2020 hasn’t been all that bad. PETA points out some really good wins in this video that should put a smile to your face–it surely put a smile to my face. Hopefully the push towards plant-based foods continues, and the pressure remains strong against people and institutions using animals for entertainment, especially now that the Joe Exotic documentary is the talk of the town.
Things will get better. If anything – this video is pretty inspirational.
There are a lot of stories happening now as it relates to impeachment and re-directions from the White House. It’s too much to keep up with, and quite frankly, kudos to anybody that can.
There is one story, however, that is bubbling under the surface that might be of interest, and that is of the president meddling with, and challenging, military chain of command.
Here is a link to a New York Times article that articulates what is happening.
In summary:
The president has inserted himself into military proceedings, he is defending tried war criminals, and overturning rulings of military juries.
This might end up being a bad political calculation by the president, who is using this as a platform to bolster his tough guy image, and is ultimately attempting to redirect the national conversation from impeachment proceedings.
In searching for a talking point for his rallies, the president is eroding the order of a professional military.
So, let’s boil this down a bit, the military has weapons, lots of them. A president in any country needs the support of its military to remain powerful. Hypothetically speaking, what happens when the strongest military in the world is pushed too far by its own president? Could what is happening now be the building blocks of a military coup? Sounds a little far fetched and banana republic-ish, but is it? There is way too much testosterone, pride, and money, tied up in all of this.
It’s fun to predict how the impeachment will turn out, because at this point there are so many unknowns, but let’s add this wildcard to the mix as well – that the military could possibly turn on the president in some major way.
One thing is for sure, this presidency will end, and how it ends is the curious part, but who we become when it’s over is what really matters.
“Knock knock”
“Who’s there?”
“Guess”
“Guess who?”
He who truly knows has no occasion to shout.
A true genius admits that he/she knows nothing.
Cattle ranching is “the largest driver of deforestation in every Amazon country, accounting for 80 percent of current deforestation rates,” according to researchers at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.
Greenwashing, political influence, destroying the Amazon – This story has it all.
The Amazon is being burned down to make way for the cattle industries to meet the demand for Brazilian beef, and it’s backed by a major investment firm that touts Corporate Social Responsibility, BlackRock investments, and is a huge backer of Joe Biden.
JBS, the exporter of Brazilian beef, is mainly responsible for this. JBS is backed by not only BlackRock, but other investment firms such as, Capital Group, Fidelity Investments, and Vanguard.
So let piece this together, the Amazon is being burned to satisfy the markets demand for beef.
Is it possible that if the demand for beef didn’t exist, that maybe JBS wouldn’t be killing the rain forest?
The “witch” in the hunt might have been found–at least that’s what Michael Cohen’s plea deal indicates.
Cohen pleaded under oath, and without any pressure, that “the candidate” gave him instructions to pay hush money to women for the purposes of influencing the election. This is a violation of campaign finance laws.
If Trump wasn’t president, he would be indicted based on the Cohen’s plea deal alone. Cohen was only the messenger here, and in a crime of this nature it’s not the messenger the feds are after–its the one who gave the order.
Mueller has more up his sleeve and Cohen has more cards to play, hence the plea and the quick resolution to this small but important part of the investigation. The implication was just the beginning.
And let’s not forget about Manafort. His case was never about taxes as much as it was about access. He represents loose connections to the other side of the equation. And he was found guilty in front of a jury.
This whole thing is just warming up.
If the market demands cars with improved fuel efficiency, or electric cars, whatever rollbacks the Trump administration implements on fuel efficiency standards will not matter.
Automakers will be forced to comply with market demands.
Our dollars and decisions drive the market, not Trumps war on science and reason.
Screaming on social media doesn’t help, especially if you go out and buy a gas guzzling SUV afterwards.
Gas prices are rising. The petroleum industry and car manufacturers win if these proposed rules go into effect. In the long run, auto-consumers loose at the gas pump and via continued environmental degradation. But that doesn’t mean we quit and blame Trump.
Buy smart if you care about climate change–and don’t get sucked into the noise, such as the argument about safety as it relates to cars with better fuel efficiency standards. That’s crap.
Oh, and by the way, fuck you EPA. Remember, you make the rules we make the calls.
This whole discussion regarding guns in classrooms, no. Accidents happen.
California teacher accidentally fires gun during public safety course
Here’s an op-ed by Thomas Friedman reminding us that the fight for gun control needs to move beyond social media, and needs to be bigger than marches and protests.
The NRA has a comfortable seat at the table and uses republican lawmakers as puppets.
We can scream gun control until we are blue in the face in person and on social media, but nothing changes until we elect lawmakers that haven’t been purchased by the NRA.