There is a very good article in the Washington Post about political inertia, ie, that change doesn’t happen because we are stuck in a perpetual state of political inaction. The article put its finger on something that I have been aware of for years, but have not articulated it as such. That inertia is killing us and will eventually and slowly annihilate our kids and grandkids. It even had a name in years past and was described as, “An Inconvenient Truth” (coined by Al Gore).The article I read this morning broadened out the implications of inertia, describing it as a comfortable place for allowing Trump to run rampant over all our civil rights and the rule of law. People say they want change, but so many of them do not want to do what it takes to effectuate it. Protests by many of us can create some awareness, but it is members of congress, fully captured by Trump, that can create the law that will preserve the life of our planet.
You are correct, Judy…but somehow, some way, we have to remind them that they work for us and not Trump. We also have to make the case that we cannot fiddle while the planet burns if we care at all about future generations. But I realize that is a lot to ask, since self-interest seems to be the number one priority of elected leaders.
They are afraid of offending Dear Leader…and have absolutely no fear of us..the American citizens. Funny…they actually took “sacred” OATHS and they mean absolutely nothing. No wonder no one likes politicians.
I don’t want them to fear us. I want them to respect us. Those are two different things. They can only respect us if they agree with our concept of justice, freedom, and responsibility for each other and the planet. I have to assume that they do not…full stop.
Thanks for the thoughtful post, and I'm especially glad for the reference to Al Gore.
I sometimes think I am the only one who thinks much about how Dubbya Bush, in spite of a command performance after 9/11, set the stage for trump and the end of the empire.
I am not saying that everything would have been different/better/easier if Gore had been elected bur for a few hanging chads. Al Qaeda would likely still have taken down the towers. However, I believe that with sensible stewardship, we could have avoided the second gulf war.
Would the world be a better place had we responded more temperately? You pick your poison. War is seldom the right answer.
Of all the atrocities of this regime, its actions against stopping climate change will be the longest lasting legacy of destruction. Rebuilding a functional government may take a couple of decades, but reversing global warming will take centuries.
Yes. Like about 1/3 of them, they like to watch the fire. It gives them a sense of power & control. Arsonists are believed to be sort of angry at the world & want revenge. What fits better than someone who ran a campaign on retribution?
I'm coming to believe that a national strike may be the only way we get the regime's attention. Individual protests across the US may be powerful but I think it might not be enough. However long it takes. Politicians are not doing their jobs. Let's see what happens when we all stop doing ours.
Soon, Trump and his minions are going to challenge gravity. No climate change? Do these people and the authors of 2025 even go outside? Even oil companies know things must change. It's as if they believe, "let's party, the Titanic is invincible." Jesus, take the wheel.
Stunningly, powerfully written Steven; packed with facts.
Though it is critical we be apprised of his purposefully directed destructive decisions, it is heart-wrenching to be reminded in print how the prince of darkness is sadistically bent on massive destruction..
It’s important we be reminded of the reckless causes of this Reality and that Trump’s poisonous Regime is the perpetrator.
Now is our moment—tomorrow take action against this harmful government. They are:
Covering up a pedophile ring.
Ignoring court orders.
Spreading corruption.
The poor, the needy, and children are being abused—by our government. Healthcare, already a broken system, was canceled for 13 million. Take to the streets!
We must protest outright crooks and the pedophiles. They will start shooting us. Untrained ICE agents will shoot us. Protest until we go down or we oust these tyrants.
I made 54 protest signs to aid protest groups. I will make many more to share. You will see something different in these signs! Help yourself to this second batch, and share them as far as you can.
Criminal! Is right! Attacks on the air we breathe. Attacks on science. Attacks on Press. Attacks on Education. And all the while he's dismantling the safety net to protect us from it - no FEMA, vaccines, regulations. My head is in my hands Steve...
SENATOR MARK KELLY, SENATOR RUBEN GALLEGO, both from Arizona voted AYE for Zeldin to become EPA Chief. You certainly would not know that fact since they do not complain about Zeldin in their many begging letters for money to Fight Trump! I must assume Zeldin is still their guy!
The fact that the only other Democrat to vote for Zeldin is FETTERMAN says a lot about Kelly and Gallego! BOOKER did not vote.
Booker is not impressing me. He recently got up on the floor of the Senate and attacked Dems over a law enforcement bill & said not to question his integrity - while telling Dems they were ‘complicit’. Yelling at the top of his lungs. They said he could be heard in the hallway.
The 1st problem - he was a co-sponsor of the bill & another Senator pointed out he didn’t ask for an amendment as it was put together. The 2nd problem was after he yelled and hollered, he withdrew his objection to the bill - but blocked others.
Ever since I was a teenager, I have worked to be environmentally aware. I had a vision of a future where we protected the environment, and it is painful, in my late 60s to see the accelerating destruction of it by the Republicans. Huge data centers will make the degradation of our planet even worse, particularly here in Indiana where our MAGA governor and gerrymandered legislature have jumped all in on coal and weakening state environmental regulations. I will continue to do what I can as an individual. Giving up would be unforgiveable.
What does it say about us - us, as a nation - that we are allowing this monster - a monster of our own creation, a psychotic, criminal thug - to rampage around the world stage without stopping him?
What does it say about our system of governance that we still lack a united opposition to spearhead the charge in order to remove this malevolent creature from office?
Or, do we lack the courage to deal with this evil, do we lack the will, are we just too indolent?
Thank you, Steven. Your post is most likely the best one I've seen on what's happening to our nation and our world. It's appalling, scary, and infuriating. How do we stop this dire future? What can we realistically do? I'm scared . . . and I'm pissed off.
I started learning about climate change in the 1970s, and throughout my college and graduate school education came to realize the terrifying future that lies ahead if we don’t come to our collective senses and make the changes we need to make as individuals as well as in our communities, states, and countries. Now in my 60s I see that future is rapidly approaching and it’s oh so bleak. Al Gore did his damndest but ultimately failed. Greta Thunberg is front and center but is not gaining enough traction either. As a scientist myself I cannot help but feel responsible and defeated. I am sad for the children of today who will pay for the sins of their fathers as Earth’s climate continues to spiral out of control. Selfishly I’m glad that I didn’t have my own children or grandchildren as I couldn’t bear to think of the disasters that await them as adults. Worsening global climate change is, IMHO, the worst threat we face today.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead
Glad I read replies first - would have used MM quote.... TY
There is a very good article in the Washington Post about political inertia, ie, that change doesn’t happen because we are stuck in a perpetual state of political inaction. The article put its finger on something that I have been aware of for years, but have not articulated it as such. That inertia is killing us and will eventually and slowly annihilate our kids and grandkids. It even had a name in years past and was described as, “An Inconvenient Truth” (coined by Al Gore).The article I read this morning broadened out the implications of inertia, describing it as a comfortable place for allowing Trump to run rampant over all our civil rights and the rule of law. People say they want change, but so many of them do not want to do what it takes to effectuate it. Protests by many of us can create some awareness, but it is members of congress, fully captured by Trump, that can create the law that will preserve the life of our planet.
United States CONGRESS is just a Pond of Toadies.
You are correct, Judy…but somehow, some way, we have to remind them that they work for us and not Trump. We also have to make the case that we cannot fiddle while the planet burns if we care at all about future generations. But I realize that is a lot to ask, since self-interest seems to be the number one priority of elected leaders.
They are afraid of offending Dear Leader…and have absolutely no fear of us..the American citizens. Funny…they actually took “sacred” OATHS and they mean absolutely nothing. No wonder no one likes politicians.
I don’t want them to fear us. I want them to respect us. Those are two different things. They can only respect us if they agree with our concept of justice, freedom, and responsibility for each other and the planet. I have to assume that they do not…full stop.
They are refusing to do their jobs.
Thanks for the thoughtful post, and I'm especially glad for the reference to Al Gore.
I sometimes think I am the only one who thinks much about how Dubbya Bush, in spite of a command performance after 9/11, set the stage for trump and the end of the empire.
I am not saying that everything would have been different/better/easier if Gore had been elected bur for a few hanging chads. Al Qaeda would likely still have taken down the towers. However, I believe that with sensible stewardship, we could have avoided the second gulf war.
Would the world be a better place had we responded more temperately? You pick your poison. War is seldom the right answer.
Of all the atrocities of this regime, its actions against stopping climate change will be the longest lasting legacy of destruction. Rebuilding a functional government may take a couple of decades, but reversing global warming will take centuries.
The longest lasting but also the slowest to do its damage
"Arsonists" is what Trump and his cabal are. A perfect analogy.
Yes. Like about 1/3 of them, they like to watch the fire. It gives them a sense of power & control. Arsonists are believed to be sort of angry at the world & want revenge. What fits better than someone who ran a campaign on retribution?
This article form 2012 describes the main characteristics. He’s older but has more power. https://abcnews.go.com/US/mind-arsonist-head-los-angeles-fire-starters/story?id=15274504
I'm coming to believe that a national strike may be the only way we get the regime's attention. Individual protests across the US may be powerful but I think it might not be enough. However long it takes. Politicians are not doing their jobs. Let's see what happens when we all stop doing ours.
Soon, Trump and his minions are going to challenge gravity. No climate change? Do these people and the authors of 2025 even go outside? Even oil companies know things must change. It's as if they believe, "let's party, the Titanic is invincible." Jesus, take the wheel.
Stunningly, powerfully written Steven; packed with facts.
Though it is critical we be apprised of his purposefully directed destructive decisions, it is heart-wrenching to be reminded in print how the prince of darkness is sadistically bent on massive destruction..
It’s important we be reminded of the reckless causes of this Reality and that Trump’s poisonous Regime is the perpetrator.
Please everyone do not give up.
💙💙🇺🇸💙💙
Thanks, Alexia. Yes, let’s not give up.
Now is our moment—tomorrow take action against this harmful government. They are:
Covering up a pedophile ring.
Ignoring court orders.
Spreading corruption.
The poor, the needy, and children are being abused—by our government. Healthcare, already a broken system, was canceled for 13 million. Take to the streets!
We must protest outright crooks and the pedophiles. They will start shooting us. Untrained ICE agents will shoot us. Protest until we go down or we oust these tyrants.
I made 54 protest signs to aid protest groups. I will make many more to share. You will see something different in these signs! Help yourself to this second batch, and share them as far as you can.
https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/more-free-protest-signs?r=3m1bs
Criminal! Is right! Attacks on the air we breathe. Attacks on science. Attacks on Press. Attacks on Education. And all the while he's dismantling the safety net to protect us from it - no FEMA, vaccines, regulations. My head is in my hands Steve...
I understand.
I know you do! Thank you
TY, Stephen, for spelling out exactly what the Destructor is doing not only to American democracy but also to our world planet. Well said!
The Antichrist DELIGHTS in seeing things burn. We just watch in horror.
SENATOR MARK KELLY, SENATOR RUBEN GALLEGO, both from Arizona voted AYE for Zeldin to become EPA Chief. You certainly would not know that fact since they do not complain about Zeldin in their many begging letters for money to Fight Trump! I must assume Zeldin is still their guy!
The fact that the only other Democrat to vote for Zeldin is FETTERMAN says a lot about Kelly and Gallego! BOOKER did not vote.
Booker is not impressing me. He recently got up on the floor of the Senate and attacked Dems over a law enforcement bill & said not to question his integrity - while telling Dems they were ‘complicit’. Yelling at the top of his lungs. They said he could be heard in the hallway.
The 1st problem - he was a co-sponsor of the bill & another Senator pointed out he didn’t ask for an amendment as it was put together. The 2nd problem was after he yelled and hollered, he withdrew his objection to the bill - but blocked others.
Too much pointless drama for me.
Ever since I was a teenager, I have worked to be environmentally aware. I had a vision of a future where we protected the environment, and it is painful, in my late 60s to see the accelerating destruction of it by the Republicans. Huge data centers will make the degradation of our planet even worse, particularly here in Indiana where our MAGA governor and gerrymandered legislature have jumped all in on coal and weakening state environmental regulations. I will continue to do what I can as an individual. Giving up would be unforgiveable.
What does it say about us - us, as a nation - that we are allowing this monster - a monster of our own creation, a psychotic, criminal thug - to rampage around the world stage without stopping him?
What does it say about our system of governance that we still lack a united opposition to spearhead the charge in order to remove this malevolent creature from office?
Or, do we lack the courage to deal with this evil, do we lack the will, are we just too indolent?
Thank you, Steven. Your post is most likely the best one I've seen on what's happening to our nation and our world. It's appalling, scary, and infuriating. How do we stop this dire future? What can we realistically do? I'm scared . . . and I'm pissed off.
I started learning about climate change in the 1970s, and throughout my college and graduate school education came to realize the terrifying future that lies ahead if we don’t come to our collective senses and make the changes we need to make as individuals as well as in our communities, states, and countries. Now in my 60s I see that future is rapidly approaching and it’s oh so bleak. Al Gore did his damndest but ultimately failed. Greta Thunberg is front and center but is not gaining enough traction either. As a scientist myself I cannot help but feel responsible and defeated. I am sad for the children of today who will pay for the sins of their fathers as Earth’s climate continues to spiral out of control. Selfishly I’m glad that I didn’t have my own children or grandchildren as I couldn’t bear to think of the disasters that await them as adults. Worsening global climate change is, IMHO, the worst threat we face today.