not to mention all the other violent crime).  Are those lost lives worth less than yours, Representative Bush?  Typical leftist, elitist thinking:  I need protection, the hell with the rest of you.  As of 8/9/21, Portland, Oregon saw a year to date increase in homicides of 327%, compared to 2020.  From 1/1/21 to 7/31/21, there was an increase by 126% of attacks on police.  So, go ahead, Representative Bush, push to defund the police, along with the rest of your elitist Democrat allies, as long as you remain protected,

While the mask debate rages on, it was rather interesting to see former President Obama celebrate his 60th birthday, with a "small" crowd of hundreds of party goers.  The pictures that we saw were of Obama and others dancing and celebrating, maskless.  One CNN commentator explained why masks were unnecessary:  "this is a sophisticated, vaccinated crowd."  Of course.  I knew that.  The sophisticated (i.e. elites) know how to behave.  And they are somehow protected from getting the coronavirus.  But the rest of us rubes?  Not so much.  Which brings to mind this question:  are all the people crossing into our country through the southern border also sophisticated?  Is that why we can release them into our society, because they pose no risk to the rest of us?  None have Covid?  None commit crimes, because the sophisticated do not engage in criminal behavior?  

Maybe letting people cross the border illegally is akin to the elites letting the homeless live on our city streets.  After all, we know that a number of illegal immigrants do, in fact, have Covid.  Yet they get released into the country.  We know that these tent cities of the homeless are breeding grounds for various diseases.  But the Democrat elites running many cities do not seem to be concerned.  Nor are they concerned about the deleterious effects on businesses, when homeless encampments spring up in commercial areas.  And property values of homeowners?  The Democrat elites are above all of that.  

But surely the Democrat elites care about women.  Right?  Not so much.  In California, a "woke" state, a law now allows transgender women (biological men, with penises) to be housed with biological female prisoners in California.  One female inmate has already become pregnant.  Said another:  "Does anyone care that we are being forced to house with 6'2" 250+ lbs men with penises that are here for brutally raping women?"  My answer is - they do not care.  Just like they do not care about high school female athletes having to compete with transgender females (who have male bodies), resulting in those athletes who were born female not only losing competitions, but likely losing out on college  scholarships as well.  

So, never question whether the Democrat elites are looking out for you.  After all, they are "woke."  And being "woke" makes the elite Democrats feel good.  The harm that they cause is irrelevant.  At least it is to them.