Global warming is in the news and many countries around the world have already announced what they intend to do about it and in fact have already committed to reduce emissions that scientist say are causing the problem. And then we have those who do not believe in global warming and etc., and in fact want nothing to do with it. No caps, no new rules or regulations, no mandates or any thing else. The status quo should remain.
The debate going on has over looked the real problem. And that is holding those responsible and liable for polluting the atmosphere, the air we breathe and releasing toxic chemicals into the earth and water supply and coastal erosion. If none of those things have an impact on global warming so what? Those responsible should be required to install what ever equipment is necessary to take care of the problem. The debate should center on that issue.
We know for a fact that the building of oil and gas pipelines are the primary cause of coastal erosion and we also know as fact that emissions from chemical plants make people sick and are also fatal at times. Chemicals are leaked into peoples water system that are close to those plants. The standard answer from those industries liable are they can not afford the equipment necessary to make the plants safe. In other words that would take money away from paying those mega bonuses.
The Louisiana Bucket Brigade in an article published in the Times Picayune dated 12/7/09 reported the 10 largest refineries in Louisiana had 2116 accidents between 2005-2008 that resulted in the release of millions of pounds of toxic chemicals into the air and millions of gallons of polluted water into the states water courses. One third of the accidents could be contributed to hurricanes and other bad weather events. It should be noted that even an accident free plant releases toxic chemical into the atmosphere and air we breathe.
Emissions do have an effect on global warming and the environment and because science is involved in both, the polluters want the debate to focus on the uncertainty of science instead of their own liability and responsibility to the general public and the earth we live on. Our political leaders need to focus on enforcement and our environment and global warming will automatically be the beneficiary. Those industries have to be held accountable.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Some Good Economic News
The U.S. Labor Department announced that the unemployment rate for November was 10%. That was an unexpected drop from the 10.2% in October. That is not a great number but is welcomed and hopefully is a sign of better things to come. It was also announced that the economy lost 11,000 jobs in November, the fewest job cuts since the recession began in December 2007. Wall Street was expecting 130,000 lost jobs.
Another bit of good news was that job losses for September and October were 159,000 fewer than reported earlier for those months. That is a big improvement and coupled with the November numbers would indicate the major bleeding in job losses has been reduced significantly. Job creation is expected to still remain weak and that has to be reversed to sustain the good news in the latest report.
It should be noted that most of the $787 billion in stimulus funds have not yet been spent and are still available to use where needed to help in job creation and other areas of the economy. The nation has an active President in Obama who is dedicated to bringing the economy and jobs back on line. There are those who do not like an active President, however, we have seen first hand how Mr. Bush's lack of true engagement in the economy failed to have an active policy and role to deal with the reality of how serious the problem had become. The American people and the country has been living with the tragic aftermath.
When December is over we will have an idea just how much consumers spent this holiday season and perhaps we will look back and be able to say that was the true start of an economic turn around that will be sustained for many years to come.
Another bit of good news was that job losses for September and October were 159,000 fewer than reported earlier for those months. That is a big improvement and coupled with the November numbers would indicate the major bleeding in job losses has been reduced significantly. Job creation is expected to still remain weak and that has to be reversed to sustain the good news in the latest report.
It should be noted that most of the $787 billion in stimulus funds have not yet been spent and are still available to use where needed to help in job creation and other areas of the economy. The nation has an active President in Obama who is dedicated to bringing the economy and jobs back on line. There are those who do not like an active President, however, we have seen first hand how Mr. Bush's lack of true engagement in the economy failed to have an active policy and role to deal with the reality of how serious the problem had become. The American people and the country has been living with the tragic aftermath.
When December is over we will have an idea just how much consumers spent this holiday season and perhaps we will look back and be able to say that was the true start of an economic turn around that will be sustained for many years to come.
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