Credulity

Normally every spring through early summer here in California there are fairly strong winds that blow out of the northwest and help push water currents that eventually cause an upwelling of colder, nutrient rich water from the deep ocean. These nutrients in part account for the abundance and variety of marine life along the California coast and help sustain our rich fisheries. Last year about this time here in California there were newspaper articles, individuals on talk radio, and radio reports complaining about our lack of wind. People claimed that since the winds were not as strong as usual all manner of dire consequences faced California including; pelicans dying, domic acid poisoning in marine mammals, a breakdown of the entire food chain resulting in large scale fish die offs, less fog onshore that would kill fog-dependent species, etc. The cause was, of course, global warming.

This year we’ve had a series of very substantial blows, over the winter we had hurricane force winds and this spring has seen several 40-50 knot days in the eastern Pacific and whole weeks of gale force winds. These winds are easily within the normal range for our coast but since many people hardly notice their natural surroundings until it is pointed out to them it seems unusual and they need a reason. The cause, of course, global warming.

The funniest thing I overheard was a few weeks ago when a woman blamed the China earthquake on global warming. I’m sure she was serious. It is amazing how some peoples desire to believe in something, especially when it vilifies some giant entity like ‘mega corporations’, the military-industrial complex, or the Government, overrides their common sense. Like here in California, memories are shortened, one year not enough wind is global warming, next year more wind is global warming. I’m not saying the phenomenon doesn’t exist, I am saying we need more critical thinking before we mindlessly parrot everything fed to us by that giant entity; Big Science.

VP Hillary?

The VP conundrum faced by so many candidates seems especially difficult for Obama in this cycle. Faced with the possible defection of radical Hillary supporters should he choose her for a running mate to attempt to mollify that faction? If he does, is he alienating the 50+ percent of Americans that don’t like Hillary and risk losing their votes and possibly pushing them into McCain’s camp? And worse, if he’s elected, is there someone out there crazy enough to assassinate the President just so there would be a woman President? Personally, I don’t think Obama is the pandering type, I think he would stick to his principles and select someone for their philosophy, someone who believes in an inclusive government, and that’s not Hillary.

What Counts?

Hillary Clinton: “This is democracy; everyone’s vote should count!” Here is part of her convoluted reasoning that the Michigan delegation should be seated with full voting rights at the convention. At the same time she says the delegates that were elected in other states primaries specifically to go to the convention and vote for Barack can change their vote if they think there is a compelling reason. What about those voters? Why is their vote less important than the Michigander’s? And the compelling reason? Nothing less important than that Hillary thinks she’s entitled to the nomination.

What about this whole notion in the Democratic Party of ‘Super Delegates’? If the majority of party members who got out and voted elected Barack why does Hillary think its OK to pull the election out from under them by appealing to the elite party ‘Super Delegates’? No less than the Republicans, the Democratic Party is run and the shots are called by big shot insiders. You don’t think Barack has big shots running interference for him? Think about Teddy Kennedy, is there a bigger party poobah in either party?

And the Rules Committee meeting? All those people outside (and inside) screaming that Hillary was cheated because she didn’t get all the Michigan delegates and trying to ensure Obama, who obeyed the rules set up by this two-faced committee in the first place, didn’t get any. Its sad to think that this is what the Democrats, the party of equality and liberalism, has come to.