I don't enjoy being dark, but I feel most people are either in denial, or oblivious to how serious and immediate the effects of global warming are. The southwest is in deep trouble and if it goes, it will take the entire economy with it. Collapse and extinction of the natural world is accelerating. The scientists are scared. I'm dismayed by the lack of urgency in the media. I hope I am absolutely wrong about my dreary picture. I would love to be proven a fool. Thank you for reading. I'm going to try to lighten up in the next one.
Education like this is sorta the first step. But in reality the first step is to reelect Biden then systematically unrig the system so that change can be effected.
Unrigging includes: expanding SCOTUS and removing at least three sitting justices; degerrymandering all federal elections forever; controlling all the power bases (president, house and senate); and finally eliminating monopolies, oligopolies and reversing all of the corporations are people and money is speech decisions and laws, plus taxing high earners and corporations massively. Then things like healthcare, retirement, infrastructure reconstruction, etc, can be implemented.
All too close to the “arc of truth.” One irony: I’m 72 years old and grew up in an age when people relied on their local newspaper, or TV set, or even radio stations to bring us news of what was happening. Local news, national news, global/overseas news. But as the decades rolled by we watched as all of those resources were watered down, gutted or just bought and eliminated. But now we had vastly expanded access to instant news from *everywhere*: the Internet.
Unfortunately the Money Gods were already reaching out to limit and control the “trusted sources” of news (The Gray Lady, Washington Post, etc.) And the result: deep uncrossable divides in countries around the world.
Trump and MAGA are just for today. The end of American democracy. Sigh! But Climate Change will be the end of our world.
We're on the same page, I wish I felt differently after publishing this article a year ago, but all evidence since supports my thesis. Newspapers were an important part of my life from early on. I started reading them around age 12, and took great delight in copying Pat Oliphant cartoons of Nixon. Finding good information is ever more difficult with our corporate owned media, which is responsible for the tragic loss of our local newspapers. As imperfect as news is, more is better, as a single-minded corporate voice has come to prevail hell-bent on power and profit. I subscribe to the NY Times and Washington Post which still do good work, but are also off the mark in certain ways like all the media. Climate change should be front and center every day, and the corporate tentacles of disinformation revealed. As Napoleon said, "Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets."
This essay is getting old now, but unfortunately still carries weight. I'm not sure if there will be a New World Order. It could break down into fiefdoms. Thanks for commenting on my stream of consciousness rant. : )
I don't enjoy being dark, but I feel most people are either in denial, or oblivious to how serious and immediate the effects of global warming are. The southwest is in deep trouble and if it goes, it will take the entire economy with it. Collapse and extinction of the natural world is accelerating. The scientists are scared. I'm dismayed by the lack of urgency in the media. I hope I am absolutely wrong about my dreary picture. I would love to be proven a fool. Thank you for reading. I'm going to try to lighten up in the next one.
Alas, you're not wrong.
Unfortunately, probably not. I'm here in Buffalo, waiting to smell Canada burning again as they continue pumping tar sand oil out of Alberta.
And overturning Citizens United, broken labor organizing laws, undermined antitrust legislation... sure, easy-peasy!
Thank you, Brad, I appreciate you reading and commenting. I certainly wish to be wrong.
Wowzer! Thank you!
Education like this is sorta the first step. But in reality the first step is to reelect Biden then systematically unrig the system so that change can be effected.
Unrigging includes: expanding SCOTUS and removing at least three sitting justices; degerrymandering all federal elections forever; controlling all the power bases (president, house and senate); and finally eliminating monopolies, oligopolies and reversing all of the corporations are people and money is speech decisions and laws, plus taxing high earners and corporations massively. Then things like healthcare, retirement, infrastructure reconstruction, etc, can be implemented.
Great article Geoff! We're definitely on the same page. Thanks for reaching out!
A very dark piece in a dark world painted in this piece.
All too close to the “arc of truth.” One irony: I’m 72 years old and grew up in an age when people relied on their local newspaper, or TV set, or even radio stations to bring us news of what was happening. Local news, national news, global/overseas news. But as the decades rolled by we watched as all of those resources were watered down, gutted or just bought and eliminated. But now we had vastly expanded access to instant news from *everywhere*: the Internet.
Unfortunately the Money Gods were already reaching out to limit and control the “trusted sources” of news (The Gray Lady, Washington Post, etc.) And the result: deep uncrossable divides in countries around the world.
Trump and MAGA are just for today. The end of American democracy. Sigh! But Climate Change will be the end of our world.
We're on the same page, I wish I felt differently after publishing this article a year ago, but all evidence since supports my thesis. Newspapers were an important part of my life from early on. I started reading them around age 12, and took great delight in copying Pat Oliphant cartoons of Nixon. Finding good information is ever more difficult with our corporate owned media, which is responsible for the tragic loss of our local newspapers. As imperfect as news is, more is better, as a single-minded corporate voice has come to prevail hell-bent on power and profit. I subscribe to the NY Times and Washington Post which still do good work, but are also off the mark in certain ways like all the media. Climate change should be front and center every day, and the corporate tentacles of disinformation revealed. As Napoleon said, "Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets."
Damn. Sorry. I'll try to be more depressing.
This essay is getting old now, but unfortunately still carries weight. I'm not sure if there will be a New World Order. It could break down into fiefdoms. Thanks for commenting on my stream of consciousness rant. : )