Right-Wing Media Celebrate Earth Day By Mocking Conservation
In the lead-up to Earth Day, members of the right-wing media have ridiculed conservation efforts and downplayed the concerns of environmentalists. This is nothing new for conservative media figures who have, in the past, used the Earth Day to attack conservationists by urging audiences to cut down trees and increase their energy consumption.
Right-Wing Reactionaries Ridicule Earth Day
Wash. Times: "Humanity Haters Bemoan Life On Earth Day." From a Washington Times editorial titled "The hippie holiday: Humanity haters bemoan life on Earth Day":
Tomorrow is Good Friday, the day on which Jesus Christ was crucified. More important to many is that it's also Earth Day, the annual gala that's taken on the trappings of a pagan religious holiday. At some level, it's good to celebrate Earth, the source of life and home of humanity. After all, we have to live somewhere. Environmentalists, however, seem divided between those who venerate the planet as a deity and those who think it's so fragile that it must be saved from everyone but themselves.
[...]
Earth Day has become inextricably linked with global-warming mania. Al Gore - a man with one of the largest carbon footprints in the world - recently likened the struggle to reduce emissions to the civil-rights movement. This is in keeping with the sanctimonious tone that usually accompanies Earth Day proclamations. To the radical greens, it's a day for humanity to engage in self-abasement, bow before the altar of Gaia and apologize for the offense against nature of simply being alive. It's a day to conjure fears, preach limits and condemn the capitalist system that created a country wealthy enough to indulge these shiftless hippies in the first place. [Washington Times, 4/20/11]
Liddy Asks Followers If They Will Commemorate Earth Day By "Grill[ing] A Polar Bear" Or "Run[ning] Over Some Hippies In Your Hummer." From a post on G. Gordon Liddy's Twitter page:
[Twitter, 4/21/11]
Wash. Examiner Op-Ed: "Earth Day Falls On The Birthday Of Vladimir Lenin." From an Washington Examiner op-ed by conservative columnist Matt Patterson:
Environmentalism is often compared with a religion, and for good reason: Like those in the throes of religious zeal, environmentalists often cling to extreme beliefs even (or especially) in the face of damning contrary evidence.
Environmentalism also fosters a sense of moral superiority in its adherents sufficient to justify the demonization and marginalization of those holding heretical views. Never has the comparison been more apt than this year, however, when Earth Day falls on Good Friday.
But there is one area where the analogy breaks down: In our culture, religion and state are separate, a demarcation jealously guarded by liberals. Ironic, then, that those same liberals cherish and champion state involvement in their cult of Gaea.
[...]
The very idea of Earth Day encourages such madness, leading politicians to fall over themselves to outgreen one another. But from the beginning, the environmental movement was a much "red" as green.
[...]
April 22 was chosen as the date for the first Earth Day in 1970, and for every Earth Day thereafter.This year it falls on Good Friday, a coincidence befitting the status of environmentalism as a secular religion.
But every year Earth Day falls on the birthday of Vladimir Lenin, the man who ushered communism from Marxist theory to Soviet tyranny, a noncoincidence befitting environmentalism's status as a frequent enemy of economic liberty. [Washington Examiner, 4/21/11]
- In fact, Sen. Gaylord Nelson, who organized the first Earth Day, has said that he was not aware of Lenin's birthday when he chose the date for Earth Day. [Beyond Earth Day, pg 8]
National Review Mocks Concerns About Air Pollution, Water Contamination. From a column by James Lileks in National Review:
In the high holy holidays of the ecology movement, Earth Hour is the precursor to Earth Day, the annual reminder that despite four decades of laws and regulations, the planet is still precariously imperiled. Grade-school students will spend the day writing letters to Congress so the Koch Brothers don't inject plutonium into the earth's core as part of their "Mwah hah hah! Die! Everyone die!" initiative. But just as Earth Hour has lost steam, Earth Day has challenges. The latest Gallup poll indicates that Americans are caring less about global warming than before. They care the most about "contamination of soil and water by toxic waste," which will surely spur the moribund EPA to fight all those laws that permit American Cadmium and Lead to pour their industrial waste into ponds by the elementary school. Most people also worry "a great deal" about "air pollution" -- 28 percent don't give it much thought at all, but they're sitting in boardrooms lighting cigars with $100 bills to kick off National Belching Smokestack Week. A majority of people -- 57 percent -- are worried about "urban sprawl and loss of open spaces." That is also the percentage of people who have never flown across the Midwest and looked out the window.
Bottom of the list: global warming. Fifty-one percent "worry" about it "a great deal or a fair amount." The poll didn't dig into specifics, alas; one would love to know how the people who worry a great deal go about their day. Sitting in a room, chin on fist, brow furrowed, worrying for a solid uninterrupted hour? Scattered flurries of worry throughout the day, spurred by a weather report that says tomorrow's temps will be above average, or the sight of a Hummer? Perhaps they say that because decent people say they're concerned. Not being Very Worried is like razoring the Free Tibet bumper-sticker off your car bumper. Admitting you don't care about global warming, in some circles, is like admitting you're worried about Iran getting the bomb. That's really all some people need to know. Back away. He may quote Glenn Beck without irony at any moment. [National Review, 4/18/11, via Nexis]
NRO: "If You're Protesting Global Warming Today, Don't Forget Your Gloves And Scarf!" From a post on National Review Online by Greg Pollowitz:
This is Earth Week, where I guess where supposed to think about global warming and such. Which is interesting because 3-6 inches of global warming is expected in parts of Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan.And check out the temps! Remember, kids, if you're protesting global warming today, don't forget your gloves and scarf! [NRO, 4/19/11]
Fox News' Carlson: Earth Day Discussion "Signifies The Importance Or Lack Thereof Of The United Nations' Role In Our International Community." From the April 19 edition of Fox & Friends:
DOOCY: Well, it turns out the United Nations is about to spend an entire day debating whether or not Mother Earth deserves human rights status. For a number of years, the president of Bolivia has been pushing this and, in fact, in his country, April 22nd is International Mother Earth Day and so now what he wants to extend to things like plants and animals and dirt, rights.
CARLSON: Is this what it's come to? All the gazillions of dollars that we as taxpayers, once again, give to the United Nations that now we're -- come on, we already have Earth Day. Do we need to have a meeting about it again? I mean, look, this --
DOOCY: But we don't have a Mother Earth Day.
CARLSON: No, I know. But this signifies the importance or lack thereof of the United Nations' role in our international community if in fact, they're going to spend an entire day doing this. [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 4/19/11]
Wash. Times: "Earth Hour Is About Hating Automobiles And Electricity." From a March 29 Washington Times editorial:
This time around, fewer people appeared to participate in Saturday's futile effort to showcase their awareness of global warming by turning off lights and electronic appliances for 60 minutes. According to the Montreal Gazette, power usage in Edmonton, Canada, actually increased by 1.01 percent during Earth Hour. Power usage did drop in Calgary, but as a power company spokesman explained, the drop "was so minuscule that it couldn't even be attributed to that particular event."
As more of the cataclysmic predictions of the global-warming charlatans fail to pan out, these feel-good stunts will become more and more irrelevant. That's good news because Earth Hour is about hating automobiles and electricity, two of mankind's most important technological developments. Nothing has done a better job of cleaning up cities and extending human life than the availability of power and mobility. Instead of embracing the cold and darkness for an hour, it makes far more sense to turn on an extra incandescent bulb and read a book by its warm glow. Now that would really hasten progress. [Washington Times, 3/29/11]
RedState Urges Readers To Turn Their Lights On For Earth Hour. From a blog post on RedState.com:
Promoted from the diaries. Turn those lights on tonight, kids!
[...]
I've decided to celebrate earth hour this year in a slightly different way. I'm going to turn all my lights on. I'm celebrating man's emergence from darkness. Man's use of technology that has saved millions from poverty and starvation. Won't you join me this year in the ritual lighting of an endangered species; the incandescent light bulb?
All kidding aside, no one will be hurt by this silly event designed to make liberals feel good about themselves but the same can't be said about other liberal policies [RedState, 3/26/11]
Conservatives Have Gratuitously Attacked Earth Day And Conservation Efforts In Previous Years
Limbaugh On Earth Day: "I Personally Am Going To See To It That We Lose Two Acres Of Rain Forest." From the April 22, 2009, edition of The Rush Limbaugh Show:
LIMBAUGH: By the way, this is Earth day, ladies and gentlemen. Well, what am I going to do for Earth Day? I'm going to have every one of my cars driven as much as possible today; I've got my airplane flying to Los Angeles and back; let's see, all the lights are going to be on, the air conditioning down to 68 degrees in all, well, four out of the five houses. The property manager likes it at 65. Let's see, we're going to have all kinds of beef. I'm fixing Allen Brothers all weekend long. I personally am going to see to it that we lose two acres of rainforest. [Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh Show, 4/22/09]
Beck "Wants To Hear From" People Who Plan To "Cut Some Trees Down Tomorrow To Celebrate Earth Day." From the April 21, 2009 edition of The Glenn Beck Program:
BECK: Did you know that Earth Day is tomorrow? I am so excited. Stu, right now, I want you to open up the phone lines or maybe even your email address to find people with chainsaws that on tomorrow's broadcast will cut trees down. I mean, they have to be your own trees. But I mean, if you want to cut some trees down tomorrow to celebrate Earth Day.
STU BURGUIERE (producer): Well, as we all know, Glenn, it's been proven over and over again, when people are cutting down trees, they plant more trees and it actually helps the Earth. So I assume that's the right thing to do.
BECK: So if you have a solar power chainsaw, you know. Or, you know, maybe they don't have those yet, but they will soon. Maybe we could make the point that they should make a solar powered chainsaw because you could see how much pollution is being put in the air. Tomorrow on Earth Day on The Glenn Beck Program, you don't want to miss it. If that's you if you've got a chainsaw and you've got some trees you'd like to cut down, gosh, we'd like to hear from you tomorrow. [Premiere Radio Networks, The Glenn Beck Program, 4/21/09]
Beck Giddy Over Caller Cutting Down Trees On Earth Day: "This Is Like Nirvana Here ... This Is Eroticism." From The Glenn Beck Program:
BECK: We have Tim in Cleveland is a forest manager. He's cutting down trees today in celebration of Earth Day. Do we have Tim on the phone? Tim, are you there?
TIM: Yeah, I'm here Glenn.
BECK: Hi, how are you?
TIM: Good. How you doing?
BECK: Well I'm very good. I'm very good. Where are you cutting down trees, sir?
TIM: I'm in Ashtabula County, Northeast Ohio. We're doing - it's a wildlife habitat move. We're - my landowner is a big hunter and we're going through his woods and making a couple half-acre clear cuts and that's where he will lay and wait for the deer to come. Deer are very curious creatures and they'll come investigate these clear cuts and he'll shoot them.
BECK: This is - this is like Nirvana here.
TIM: Yep.
BECK: This is not only going to hack off all the environmentalists, but all the PETA people too.
TIM: That's exactly right.
BECK: So, Tim, how come I don't hear the chainsaws?
TIM: I can start it up right now, do you want to hear it?
BECK: Oh this is too good to be true. Tim hold on just a sec, because I want to savor this moment. Hang on just a second, let me give, let me give our commercial for this half hour and then you start them. Oh this is, Stu, isn't this almost - Dan, I need Barry White music - this is almost full-fledged lights and candles. This is eroticism.
BURGUIERE: I'm just glad it's so good for the Earth on Earth Day.
BECK: Now you say that and it sound sarcastic.
BURGUIERE: Sounds sarcastic?
BECK: Give me a little Barry White on the program, will ya?
[...]
BECK: That's right, it is time to go all green. We go back to Tim who is a forest manager. He is cutting down trees in honor of Earth - well, not really in honor - we can say in honor of Earth Day, can't we Tim?
TIM: Yeah, yeah absolutely.
BECK: Yeah, in honor of Earth Day. That's fantastic. Are you ready?
TIM: Yeah I'm ready.
BECK: Go ahead.
TIM: I have to yell timber first.
BECK: You've gotta what?
TIM: I have to yell timber first.
BECK: Oh, OK. Don't you do that right before the tree falls?
TIM: Timber!
[chainsaw noises]
All done. I laid down an Aspen tree with Glenn's name on it and an Aspen tree with Stu's name on it, so you're both involved.
BECK: That is fantastic. Those are little teeny trees. Don't you have like a big, huge oak or something that is -
TIM: No, no we don't cut Oak, we cut Aspen and stuff like that. Poor quality trees, Aspen and Elm and stuff like that. And we leave behind the good stuff.
BECK: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well I'm looking for somebody else that would be willing to cut down the good stuff, you know. [Premiere Radio Network, The Glenn Beck Program, 4/22/09]
Beck: "I'm Going To Burn Garbage In My Backyard With Styrofoam" To Celebrate Earth Day. From the April 22, 2010 edition of Beck's radio show:
CALLER: Before we move on here, I just wanted to thank you along with many others for the job that you guys are doing. It's awesome and we appreciate it.
BECK: Thank you very much. And happy Earth Day.
CALLER: Yeah. I'm excited.
BECK: Yes I am too. I'm going to burn garbage in my backyard with Styrofoam. [Premiere Radio Networks, The Glenn Beck Program, 4/22/10]
Beck Said He Decorated His "Earth Day Tree" With Heat Lamps, Turned On Every Light In His Studio. From the April 22, 2010 edition of Glenn Beck:
BECK: It's Earth Day! Have you cut down your Earth Day tree yet and put it in your living room? It's great. I decorate mine with heat lamps, but that's a different story.
You know, in our Earth Day, what we've decided to do is turn on every light in the studio because we have some cockroaches to expose tonight in the bright light. [Fox News, Glenn Beck, 4/22/10, via Nexis]
Beck Turned On Extra Studio Lights To Celebrate Earth Hour. From the March 30, 2009, edition of Glenn Beck:
BECK: I am so tired because -- it was Earth Hour over the weekend and I spent so much time turning on -- I mean, off all of my lights. Oh, the city lights were supposed to be shut off, which -- I am sure that happened, and then all of us were -- and what I'm doing is just to show that I am such a supporter of Earth Hour and that I don't think that it's ridiculous, and that I'm -- oh, I so believe in that whole global warming thing. I decided to put -- hang on just a sec, I'm being told that the idea is to use less energy?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
BECK: Oh. Well, we're going to roll with this.
Anyway, we have the pictures by the way of all of the people that were just celebrating Earth Hour. In my free e-mail newsletter at GlennBeck.com, you can sign up for that right now and you really -- you really don't want to miss those pictures. [Fox News, Glenn Beck, 3/30/09, via Nexis]
Below is a picture of Beck's studio as he was discussing Earth Hour:
Fox Marked Earth Day In 2010 By Rehashing "Climategate" Falsehoods. Co-host Gretchen Carlson opened the segment by saying, "Happy Earth Day, America. Today, we're taking a look back at how the mainstream media covered and didn't cover 'Climategate.' That was the release of all those emails exposing that scientists held back data that discredits theories on global warming." Despite falsely claiming the emails showed that climate scientists "manipulated data," Fox & Friends did not report that several official inquiries into the scientists' conduct found that they did not manipulate data. [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 4/22/10]
Wash. Times: Earth Day "Seeks To Instill A Sense Of Guilt Into People For The Act Of Living." From a May 5, 2009, editorial comparing Arbor Day to Earth Day:
Arbor Day is a celebration of human productivity and hope for the future; Earth Day is a global guilt-fest that views the future with a sense of dread. Where Arbor Day celebrates humanity's productive capabilities, Earth Day condemns them. Rather than increasing their productivity, people are told to decrease their carbon footprints. On Arbor Day we plant trees for their beauty, their shade, their fruit and their timber - in sum, their usefulness. Environmentalists see trees as ends in themselves - sacred poles demanding worship, not exploitation. Arbor Day celebrates the positive impact people can make through creatively changing the landscape. Earth Day is reactive and zero-sum; it seeks to instill a sense of guilt into people for the act of living. It doesn't want to plant trees, but mindsets. [Washington Times, 5/5/09]
Fox Nation: "Celebrate Earth Day" By Honoring The Inventors Of The Gas-Powered Car. From an April 22, 2010, post on Fox Nation titled "Celebrate Earth Day: Thank Thomas Edison and the Duryea Bros":
"... Thomas Edison was more responsible than any one else for creating the modern world .... No one did more to shape the physical/cultural makeup of present day civilization.... Accordingly, he was the most influential figure of the millennium...."
Read Thomas Edison's biography.
America's first gasoline powered commercial car manufacturers were two brothers, Charles Duryea and Frank Duryea. The brothers were bicycle makers who became interested in the new gasoline engines and automobiles.
Charles Duryea and Frank Duryea were the first Americans to build a successful commercial automobile, and the first to incorporate an American business for the expressed purpose of building automobiles for sale to the public.
Read more about the Duryea Brothers. [Fox Nation, 4/22/10]
Yep, and as Chernobyl taught us, the Commies care about nothing but the environment.
I think you have it confused with religion.
Yep, show your individualism by mindlessly consuming mass quantities of those wonderful products sold by our sponsors.
Glenn Beck's true religion is the great god of gold. All Beck worships is is the all mighty dollar, gold, and his own greed.
So its worthless as currency. But like most issues, these guys dont know the first thing about economics.
Hmm, no rocks are flying anywhere.
"Here's your sign"
No, they're just rolling around in your head.
The logical fallacy at play here is the false dichotomy or missing middle. YOU are stupid enough to think it makes sense. Most rational adults are not. I am in my 50's. It is OK I make exceptions for morons whose IQ is under 16 like you
First they tried with that voucher nonsense that never works; but it failed because we noted that these vouchers wouldnt be a permanent freebee for the rest of time.
say it was, at best, $50,000 voucher. Uh oh, random fluctuation in what $1 means. Republicans refusing cost of living raise...
All seems so failiar.
"Just because your (sic) 50 doesn't mean your (sic) smart." No, but using logic instead of constant "Here's Your Sign" non-slogans and unfunny "comebacks" makes you a boring troll.
Deliberately missing the point=dihonest. Kabniel's point was that we DON'T need to go back to the horse and buggy era. As they said on the opener to a 70s tv show "We have the technology" to provide clean renewable energy at a reasonable cost.
Changing our energy infrastructure would create millions of good jobs and be an excellent investment in our future. The only thing lacking is our political will to face down those who have a vested interest in old polluting technologies.
As kabniel would state, god but you're a STUPID and a MORON who completely disregards history. One example, "SPAIN". If you can show me the millions of "Good Jobs" that Spain is enjoying versus the 20 percent unemployment they're now suffering through, I might agree with you.
Get off the renewable energy infrastructure as it might create some temporary jobs putting up windmills and solar panels, but after the construction is done, everybody is now applying for unemployment insurance.
Why can't the leftwing nuts understand this very, very simple fact.
"Here's your sign"
How long are you willing to give trickle down economics a chance to prove itself. Its been what 30 years. We're still waiting.
Systems expand and require maintiencen, employment continues. Geothermal, tidal, fuel cells, and a hydrogen energy economy will all create jobs to create, install and further jobs to maintian.
Don't pretend to have an understanding on this issue. All you have is a can't do attitude, and an aliegence to what makes a small population rich under the present energy systems.
Really? Is that the best you have?
"Here's your sign".
Wear your sign out in public, but here you don't need to bother. We already know.
But wait a minute, are you saying that once the windmills are built, they don't require endless use of resources and manpower to keep running? That's right, and isn't that economically efficient? With more investment, those workers can be put to work building more windmills, then; we'll be needing a lot.
Why cant rightwing MORONS understand how stupid they are and that we all KNOW what liars they are?
Maybe and maybe not. Personally I'm tired of argument that we can't do anything if it might cost jobs... Any technical paradigm shift causes jobs to be lost in the sshort term. Climate change could very well be an existential threat. We need to act regardless.
"Why can't the leftwing nuts understand this very, very simple fact. "
The choice may be jobs or our very existence. Why can't the rightwing dolts understand this very, very simple fact.
I live out in the country in a small rural county. There is no mass transit, nor would it be feasable with the population density where I live. I drive 20 miles to work every day, but I also need a vehicle that can drive several hundred miles without stopping. I have a pickup because sometimes, I need to haul things. I can't afford to buy a Prius or a Volt just to go to work. I live where weather and terrain require a 4 wheel drive.
Where is the clean renewable energy at a reasonable cost to replace my pickup?
Maybe he's doing a lot of work in Siberia or the Australian OUtback. You know, where there's several hundred miles between gas stations.
And of course, he can't stop because of the zombies and vampires.
No problem there either. The military is leading the way and pushing for biofuel for jet fuel because of it's strategic importance.
Are you suggesting I rent a truck every week?
Yawn
Im assuming that's the rule you're talking about. Which quite clearly states that there are exceptions to snow removal efforts. Such as if the road becomes impassable. "I drive a pickup because sometimes I need to haul things." Which is it, you sometimes need to haul things, or you rely on a truck for daily life. There is a difference. I too, sometimes need a truck to haul things. But if I needed one for everyday life, I would want the most efficient truck out there. Maybe one that did the least amount of harm to the environment upon which I rely to live. I would be livid that there was a technology out there that could provide a renewable source of fuel that had a more limited effect on the environment. I'm not naive, I understand that harvesting hydrogen also creates pollution. But so does refining petrol into gasoline. The right has an amazing way of thinking that the environment is somehow this distant thing that we aren't a part of. Wake up and smell the pollution. We are a key part of the environment we occupy and our decisions do effect that very same environment.
As far as enlightening goes, ha. You're fighting a losing battle. You do understand that there is a limited amount of oil right? What happens when that runs out? When there is no more gas to put in your precious truck what will you do? Why not make changes at the policy level? Why not bring these renewable technologies into everyday life so that we don't have to cross that bridge. Create the infrastructer to maintain these types of vehicles so that we no longer need petrol to survive as a country. That's the greatest thing we can do to stop funding the global jihad. Remove their source for making money and you directly take the power (literally) out of their hands. Wake up, write your senators, stop living in the dark. Who am I kidding? You're just a troll with no capacity for rational thinking (you don't get paid to think rationally) and I'm wasting my time explaining to you how you can help be force for positive change.
I think the point is being missed here. No is saying you need to trade in your truck tomorrow for the most energy efficient vehicle out there regardless of need.
The problem is that we aren't even talking about phasing new technologies in! I'm pretty sure diesel fuel will be around for the next few decades regardless of what other fuels are phased in or out. Jet fuel will probably stick around a bit longer then standard family-car petroleum too.
Let's not get carried away in minutia and pretend these things are being demanded here and today. They aren't. It is time however, that we start having serious discussions about how and when we are going to make a shift away from our current energy model, and how to do it best with the least about of turbulence and the most benefit to the American public.
If so, won't they freeze in the winter time?
Why would GM not promote their water truck?
Are the oil comapnies buying off GM?
Does Barry know about this?
So many questions, so much Googling to do.
"Here's your sign"
There's your sign
GOD but you are stupid. You are also a LIAR. MAke it a neon sign. Everyone should be afforded the opportunity to avoid you
You are the guy telling Columbus and Magellan they're gonna fall off the earth. You are the guy telling Galileo that the Earth couldn't possibly revolve around the sun. You are in the crowd encouraging Socrates to drink the hemlock.
No not you literally, but the spirit of those who feared enlightened thinking against the wealthy and powerful authoritarians of their day lives on in you.
I wouldn't be proud of that legacy.
I can picture him standing outside his local 7-11, with his tinfoil hat and pizz-stained pants, digging through the trash can for half-eaten doughnuts and hot dogs.
And I can picture the customers coming out of the store, the people who are actually buying things, averting their eyes in pity as he screeches " Here's you sign!" at each of them.
Then he goes over to the hose bibb for a nice drink of hydrogen.
Wait....so you agree that the release of too much methane causes global warming? Make up your mind please or stop making ignorant comments. You are not as clever as you think you are.
GOD you are pathetic. You come IN with that nick constantly tell us we are stupid then snivel like a punk that I insult you? I know you WISH we would just take your abuse and not give it back. Tough
You ARE a liar. You ARE a moron and you ARE stupid. You think it childish to point this out when you are here ONLY to annoy us and act like an obnoxious jerk? Talk about childish you DEFINE childish.
Try dodging the point that your entire premise was not only an ignorant talking point that you were programmed with. A cliched bit of idiocy I have heard a dozen times before since all you Limborg morons just spew talking points and are too stupid to think it is ALSO a logical fallacy. A false dichotomy. Why dont you stop embarassing yourself? This is your life. You will always be this stupid. You will never be able to hide that. You are transparent. You are a poser with no game. That isnt going to change
"And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads."
Revelation 9:4
Locked into binary thinking, all or nothing, good or evil, no nuance or complexity ever.
It's about responsible consumption and conservation when possible. Oops, that sentence has words with more than two syllables.
And try to find a comedian who's actually funny.
There's your sign
idiot
Oh I'm sorry, I forgot I was a part of a society of millions and not dictator of my own private island nation. It also occurred to me that your goading is as childish and many of these attacks on conservation, and suffers from rigid, very limited, black and white thinking.
Are cars evil? Of course not...only a brainwashed right wing media cult follower would assume liberals believe cars are evil. Contrary to what the slick con men tell you, it's a matter of some small choices, some bigger choices and degrees to which you can make a difference. Replacing a light bulb with a more energy efficient model for example. How can you be opposed to supporting new technology that saves you money? Why would you ridicule someone else for suggesting a beneficial alternative that saves other people money? It's just childishness.
No heresyoursign, no one will be throwing any stones because your premise is childish and flawed.
But for many years, way too many people who didn't need those types of vehicles had them anyway. It's those people who need to get rid of their status symbol Humvees, etc. Note that Humvee is no longer making vehicles for civilians - that's because most Americans wisened up and matured!
Sadly, I think this shift was brought about more by the steep rise in gas prices and stagnant wages then by a concern for conservation or personal responsibility.
Sure, some bought smaller or more fuel efficient cars out of the realization that it's in their best interest and thinking in the long term. I do think that if we saw a sustained drop in fuel prices, the big SUV and industrial trucks to the office job would come back, though I think in smaller numbers.
Theres something else though. All year long...sometimes at night. I hear the jets. Yeah, air force and airport thingies around nearby I think. Some nights youd think there was a war giong on over the clouds.
So as I walk to the store, I look up and see the military burning money (literally) to fly in circles.
consumer level goods are awful, no doubt about it. But its the military, the bloated cold war military, that is draining our world.
[url=http://www.lausanneworldpulse.com/themedarticles.php/652/03-2007?pg=all]Christian are supposed to care for God's Creation[/url....
http://www.lausanneworldpulse.com/themedarticles.php/652/03-2007?pg=all
Thats why they don't know that Jesus is considerd the savior of the jewish people, and why Jesus is considerd a major major prophet in Islam? Rightwngers in this country love to think up really silly vandalism of their icons and blame islam for doing it without really making any evidence available of this. (See: spitting on jesus picture for more information.)
of course theyve concocted some bizarre rhetoric that makes it seem like muslims can just ignore everything in their book and do what they want without reprocussions.
Christians sure wouldnt do anything like that! Can you imaagine, requiring people to merely chant a few magic words after commiting outrageous genocide and thus be permanently absolved, no matter what?
Just think of the very predictable response from the Reich!
Sorry we are not as STUPID as the rightwing who would swill cyanide cheerfully if Beck or Rush told them too. You rightwingnuts are passionatly stupid
"Here's your sign"
Now Jesus, he was a liberal, he preached against governments telling people how they could worship, he befriended the poor and the outcast, and he gave no concern to personal wealth but preached giving it all away to help your fellow man. I follow no religion, I don't need the carrot of an afterlife of happiness to know that caring for my fellow man is reward enough.
Who decides when somebody can keep what they have received without giving it away?
When there are no more rich people, then what can the furtue generations expect to receive?
Who decides when somebody can keep what they have received without giving it away? Take what you need and give what you can to help others.
When there are no more rich people, then what can the furtue generations expect to receive? Huh? We can only survive from the handouts of the rich? That was a really bad statement. Once again facts to support your statements and please avoid the silly statements and try to stay on point.
You answered my questions with questions not answers. Is that because you have no real answers just silly talking points.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
It's not about giving everything away or giving more than you can afford, no one is forcing anyone to do that.
To paraphrase the statement above: "Duhhhhhhhh"
Typical right wing trust fund baby, always expecting handouts and entitlements. How about future generations expect to earn, rather than receive ?
Romans further tells us that government is to be an instrument of God to bring order to people. Why would Jesus preach against an instrument of God?
Further, the death penalty which was levied upon an unjust servant in the Parable of the Ten Gold Coins isn't exactly 'liberal.' Instructing your followers to buy a sword isn't exactly 'liberal.' During his visit to Capernaum, he praised a Roman soldier for his faith, nowhere rebuking him for his military occupation, not exactly 'liberal.' He even advocates that citizens are exempt from taxes from their king and to instead tax foreigners, not exactly 'liberal.' Shoot, he was even killed for not paying those taxes ~1985 years ago today! But aren't paying taxes patriotic?
I could do this all day, but the point is not that Jesus was a conservative (although I'm sure that's the point you will get from this). But rather that Jesus was not a political figure and the political environment 2000 years ago was vastly different from what it is today. The 'conservative' and 'liberal' labels are completely meaningless, and to bring this full circle, Romans tells us to avoid this twisting of scripture and calls it idolatry.
Thank you for ignoring the point and proving that I am a fortune teller.
No, Thank You for ignoring mine.
Your words, not mine.
I'm sorry that I don't subscribe to your method of directing the conversation in a direction which is contrary to my intent. It is a typical tactic used by those who cannot argue with the substance presented, and meant to detract from the substance of the argument.
I really do enjoy arguing with liberals though, you are a quite predictable bunch. Occasionally I still get burned though, usually by using an analogy which evolves the conversation to 'validity of analogy' as opposed to 'substance of argument.' So you are attacking my interpretation of a story book as opposed to attacking the substance. This is a similar situation. <--- Nuts, I gave you a way to say 'this isn't at all like that la-te-da.'
Want to try again? I'll give you a mulligan.
Only occasionally?
Gee, I'm so sorry that I refuse to play your game.
You are the one the threw out the out of context argument based on the comment by syrabell that "Jesus was a liberal". No one was dressing Jesus up as "a Union man". Based on his actions of helping the poor, etc, Jesus was a liberal. You didn't have any point other than to "direct the conversation" to your liking.
You are still deflecting. Do you or do you not agree with:
It was an obvious bit of ignorance set up by you to be a jerk because you ARE a jerk. You dont know what you are talking about and you are thrashing around like a drowning man. Mischaracterizing liberals based on your ignorance and brainwashing and not having a point at all
Maybe I'll try putting my comments between a string of "FOX LIES!!!! FOX LIES!!!! FOX LIES!!!! FOX LIES!!!! FOX LIES!!!! FOX LIES!!!!"
Do you think that might work?
And while I am being laughed at no argument was even close to being presented refuting my two main claims:
1 - Jesus was not a political figure
2 - the political environment 2000 years ago was vastly different from what it is today.
Leading to the conclusion: The 'conservative' and 'liberal' labels [projected onto Him] are completely meaningless
FOX LIES!!!! FOX LIES!!!! FOX LIES!!!! FOX LIES!!!! FOX LIES!!!! FOX LIES!!!!
Now IF Jesus even existed during the time period claimed in your Bible, Jesus would have lived under ROMAN Rule, as recanted in the tales in your Bible, Jesus was a PITA to ROMAN Rule, they did not like disturbances to ROMAN rule and order.
It is a FACT that unless you were Roman or a toady to them life sucked for you. You lived in a occupied state with no say in how you lived your life.
The message of Jesus, the whole social justice thingy, was a THREAT to Roman Authority and Rule therefor Jesus along with all other trouble makers were eliminated via capital punishment.
Like it or not Jesus was a community organizer, dirty socialist hippy, flaming liberal, actually more of a progressive who preached peace, love and justice for all and the CONSERVATIVES were the Romans.
Further at my family Easter today, the topic turned to politics. I was not paying attention because I don't consider that a 'happy' Easter. I did pay attention at one time when my Uncle started screaming "and I bet you like what that bast___d Kasich is doing to us. (he is a government employee)." I was shocked, while I didn't agree with everything our former governor did, I wouldn't have called him a bast__d, but oh well... When the person he was talking to agreed, he followed it up with standing up and screaming "well you're just a f**ing racist republican" and left. Now the majority of republicans probably agree with what Kasich is doing in Ohio, I don't know how supporting SB5 makes you a racist. I then took my 2yo niece elsewhere because she did not need to hear her aunts and uncles screaming at one another.
Happy Easter, and when you answer "WWJD?," I don't think it includes screaming profanity at your family and calling them names.
It's curious that those who project modern philosophy on Jesus in order to score political points act so vile when faced with opposition. It's also curious that you used the word "IF" when discussing Jesus' existence when many historians accept His existence and even think one of His disciples was a sibling. It's also curious that I've met many individuals who invoke this type of Jesus talk who are agnostic at best.
You mean you can show how little you know about scripture all day? Sure you could. Jesus render unto Ceasar that which is Ceasers and unto God that which is his. That is HARDLY saying government should be an instrument of god.
You are a LIAR. You push the ignorant talking point all you MORONS are programmed with that the left hates the military. GOD but you are stupid. It is just what you are brainwashed with not anything to do with reality.
Again you LIE. When asked about taxes Jesus said render unto Ceaser...
I dont have too much of a problem with your last paragraph. It is a different era. The politics are different. Only in its most general sense can you talk about how all the apostles held all their property in common. That Jesus certainly was not for the status quo and it is progressive to try to change things for the better.
The rest of your post was sheer stupidity
By the way who are these Romans that are telling us to "avoid this twisting of scripture and calls it idolatry."
I can't seem to find anything but a city called Rome in Italy and some of the States in the Americas on my world maps. So I are you saying the Italian government said this or some State representative or State government body?
The Letter to the Romans is a book of the Christian New Testament Bible believed to be written by the Apostle Paul and is often shortened to "Romans." I'm sorry for not being clear.
As for your biblical reference, I was being humorous an maybe you should take some of your own advice and learn to laugh a little.
I suggest that you refrain from using the bible as a reference, especially the new testament, it was just a book written by some guys about a guy long after the guy died. There are even differences in opinion over which version is the true version. So please once again support you statements with facts. The bible is a nice story book, but not a factual account of history.
Please note I have not used any profanity, or called anyone rude names in my post so please show some respect in return, present facts to support your statements.
Guy responds with a perfect example of the right wing brain in action, doing right wing comedy; unoriginal, based on BS, bitter and stupid. Nothing more than " I know you are, but what am I?"
I salute guy.
Two can play this game, right wing media! I will begin throwing all sorts of untruths into the mix to see you deny 'em.
Your stupidity must be reaching a terminal stage. Arrogant elitists have conversations all the time William F Buckley made a fortune from being an arrogant elitist having conversations. You flat out say the stupidest things.
And their point, as I understand it, is that they are entitled to everything they can take.
But when it comes to actually preserving the planet so their children can HAVE a future, not only do they not care, they're so immature and lacking foresight that they would prefer to pollute as much as possible.
I know their chief concern is that they're going to be magically whisked away into heaven soon, so life here doesn't matter, in which case they should stop being hypocrites and stfu about the deficit!
There's a guy who posts here, almost exclusively on Climate Change -related threads, who promotes a tinfoil-hat theory about science being a long-term plan to limit his descendants' income. He's brighter than the typical Denier Cult zombie, so he's had to invent a scenario where he can excuse laziness under the guise of caring.
The right has invented a few other ways to deal with the cognitive dissonance they feel on the issue; windmills kill birds, electric cars need oil to charge their batteries, CFL bulbs contain mercury, etc.
Denial is a pretty strong emotional motivator.
Oh the horror of having to take them to a specific place to get rid of them rather then throwing them in the trash! It's been such a huge burden that since I changed out my old filament bulbs a few years ago, I've had to take my burned out bulbs to the recycling center...oh wait, I haven't had to replace a single one so far over the last five of six years. I must be thinking of those old filament bulbs that I used to have to replace every other year or so.
Well then I should probably complain about the gas it will cost me to drive to the recycling center when they finally do burn out. Or wait...I could but then that cost is actually a fraction of what I've saved on my electric bills every month since putting them in.
This is so unfair, how can I whine and complain about something that's had so many positives with so little downside? Must...complain.....must feign outrage....HIPPIE, SOCIALISM, BIRKENSTOCK WEARING COLLEGE PROFESSOR ELITIST!!!!
There we go...now back to watching Fox news, I don't want to miss the next Nanny State alert.
The CFL bulbs, for this reason, is one of my favorite recent topics. The emotional, spiteful aversion to them by people who have been instructed to be against them is amazing.
Have you ever seen a small child who doesn't want to go somewhere, or doesn't want to do something they don't like, or are scared of ? They'll give the parents an excuse, and as that excuse is dismissed, they'll start inventing increasingly far-fetched and crazy reasons. This is what I hear from the anti-CFL nuts.
About the time a few years ago that I had begun replacing my old incandescents as they burned out, I started to hear callers to right wing radio who were very angry about these new bulbs, although none of them seemed to have had any contact with them.
First, it was the price. I heard these wingnuts talking about $6-$8 dollar bulbs. I was getting them in a four pack for a buck ( with a contribution from Cal Edison) so they were against them because an imaginary price that was 24-32 times the real price ( not even counting the long term savings).
Then it was the sudden environmental awareness, the fear of mercury that's in all of the fluorescent bulbs that are already all around them. The horrible effort they anticipated in disposing of the CFLs. I have a little box in my garage where I'll put the first one that burns out ( I haven't had to yet, they've been going for three or four years), and when I get a few in there, I'll take them to Home depot on my next trip there, where they have a drop-off right by the front door.
I've probably been to Home Depot hundreds of times since they've had that recycling spot, and walked right by it, so it's obviously not going to be a special trip when I finally do use it.
Lately I've heard some right wingers on Fox complaining about a weird blue tint to the CFLs. Never seen it, the lighting looks similar to the old bulbs.
Then it was the incompatibility with dimmer switches. False, there are CFLs that can dim. I think they're a little more expensive, but again, consider the long term energy savings, and the reality of how few dimmer switches most people actually have in their home, and it's a non-issue.
Very recently, I saw a new fake complaint. Somebody posted a photo of a woman in a very unflattering fluorescent light ( really just a bad pic, maybe even altered a little to look worse), so they're even appealing to peoples' vanity - You're going to look ugly in photos with the new bulb tyranny !
And then, there are those who just say the bulbs themselves are ugly. I think this is just based on being used to the appearance of the old bulbs, coupled with being trained by the man on the radio to think that they're ugly. How much time do you spend looking at your light bulbs ?
It's such a boring little issue, but that's why I find it fascinating. With all of the real problems in the world, it's hard to believe that so many people can be manipulated into being outraged at something as innocuous as a more efficient light bulb that's just slightly different than what they're used to. I seriously look forward to each new excuse these wingnuts come up with to hate a light bulb. It's completely psychotic.
To further that analogy, sometimes it's a place they just haven't been to, and don't want to put down their video game or turn off Spongebob. They'll actually enjoy going there when all is said and done. Oftentimes when the little kid is spotted enjoying the trip and smiling, the parent will turn to them and ask if it was as bad as they thought it would be and the child will suddenly lose the smile, adopt a defensive posture, and revert back to the pre-trip whining.
These conservatives are the same way. Who doesn't want to save money on electric bills? Who enjoys getting out the stepladder or standing on furniture to replace fixture lights every couple of months when one burns out? Ask them if they still don't see the benefits outweigh any perceived inconveniences, and they'll go back to making excuses and whine that they only did it because it's hard to find the old bulbs or whatever other excuse they can come up with to avoid admitting they were initially mistaken.
Then you list some of the objections given by right wingers. I've heard some of the ones you list, but some of them sound a lot like the right wing posters here who will throw any wild stretch of an excuse out there to make their case.
Now that we're in the full fledged era of right wing media echo chamber dominance, it's become crystal clear that the new conservative mindset is simply childish behavior.
The reaction to conservation and climate science, the birtherism nonsense, the repetition of hard to swallow figures like the bogus trip to India costs, the death panel fear mongering, the repeated cries of socialism, the rise and fall of Glenn Beck, Sharia law is taking, John King's show hearings, the right wing media response to the Gabby Giffords shooting, and so many more examples boil down to little more then the mindset of a small child being prompted by slick marketing that appeals to their sense of vanity, insecurity, and fears.
Glad you added that. Most of the time it's not "if" but "when". Conservatives objections and principles are often just a matter of them adapting more slowly. Sean Hannity brags about his hybrid ( OK, it's an Escalade, but still...), for all of the hatred of Bill Clinton while he was in office, many Republicans have a more reality-based view of him today, some even miss him.
Obama may be a different case than Clinton, because of the state of the economy and "certain other factors", I wouldn't bet on a lot of the extreme right mellowing in their opinion of him in the future.
Maybe this is the real explanation for Glenn Beck's Overton Window theme. It's not that people are being conditioned to accept things that are "bad", it's that his audience is just very scared of things that are new.
Yeah and nobody else's. That's a republican for you. Against abortion so that kid can grow up to be executed and then the others are just put into foster homes where these same republicans care nothing about what happens to them after that.
Excrement In Broadcasting.
If one studied the rise of the Third Reich, the war and it's demise you would clearly see the current Republican/Bagger party is not much different than their German ideological counter parts from the 30's and 40's.
One of the more interesting aspects was the reaction of the German people when they REALLY found out what happened to the Jews and how horrified at what they did because they were willing participants for the entire thing.
Sadly history is repeating itself in America. I am also of the belief that it will take more than the ballot to stop it now. What will be the tipping point before the PEOPLE take it back from those that are enslaving us?
But, such nuances are probably too subtle for the knuckle-draggers on the left.
There is not witty humor here, just acidic hate and an absurd rejection of one of the simplest and most basic truths in existence: humans cannot survive if the planet cannot sustain them.
Of course, it could just be that I don't get the "nuance" of conservation needing to be based on a supernatural creator.
Like I said, the knuckle-draggers on the left - like MMFA - are not even aware of the distinction - so they don't understand the mockery of their position. Irony at its best.
Also, you should read that book before calling it idiotic. To think that humanity and our actions has no future and lingering effects on the planet is more stupid than your rant.
How does the ecologist suggest that an area be 'preserved?' They call for it to be closed to human use. That is not conservation. And it is that folly - of pretending that humans upset the balance of nature - that gives grist to the right.
After you've saved the world, what are you going to do for lunch? Maybe you could re-ignite the sun's sunspots? Or maybe you could buy the water rights on Mars?
Or maybe do something hard - like engaging in some independent thought!
After you've saved the world, what are you going to do for lunch? Maybe you could re-ignite the sun's sunspots? Or maybe you could buy the water rights on Mars?
Or maybe do something hard - like engaging in some independent thought!
Are you still around lying and trying to sell your BS here?
YOU are FAR too stupid to even recognize nuance much less understand what liberals think about it or how we respond to it. You are still as stupid as you have always been. They are mocking Earth day. Liddy asked if his listeners would grill a polar bear or run over a hippy. Spin and applogize for this nonsense all you want. They are mocking the very IDEA of conservation. You are a liar and it is sad to see you are still this stupid. You are several rungs lower than dinoflagellates on the evolutionary ladder so for YOU knuckledragger would be a huge improvement
May I suggest you use an acronym of LSBM in your posts to save space and time? Think it over. Imagine how much time you would save since all of your posts use these words repeatedly.
You're welcome.
Citing what "kabniel" writes without discussing the context in which he does it, and then criticizing him for doing what he does, is immature and unsupportable.
Here's to hoping that your stay here is extremely short.
But, of course, you aren't "new" here at all. If you were, your post wouldn't already be showing up. True "new" people have their posts go through a site moderation queue that rarely works over the weekend, and so your post would have been embargoed until Monday.
So, what we have here is an existing troll, trying to run and hide from his previous, well-deserved terrible reputation by changing his screen name!
Concern trolls, people who dishonestly pretend that they're simply looking out for someone else, are disgusting. Go away.
And pardon me for not stating I'm new to POSTING here. I assumed that by saying "I'm new here" people would figure that I am new to posting. But, you proved me wrong.
You are right on one thing. I probably won't waste my time around here. I find too many of the comments to be hateful, illogical, and often untruthful.
That's not really a pattern with kabniel, it's a pattern with right wingers that kabniel just happens to notice on a regular basis.
Maybe the Left really is that stupid. Stupid is as stupid does.
That is an absurd projection that you pulled out of your backside, or simply repeated after hearing one of the right wing media opinion people say it.
I've heard these arguments from the likes of Limbaugh and Savage, and they hold no water. It's an emotional argument meant to anger conservative Christians by creating another black and white "us vs them" scenario.
Those pagan communist "tree huggers" are a caricature painted by right wing media based on the most extreme examples of stereotypes portrayed in pop culture going back several decades.
You take a "war on Christmas" approach here, conflating a few small unrelated examples of the most extreme behavior possible and tie them together as some kind of mass movement then project that onto the much larger, and far less extreme broader movement that is most certainly focused on true conservation and stewardship.
You've been fooled into apathy and resistance to accountability by being pitted against a false enemy created to provide cover for those who benefit the most from public inaction.
Blather. Pure blather.
The consequences of the 'Conservation/Preservation' debate are at the essence of the whole question. The 'Anwar' drilling debate is a clear example of the kind of 'extreme behavior' you are defending. A few years ago, our state was forced to hold up a bridge construction for several years at a cost of several millions of dollars for some fresh water mussels that have since been found flourishing in other locations. Stupid, needless insane expense.
Preservationism at its idiotic worst. And hardly isolated incidents.
What about that little thing of a certain large beast passing through the "eye of a needle?" That's in no way liberal either, is it? How about that teensy tantrum in the temple? What about the beatitudes of Matthew? The beatitudes in the Gospel of Luke? Certainly none of those could be identified as liberal, could they? Seems like I could go on all day like this.
Looks to me that just about anybody can, and has claimed Jesus.
Interesting how things look in context and out of context.
I'm sure if Jesus were alive today he'd love being claimed by either the conservatives or the liberals.
Do you think he'd side with the wealthy and the policies they espouse in favor of themselves, or do you think he might bear witness to the poor of the world?
Just asking.
Beck is the kind of neighbor that invites you to his barbecue and when you go over he's not home.
Conservatives are the people that watch your house till you leave and then leave political pamphlets anonymously in your door.
In otherwords, a bunch of two faced, cowardly liars.
And on the day Christ rose from the dead too. NOOOOOO! It Can't Be! Jesus was a communist too? Argh!!!!!
How? By eating it?
Emotionally? Somewhere between three and eight years old.
I know, media tweak.
Fossil fuels seem to rule the global warming/climate change discussion, but defoliation over the last several decades is just as, if not more, severe.