My Opinion on Climate Change, Part Two: Who Can You Believe?

I’m a skeptic.  If you tell me something without irrefutable proof, I’ll doubt it.  The planet is really getting warmer?  Really?  Not that I’ve noticed…see this guy over here says the planet is actually getting cooler.  That sounds doubtful to me as well.  I guess one of them could be true, but is it worth betting on either side?  They sound pretty far fetched to me.

I mean, I’m not a scientist. I’ve never read any of the reports “validating” climate change or “refuting” climate change, and even if I had I probably wouldn’t understand it. Without any understandable evidence, how do I decide how to act?

Pascal suggests a wager when arguing the existence of God.  Even though it cannot be proved through reason, Pascal says that people should live as though God exists. A person living as though God exists he has everything to gain and nothing to lose. If he’s wrong, no harm done: he winks out of existence; if he’s right, he’s in like Flynn.  The man living as if there is no God puts you with nothing to gain and everything to lose.  If he’s right he’ll wink out of existence just like the pious man; but if he’s wrong he will find himself faced with a very angry God.

In the same way, it makes sense to act as if our planet was in crisis. Living this way gives us everything to gain and nothing to lose. If you preserve the earth and find that the crisis was true, you’ve just saved humanity; if you find that there was no crisis, you’ve still got the planet and it’s in better shape than when you started averting the crisis that never would have happened. If you live as if there is no crisis and find that the crisis never comes, no real harm done…except the cosmetic damage done to the earth.  On the other hand if you find that there is a crisis, you’ve just destroyed the hope of mankind’s survival.

Seriously.  If the fatalists are to be believed, what is possibly at stake is the survival of humanity; how much would be too much to do to possibly save the future of our species on this planet?

What harm could come from heeding the warnings?

What harm could come from ignoring the warnings?

I’m not a scientist, so I won’t tell you that there is a global crisis, but it seems to me it’s worth believing in…

My Opinion on Climate Change, Part One: Putting the Cart before the Horse

Although we were plentiful in cherry tomatoes this year, I really wished we had apples.

A wise man said to me, “Do you know when the best time to plant an apple tree is?”

“I guess ten years ago would have been nice.”

“Correct.”  He paused.  “Do you know when the second best time to plant an apple tree is?”

I shrugged, disappointed in my lack of foresight.

He said “Right now” with a comforting smile.

Speaking of Joe Wilson, what’s wrong with aliens getting healthcare?

At the last poker night, my home-made bruschetta was gone the men-folk needed man-food.

Pizza was ordered and then the inevitable question was asked, “Who’s chipping in?”

All I had was a five, someone else handed me a two singles which I pocketed, and then someone found a tenner to make sure we were covered.  After the pizza guy was happy, more people fished out their singles to give to the guy who dropped the ten.  In the end everyone had a slice, but we lost track of who had paid what.  There are two scenarios that could have happened.  First, everyone might have given Mr. Sawbuck three bucks. Considering the fact that each slice averaged to $2.25, everyone was overpaying by 75 cents and Mr. Sawbuck wound up pocketing the profits. He goes home eight bucks richer and gets his pizza for free. This is out current healthcare plan. We are overpaying into a pizza system rather than actually paying for a slice, allowing Mr. Sawbuck to profit without actually giving you service. Luckily in our case everyone got a slice, but in the healthcare system even after paying into it for years you can easily be denied the pizza you deserve. The next scenario is more likely knowing my friends.  I know I paid two bucks in, two people paid three, and Mr. Sawbuck paid seven.  After that I stopped keeping track, and likely no one else paid for their pizza.  This means that the four of us overpaid (some of us more than others), but pizza costs money.  We know that pizza is not free, so someone has to front the money…since I was hosting the party I was happy to do so as was Mr. Sawbuck and a couple of others.  This means that half the people in the room got to eat for free.

Some people would call them “moochers” (or in the healthcare scenario they would be called “foreigners”), but why should this bother me?

I got all the pizza I wanted, and our pizza system worked so well that a few extra people got fed along the way.  A national health-care plan massive enough to serve the United States is going to have problems.  I, for one, would rather not have a health-care system that has the huge problem of not enough people getting health-care rather have a health-care system that has the huge problem of too many people getting health-care.  People need pizza, and if I’ve got enough pizza to spare (which we would if we took all the money we paid into insurance and put it into health-care) I don’t mind moochers.   I realize that I can’t feed the who building, so I won’t leave my apartment door open with an invitation to raid my fridge…but if one or two of them sneak into my poker party and grab a slice, that’s cool with me.

For Becky’s birthday we took a hike through Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

Becky and I have been talking about what we wanted to d with our bodies after we die.  We understand that the living need to grieve and having a focal point of one’s emotion is often helpful for this process; in this case it would be a final resting place that helps with grieving.  On the other hand, we don’t feel the need to take up real estate after we die.  There are various versions of “green” graveyards that are considering this problem, but perhaps the  Mallory family has the best idea.  They were either very close in life or were centuries ahead of their time when considering the issue.

Who’s in with me for sharing a plot?

Joe Wilson replaces Obama as my personal hero for the week (last week).

I’m finally catching up on the current events of last week. Here’s the “You Lie!” clip that launched a thousand tweets:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxHKSHvMRWE

Most people I know sent this to me because they though I would be offended that someone challenged by political hero on a platform that I think is the most important one we face as a nation.

These people were surprisingly I wholeheartedly support him and cheer him on.

I love this clip. Every time I hear the mutters, jeers, and boos which finally builds up in Joe Wilson shouting out “You Lie!”  People call Joe Wilson’s actions unacceptable, but I feel that this is exactly how politicians should behave. For decades we have been missing the booing and grumbling of the crowd in stark counterpoint to the cheers. The sound of dissent and is exactly how government should sound. We need less polite debating and more shouting matches. We don’t have enough politicians brave enough to stoop to childish name calling when a radical piece of legislature comes close to the tipping point of popular support!

What could be better than radical policy-making met with radical decent? We have the smartest people in the country in the same room; this should cause lots of shouting. We need more radical ideas that are scary enough to make half of the people in the House stand up and cheer and the other half to shout “You lie!” We don’t have nearly enough decent in our government, and that’s the problem!

Too many politicians that I admire sat quietly in their place as America drifted closer to war. Too many politicians passively gave President Bush permission to declare war. This is passivity clears them of the blame for actually declaring war, but what we needed was someone to stand up to Bush and shout “You Lie”…not one of them stood up and shouted anything. A few…a very few…voiced their concerns quietly and politely, but there should have been downright pandemonium in Congress when the decision was made. Someone, anyone, just one person should have stood up and shouted “You Lie!”

Someone should have stood up and shouted “You Lie” on September 25, 2002, when President Bush said: “They [Al Qaeda and Saddam] work in concert. The danger is, is that Al Qaeda becomes an extension of Saddam’s madness and his hatred and his capacity to extend weapons of mass destruction around the world.” someone should have stood up and shouted “You Lie”.

Someone should have stood up and shouted “You Lie” on September 28, 2002, when President Bush flatly asserted: “The Iraqi regime [...] could launch a biological or chemical attack in as little as 45 minutes after the order is given [and] this regime is seeking a nuclear bomb, and with fissile material could build one within a year.”

Someone should have stood up and shouted “You Lie” on January 28, 2003, when President Bush said: “The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa.” someone should have stood up and shouted “You Lie”.

Do I think Obama’s health care plan is as potentially dangerous as Bush’s war? No…but this is even more reason why someone should call him on lying. I like the things that Obama says, so I’m more likely to believe them without question. Many people in this country are like that, therefore someone has to step up and call the truth of his statements into question.

I am not happy that people are standing in Obama’s way of bringing health care reform to this country…but I am glad that our government is finally galvanized and angry. I want angry people in the government. I want people to be angry enough to cook up crazy schemes like “Let’s give health care to everyone!” or “Let’s go to war with Iraq!” and then I want people angry enough at those ideas to say “Are you crazy? What’s the matter with you?!?” but it can’t get to that point until the first voice shouts out “You Lie!”

So thank you Joe Wilson, for being my hero of the week. We need someone with that courage to shout out when others just sit silently at your side.

Where has this bravery been for the last two decades?

Let’s Put Rice Bowls in Plastic Surgeons’ Offices

When I was little, we had a rice bowl that Sister Donald gave us during Lent to put money in.  The idea is that we would give up a luxury in our life and every time we would normally buy it during lent, we would put that money in the rice bowl.  The money would then be offered up to the children of Ethiopia. 

 

My vice was Funions.  I loved going to the deli and snatching up a bag of those delightful deep-fried onion-salt-dusted Styrofoam rings.  Once a day during lent I would go without those onion-resembling treats and and put $.50 in my rice bowl.  By the end of lent I would have almost twenty dollars to buy rice for those starving children.

Many people ceased caring about the Ethiopian Children once it was realized that a large percentage of the rice bowl money was going to logistical fees and celebrity endorsements leaving very little for the starving children.  My new interest is universal health care.  Obviously one problem with universal health care is making sure that the government does its job regulating it and serving the people.  The other problem would be the cost of establishing such a program.  Ratical.com estimates that to provide supervision, regular retraining, infrastructure support, basic medical supplies and salaries for a viable universal health-care solution for Americans would cost about $15 billion per year. 

 

I have trouble wrapping my head around large numbers, so let’s pick something to compare it to.  Something at random.  How about cosmetics?  Americans spend $8 billion a year* on cosmetics.  That gives me a point of reference.  The cost of a universal health care system would be twice as much as Americans spend on cosmetics every year.  To dovetail onto cosmetics, it just happens that the cost of elective corrective surgery accounts for the $7 billion* per year, which would again be roughly half.

 

This means if each American had a rice bowl and put their cosmetics and plastic surgery money into it instead of making themselves more beautiful, we would have enough for every man woman and child in this country to have free health-care.  No American would go without health care ever again…something that every other industrial nation in the world already has. 

Okay, I don’t expect Sister Donald to start passing out rice bowls to every person in America that puts on make up or has plastic surgery, but if we put a 100% luxury tax on cosmetics and elective cosmetic surgery that alone would pay for universal health care for all Americans.

Of course that’s easy for me to say as I don’t use make-up or cosmetic surgery, but challenge me.  Pick an multi-billion dollar industry that you think I use to excess and see if I’d be willing to pay double what I do now for universal health care.  I’d pay double for my morning coffee every day if I could see a doctor for free.  I’d pay double for my phone bill if I could have free prescription drugs.  I’d pay double any time I bought electronics if I knew that if I ever inherited my mom’s, grandfather’s, or uncle’s cancer that I would be treated without being a financial burden on my wife.

It’s not that I’m not willing to pay for health care, but even with insurance it’s still terrifying to get sick. 

Universal health care is one solution that works for the rest of the world. 

 

Perhaps a more American thing would be to regulate health care so that insurance companies would be required to treat those people that the ensure.

 

…but I’m still fond of putting out rice bowls at plastic surgeon’s offices.

*Watson, Jonathan. Health Care Systems: Rethinking health care systems. 2005

Today’s lunch at Mrs. T-Z’s School: Humble Pie

Mrs. T-Z assigned non-fiction stories to her kids.  The following conversation commenced.

Kid A:  I don’t have anything to write about.

Kid B:  You should write about your mom in the army.

Kid A:  That’s not very interesting…

Kid B:  Yes, it is!  Write about how she’s fighting the Germans!

Kid A:  We’re not  fighting the Germans, dummy.  It’s not 1974 anymore!

I Only Save the World if I Don’t Have to Work

I keep wanting to save the world, but it’s so difficult. I keep getting invited to rallies for universal health care, but it’s always on a night when I have a show…or I’m tired…or I forget…or I just kind of don’t feel like going. I guess that makes me a bad person, because for all my talk I’m pretty lazy.

Changing the world his hard work.

I know there should be universal health care, but we pretty much have to fix the entire government before any plan like that will work.

I know the agricultural industrial complex is crippling the environment and poisoning my body, but I don’t have time to research each company that makes my food.

I know I shouldn’t store toxins in my house, but I don’t want to give up the comforts of my life!

…luckily I’ve found some of this can be solved with laziness!

Last week our shower drain was clogged…and we were out of Drain-O. I as too lazy to run to the bodega to buy some, and remembered something about clearing a clogged drain with baking soda and vinegar. Obviously something so green can’t work as well as Drain-O, but it was worth trying to save me a trip outside. Magically it worked! Just dump baking soda down, follow it up with vinegar, stop it
up if you can, wait, and then flush with hot water! Also amazingly, it’s actually more work to bring toxins into my house than to just use stuff I already have lying around.

I found the same is true with our New Year’s resolution. Based on a
lot of factors, Mrs. T-Z and I decided to stop buying meat. We’re not
against cruelty to animals, it’s more important to stop funding an industry that is detrimental to our environment, our bodies, and (eventually) our economy. Like I said, going to rallies against it is too much work, but like not buying Drain-O not buying meat
is a simple inaction. It’s actually easier to not do something than to do something. Obviously you have to buy something else if you’re not buying meat, but for me it’s usually buying more of what I would have bought anyway. Pick up an extra can of beans, an extra sweet potato, and and extra box of rice and I’ve just replaced a package of beef! It’s easier to pick up two cans of beans than a can of bean and a package of beef, isn’ it?

Given the choice between a shorter shopping trip and a longer shopping trip, I’ll choose the short.

Given the choice between bringing poisons into my house and not
bringing poisons into my house, Ill choose not bringing poisons into my
house.

Why?

I’d like to say it’s because it’s the right thing to do, but really just because I’m lazy!

The Problem with Terrorist Groups and Why I Would Never Join One

It’s all in the marketing.

When the New People’s Army or The Lord’s Resistance Army ask me to join, I’m like, “Uh…no…I’m just not that into joining an army.  If I wanted to fight in a war, I’d just join our own army.”

It’s the same with The Special Purpose Islamic Regiment and the Tunisian Combat Group.  Just because they aren’t armies proper, I know what regiments and combat groups.

“Not my scene, man…not my scene”

The Sabotage Battalion of Chechen Martyrs are getting more creative, but I still know what a martyr is.  As much as I dislike killing I think I might dislike dying more.  I mean, I don’t have experience in either…it’s just a hunch.

If you’re part of a Martyr Battalion, Group, or Regiment, my answer is “No thanks.  Not interested in suicide today.”

If I were looking to join a terrorist group, I would be more tempted to join The Benevolence International Foundation or the People’s Aid of Peru.

“Sure, I’m into benevolence. That sounds cool.”

Perhaps I might join The Liberation of Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

“I love tigers!  Sign me up and set them free!  Down with animal circuses.”

Wait.  Here’s a cool one.  How about The Shining Path?  That sounds nice.  Oh…or Black Star!  That sounds rad!

“Hey ladies, I’m a Black Star.  Want to walk down my Shining Path?”  If you join those groups, you’ll get all the ladies.

That’s what these terrorist groups need better names.  I bet that if the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group renamed themselves the Moroccan Islamic Poker Club they would get more members…or if the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group renamed themselves the Libyan Islamic Comedy Club.  It’s all about PR, people!  Seriously, would you rather join The Jerusalem Warriors or The Jerusalem Hug Circle?

“Yes, I could use a hug today.”  Bam!  You’re in!  Hugs all around.

Obama is a bad president; let’s impeech him!

OBAMA: ‘I SCREWED UP’ DASCHLE WITHDRAWS NOMINATION AMID TAX PROBLEMS, SECOND TO DROP OUT

Can you believe this?  It’s embarrassing.  Obama admits to nominating a man for health secretary today that has evaded over $100,000 in taxes. 

Quoted in the article is someone who echoes my sentiments, someone who says that he’s “angry”, “disappointed” and “frustrated” with the “screw up”. 

The person quoted in the article?  Obama himself. 

“I’ve got to own up to my mistake,” he said. “Ultimately, it’s
important for this administration to send a message that there aren’t
two sets of rules, one for prominent people and one for ordinary folks
who have to pay their taxes.”

This is no way for a president to behave.

“I’ve got to own up to my mistake.” 

What are you talking about, Obama?   Do presidents admit mistakes?  NO!  A president shouldn’t ever admit that he made a mistake. 

In fact, I’m pretty sure that it’s unconstitutional for a president to make a mistake.  Look at the presidents that have been impeached: Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Bill Clinton.  None of them ever admitted they made a mistake.  In fact, it was so obvious that Nixon had made a mistake that he left office rather than admitting it.  That’s the type of president I want.  The United States of American cannot admit failure, inadequacy, or imprefection while still in office. 

George Bush, for example, was a master of screwing up and “staying the course”.

Despite hundreds of billions of dollars spent on homeland security since 9/11, Bush’s proved stunningly incompetent when faced with Katrina.  My favorite example is the 11,000 spanking new mobile homes that he purchased and parked in flood zones.  This is clearly against state and federal laws and because he ignored these mandates, $850 million dollars  promptly sank into the mud.

Speaking of money, did you know that Bush nearly doubled our national debt to a stunning $8.2 trillion?  Let’s not froget the War on Terror. 

Just when the Taliban and al Queda were on the run and Osama bin Laden
was trapped in a box canyon, we attack Iraq crippling Afghanistanand allowing Tribal warlords of the Taliban and al Qaeda to run their activities freely and unfettered…and after all that did Bush admit mistakes? NO!

“Mistakes were made.” is the closest we ever got to admission of
failure. 

Obviously the people around Bush made those mistakes and not Bush personally.  I know what you’re thinking.  It’s true that Bush put those people in office, but here’s the lesson for Obama: Presidents put those kinds of people there on purpose.  They’re called scapegoats.  When someone you’ve appointed makes a mistake you fire them, you don’t take credit for
failures.  You pass the buck!  If necessary, you obscure facts so
no one can tell which mistakes are yours and which ones are your
people’s. 

Obama, until you’ve cost the American people trillians of dollars and/or cused the death of thousands of American lives, I don’t want to hear a peep out of you about alleged mistakes.