Archive for the ‘Environment’ Category

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The administration's plan to crush Louisiana economically

Wednesday, March 11th, 2009

Well sort of.

I only recently realized the possible significance of the current administration’s proposed budget. With its $30 billion in new taxes on the oil and gas industry.

Now tell me. Which states would this affect the most? In which states is the oil and gas industry a particularly important part of the economy?

  • Texas
  • Alaska
  • Louisiana

Out of morbid curiosity is there any political significance to these states?

  • Texas – Presidents Bush I and Bush II and a state that votes strongly Republican in national elections
  • Alaska – Vice-presidential candidate Governor Sarah Palin and a state that…
  • Louisiana – Governor Bobby Jindal (who delivered the Republican response to President Obama’s speech and a rising star in the Republican party and is one of the few governors who wants to turn down some of the economic “stimulus” money) and a state that…

Of course this could all be coincidence. Surely President Obama is not trying to drive these very “red” states into economic submission.

What effect would these $30 billion in new taxes have on Louisiana specifically? According to Bayou Buzz:

For Louisiana, investment in oil and gas would likely drop by $6 billion a year, the State General Fund would drop by another $2.3 billion a year, and unemployment would probably exceed 10 percent.

Oh my.

Did you know that Louisiana is the only state in the nation that saw an increase in non-farming jobs last year? (Despite Vice-president Biden’s ridiculous claim we are losing a couple hundred jobs per day – someone hand the man a functioning brain.) I do not make light of the nation’s overall economic downturn but here in Louisiana it has not been that bad. It is starting to become bad for reasons that are not entirely clear but may have to do more with local mistakes than with the national economy. (Huge cuts being made throughout the Louisiana State University system.) But if the Obama administration has its way we could go from being one of the most economically healthy states to one of the worst – and not because of anything our state did. Our state economy already took a nice hit when President Obama overturned the Bush administration’s position on offshore oil exploration and production. Think of all the jobs that would have been created! I mean is not the ostensible goal of the Obama administration to stimulate the economy and see jobs not just saved but even created?

Readers of this blog know that I do care about the environment and alternative forms of energy. Where I depart somewhat from more doctrinaire environmentalism is (a) nuclear energy needs to be a huge part of our non-petroleum future and (b) we will always no matter what still need petroleum (ask any science-fiction writer) and in the meantime strongly support carefully expanding oil exploration and production in the United States and finally (c) believe the best way to promote alternative energy is through (tax) credits and incentives through encouraging their development and use rather than taxing banning and punishing oil and gas based energy (carrots rather than sticks).*

Does the rest of the United States have no appreciation for where its oil and gas comes from? Remember what happened to the price of gas after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and (to a much lesser extent) Gustav? Those were natural disasters over which we had little control. Why does the Obama administration (and those American citizens who supports its policies) want to inflict economic disaster on oil and gas producing states?

H/T Bayou Buzz via Old River Road via Red Stick Rant.

*Interesting tidbit. During the 1970’s there was a short period when the federal government offered a big tax break to homes that converted to solar (water heating). We were one of the very first and few to make this change. Until this year you could use (for example) Google to look at our old house in Massachusetts and still see the solar panel. I was very proud of my parents and of our house. (Today I checked and do not see the panel. Did they remove it?!? Maybe it wore out.)

Posted in Environment, Louisiana, Politics | No Comments »

Charles Krauthammer coins and explains "Obamaism"

Friday, February 27th, 2009

Obamaism.

Now we have a word to describe the agenda which Krauthammer able summarizes. He begins by noting the significance of his recent speech to the Congress:

If Barack Obama succeeds, his joint address to Congress will be seen as historic — indeed as the foundational document of Obamaism. As it stands, it constitutes the boldest social democratic manifesto ever issued by a U.S. president. [emphasis added]

“Social democratic manifesto”. Which according to Krauthammer has three main features:

  1. Universal health care. Granted not all at once or directly but a “half way step” which is a government sponsored plan so attractive it will starve out the private sector. Readers of this blog may know that I do not oppose the idea of “universal health care” as much as most conservatives. I am sympathetic to the idea. But I of course have grave concerns about its cost implications and quality.
  2. Government funded entitlement of education all the way through college.
  3. Green energy. Readers of this blog again will realize I am not against green energy – in fact I support it strongly. But how shall we get there? With massive government spending and regulation? Is this really about the environment – or is this about expanding vastly the size and control of government over our no-longer-very-free market economy?

Krauthammer adds:

These revolutions in health care, education and energy are not just abstract hopes. They have already taken life in Obama’s massive $787 billion stimulus package, a huge expansion of social spending constituting a down payment on Obama’s plan for remaking the American social contract.

Obama sees the current economic crisis as an opportunity. He has said so openly. And now we know what opportunity he wants to seize. Just as the Depression created the political and psychological conditions for Franklin Roosevelt’s transformation of America from laissez-faireism to the beginnings of the welfare state, the current crisis gives Obama the political space to move the still (relatively) modest American welfare state toward European-style social democracy.

Read the whole thing at Townhall.Com. You do not have to register.

How many of us warned (a) what kind of person Barack Obama really is and (b) the radical left/liberal nature of his agenda. But many – who otherwise would not vote for democratic socialism and/or a man of such radical political leanings driven by an ego emboldened by a degree of hubris that would make Creon (“Antigone”) blush – said “he inspires hope” and represents “change” and we should “give him a chance”.

So how is that working for you so far?

Thanks a lot.

Are you willing now to face the truth and join the resistance?

Posted in Education, Environment, Media, News, Politics, Uncategorized | No Comments »

REVIEW – "Quantum of Solace"

Tuesday, November 25th, 2008

Quantum of Solace movie poster

When we were in New York visiting my mom we went to see a movie with my brother and his family. It was the first time he had seen the preview for the next (now) Bond film. When he saw the title he leaned over and said “Quantum of Solace?!? What the heck does that mean?”

Call me a fool but I typically read review of a movie before I see it. The general pattern was “Quantum of Solace is good but not as good as Casino Royale”. Rotten Tomatoes summarizes:

Brutal and breathless, Quantum Of Solace delivers tender emotions along with frenetic action. Not as good as franchise reboot Casino Royale, but still an impressive entry to the Bond canon.

I would suggest those reviewers are not getting the point.

“Quantum of Solace” is outstanding and should not be compared especially unfavorably to “Casino Royale”. It is not better or not-as-good. It is different. And therein lies its power.

It is one of only two Bond films that I can remember continue a story line from a previous film (here the death of Vesper Lynd). Despite his consistently brooding stone-face Daniel Craig manages to show that James Bond has… feelings. And is capable of being deeply wounded. He can admit he was wrong. Genuinely touching is the scene where he holds his dying friend. Also nicely handled is when he explains to Camille how to prepare yourself to kill someone. (Watch the clip here.)

The action sequences (chases and fights) are spectacular although one reviewer is correct to note that they are at times muddled and confusing (exactly what is going on? what did Bond do just then?). The new Bond films with Daniel Craig show violence as it truly is – brutal bloody and frightening. Forget the cartoon punch-them-out cartoon violence of the Moore era. Several times I cringed and even said “Ow!” when Bond slammed into a wall, landed onto a stone balcony 20 feet below, or sunk an axe into someone’s foot. This Bond does not smirk and adjust his tie after a grueling kill-or-be-killed hand-to-hand fight. He looks like h#ll.

One thing that always amazed me is how Bond adapts and improvizes when frankly he is deep in the poo and it is hitting the rotary air moving device. Steal a wooden fishing boat to take on two speed boats full of men with machine guns? Yeah sure that sounds like a strategy! And yet somehow Bond pulls it off. The way he flushes out the conspirators in the opera hall is simply spellbinding.

One small point about politics. The story line (which admittedly is a bit too complicated to follow easily) contains a subtle point about the environment. It is not entirely fictional either. But one does not feel the movie is pushing a political-environmentalist agenda. The point is simply there and the story stands on its own. That is how art should be I believe. Art can include politics (or theology or whatever) but the agenda must not define the art.

Finally – what does the film suggest about the motivations for sin and human violence? Yes there is genuine malice and the banality of evil (portrayed well in the character Dominic Greene). There is also dehumanizing brutality (seen more in the character of the general). But to what extent are violence and sin driven by our own brokenness? This is not to excuse it! But to help understand the helplessness of human beings in their sinful condition. As Judy Dench (playing M) says in one of the most memorable lines of the film:

I think you are so blinded by inconsolable rage that you don’t care who you hurt.

Watch the clip here.

Precisely.

Posted in Environment, Hamartiology (sin), Movies and film | No Comments »

Red Stick Rant – "What a Difference a Governor Makes"

Tuesday, September 9th, 2008

I have become a regular peruser of the blog Red Stick Rant by someone whom I probably need to meet. Very conservative. Parishioner at St Luke’s Episcopal Church which arguably is one of the best parishes of any tradition/denomination in the state. And right here in Baton Rouge.

I thought Clifford nailed it with this short piece about the difference a governor makes.

Since Hurricane Gustav missed New Orleans last week, the national media determined it was all a non-event. No story here; move along. No matter that it was worst storm ever to hit Baton Rouge, was more damaging to Louisiana than Hurricane Andrew in 1992, and a half million of us are still without power. But in missing those stories, the national media missed the real story here, which can be summed up in three words:

Governor. Bobby. Jindal.

Read the whole thing here.

I did not vote for Bobby Jindal even when he ran against Kathleen Blanco. The two reasons very simply were:

  • I thought he was excessively “wonky” – spouted policy and numbers and proposals at a million miles a minute I found it hard to listen to the guy.
  • My wife worked for the state government at the time and a vote for Bobby Jindal was basically a vote against one of our sources of income along with insurance/benefits of which at the time I received none through the church.

I still have some bones to pick with Bobby Jindal on several issues. But as difficult as the last several days have been (personally and for much of Louisiana) Governor Jindal demonstrated exceptional leadership and helped us avoid excessive suffering and is helping the state recover much more quickly.

Posted in Environment, Media, News, Personal, Politics | No Comments »

George Will – For Obama Believing is Seeing

Saturday, August 30th, 2008

I doubt anyone on our street recycles as much as we do. We were the first to get one of the big recycling bins – and use it well. We recycle more than we throw away. I support strongly taking steps to conserve energy and explorer other sources of energy (besides petroleum).

But I also care about reality. And what works. And working in the real world.

George Will asks some hard questions about the relationship between Barack Obama’s stated energy policy goals and the space-time continuum we happen to inhabit. He concludes:

There never is a shortage of nonsensical political rhetoric, but really: Has there ever been solemn silliness comparable to today’s politicians tarting up their agendas as things designed for, and necessary to, “saving the planet,” and promising edicts to “require” entire industries to reorder themselves?

In 1996, Bob Dole, citing the Clinton campaign’s scabrous fundraising, exclaimed: “Where’s the outrage?” This year’s campaign, soggy with environmental messianism, deranged self-importance and delusional economics, the question is: Where is the derisive laughter?

Read the whole piece here. You do not need to register.

You want to vote for Senator Obama? Fine. Go for it. But I think we all need to be very clear and up front about just what his policies are. And what relationship they have with reality – or not.

Posted in Economics, Environment, Media, Politics, Uncategorized | No Comments »

"They opened my mind to what would backfire"

Monday, June 23rd, 2008

Was channel flipping yesterday and caught several minutes of a special on CNN about the current crisis in oil supply/prices called “Out of Gas” (I think – I cannot find anything about this on the CNN website).

Several minutes with Sir Richard Branson. He explained how the rise in fuel prices means an extra billion dollars per year to operate his airline. How many airlines are struggling and will fold. He used to think one of the problems was a shortage of refineries. He was going to build his own refinery – until Ted Turner and Al Gore got a hold of him and “opened my mind” to the crisis of global warming.

So Sir Branson chose not to build another refinery but to invest three billion dollars in ethanol research and production. (Rising fuel costs means an extra billion per year in fuel expenses. So he spends three billion on ethanol research. Got it.) What was remarkable was that the news special admitted candidly that this “backfired”. CNN admitted that its owner/founder Ted Turner (along with the much feted Albert Gore Jr) may have given Sir Branson poor advice. (I salute and respect Branson’s desire to invest in alternative/renewable energy. But good intentions are not enough – one needs policies and strategies that will cause more good than harm.)

Remember the next time Al Gore is hailed as a true prophet for the cause of managing the planet. When you are filling your car with gas. On the way to the grocery store.

Posted in Environment, Media, Science | No Comments »

Charles Krauthammer – "McCain's Oil Epiphany"

Sunday, June 22nd, 2008

Funny how the Washington Post labels the column.

Anyways – once again I feel soiled bringing politics (especially presidential politics) onto this website. But those few who read know that I am passionate about the environment and energy conservation.

In a nutshell I would say McCain was wrong when he proposed no tax on gasoline during the summer. But Obama is wrong in almost every other way when it comes to energy policy. Just because I care about the environment and energy conservation does not mean I oppose energy exploration/production in any form. Coal is unfairly maligned. We need more nuclear energy. And the United States must allow oil exploration in Alaska and offshore. It might take years to see the benefits – but that is sooner than if we never start.

Charles Krauthammer (correctly) criticizes McCain for his opposition to drilling in Alaska but gives him credit for changing his position on offshore exploration and drilling.

At a time when U.S. crude oil production has fallen 40 percent in the past 25 years, 75 billion barrels of oil have been declared off-limits, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That would be enough to replace every barrel of non-North American imports (oil trade with Canada and Mexico is a net economic and national security plus) for 22 years.

That’s nearly a quarter-century of energy independence. The situation is absurd. To which John McCain is responding with a partial fix: Lift the federal ban on Outer Continental Shelf drilling, where a fifth of the off-limits stuff lies.

Read the whole thing here. You might need to register.

What is ironic is that the Candidate of Change slammed McCain for… uh… changing his position. If McCain does not go far enough with regard to oil exploration – be aware that Obama does not go anywhere at all. Obama is right for opposing a gasoline tax moratorium for the summer. Would be nice if he offered any solutions of any kind. Krauthammer also reminds us that McCain has always opposed the ethanol boondoggle – whereas Obama endorses it without reservation.

Remember that the next time you buy gas. On the way to the grocery store.

Posted in Environment, Media, News, Politics, Science | No Comments »

Charles Krauthammer, "At $4, Everybody Gets Rational"

Friday, June 6th, 2008

Charles Krauthammer says so much better what I tried to express earlier in my post about how high oil and gas prices are forcing people to do what they would not do earlier when they had a choice.

So now we know: The price point is $4.

At $3 a gallon, Americans just grin and bear it, suck it up and, while complaining profusely, keep driving like crazy. At $4, it is a world transformed. Americans become rational creatures.

Read the whole thing. You might need to register.

Not everyone will appreciate the solution he has apparently been advocating for twenty five years. It is a solution that I also would (have) resist(ed). I am moderately conservative and do not like “tax the living daylights out of it” solutions. But he makes a very good point. And a very good observation.

Now we know. Now we know the point at which Americans will start doing the smart thing.

If George Will speaks directly for God… is Charles Krauthammer the high priest?

Posted in Environment, Politics | No Comments »

George Will, "The Gas Prices We Deserve"

Friday, June 6th, 2008

His conclusion:

America says to foreign producers: We prefer not to pump our oil, so please pump more of yours, thereby lowering its value, for our benefit. Let it not be said that America has no energy policy.

Read the whole thing. You might need to register.

In a nutshell – George Will explains how the people we should blame the most for high gas prices are… ourselves. Politicians for foolish and short-sighted policies. Voters for putting them in office. The one thing that clearly would be controversial is his implicit call for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve and for more off-shore drilling. But it is either that or prices continue to climb.

I like to think of myself as an environmentalist. But… good or bad… we need oil. Even if we today switch to fusion power across the board (we are not there yet I know that) we would still need petroleum. (A point made often made in science-fiction. Even in the far distant future human beings will need petroleum for plastics if nothing else.)

And remember – George Will speaks directly for God. Yes I have a bias.

Posted in Environment, Politics | No Comments »

When they do what is right because of pressure not persuasion

Thursday, May 29th, 2008

For years I have (rather self-righteously) sneered at those who drive SUVs. “What are you going to do when global warming kicks in? Turn up the air conditioning?!?” Although I admit I thought Hummers were cool. A car that can inflate its own tires and drive places that would bring a Jeep to its knees?

It seems that only now are people who never cared before (like those who drive SUVs/giant trucks and really do not need) trying to get rid of their vehicular monstrosities and purchasing smaller cars with much better fuel efficiency. (Such as hybrids although just switching to a compact makes a big difference.) Why are they doing the right thing? Why are they suddenly thinking about how much gas they use and changing their behavior? Because they can no longer afford not to.

Thomas Friedman for the New York Times writes:

But the message going forward to every car buyer and carmaker would be this: The price of gasoline is never going back down. Therefore, if you buy a big gas guzzler today, you are locking yourself into perpetually high gasoline bills. You are buying a pig that will eat you out of house and home. At the same time, if you, a manufacturer, continue building fleets of nonhybrid gas guzzlers, you are condemning yourself, your employees and shareholders to oblivion.

(Read the whole thing here. You may need to register.) Note I do not necessarily agree with Friedman’s solutions – although I certainly agree with his diagnosis of the problem.

Here is what troubles me.

For years I have wished people would do the “right thing” and conserve energy more. Smaller cars. Less unnecessary travel. More energy efficient homes. Recycle like crazy. Encourage alternative energy technologies. And so on. (For the sake of fairness I confess I could do much better myself.)

And for years I have opposed the idea that the government should make people do this by taxing the living daylights out of the “wrong thing”. Like heavy taxes on gasoline or large vehicles. Why make something artificially expensive? Heavy taxes on gasoline would punish everyone not just those who drive unnecessarily large fuel-inefficient vehicles but also people who drive small(er) cars. Heck – people who own hybrids would also get socked (although much less).

And the poor? How many poor families can afford new fuel efficient cars? Let alone a hybrid? I wish I had a hybrid – but they are out of our price range and because we finally own our cars we are taking advantage of the chance to save up some money (for college and so on). For someone who makes more than a hundred thousand dollars per year higher gas prices are annoying. For someone who earns minimum wage higher gas prices are devastating.

But you know? Even if I am right and it is just… bad… to force people to do the right thing through heavy taxes… it seems that many Americans are in fact changing their behavior because financially they feel forced to. I wish people did not have to be forced (economically) to make wiser choices. But that is in fact what appears to be happening. Alas that moral suasion is not and has not been enough.

Posted in Environment, Society and Culture | No Comments »

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