I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

IllinoisLady

Ah common sense -- that which actually would level the playing field, and too many don't want that to happen.  Guess there is an iffy spot when it comes to courage of convictions.  I ran into this just before I cam here.....just like it.  Says so much for being so very, very tiny.

Jackie

bluedahlia

It can be done!

BRAVO!
Germany is saying "nein" to dirty energy by heavily investing in solar
energy, and the results are stunning: the country just broke the world
record by producing 5.1 terrawatt hours of clean energy in July - that's
more than 6 times the entire amount produced by the USA! http://ow.ly/oyJtu

If a cloudy country like Germany (which has no deserts and is the size of New Mexico) can excel in solar
energy, why can't the USA? The answer is government priorities. While
we continue to subsidize fossil fuels and embrace controversial tactics
like fracking, Germany is showing the rest of the world what smart
policies can do. That's why our attorneys are helping to spearhead solar
energy in places like Hawaii. http://ow.ly/oyN45

crazy4carrots

What's that old saying?  Oh yes, "Where there's a will, there's a way".  Unless, of course, when the monied interests (i.e. oil and gas industries) get in the way.

There are several nurseries and fruit/veggie farms here in Niagara who have invested in solar, and are getting all their power off the grid.  Any power not used is sold to Ontario Hydro.  It's a win-win all around.  And solar panels on rooftops are a much more pleasant sight than wind farms.....

On another subject -- I watched a Charlie Rose program the other night.  It was a compilation of his interviews over the years with David McCullough, an historian whose books concentrated on the years before, during and after American independence.  His knowledge of Washington, Adams, Jefferson et al was amazing!

IllinoisLady

C4C...wish I had watched that program too.  I almost hate to think of how much time has been wasted foot dragging about working toward alternate sources of power .  Blue, yay for someone who isn't afraid to "lead" the solar way. 

On another note and just interesting to me:

Jackie

IllinoisLady

bluedahlia

IllinoisLady

IllinoisLady

gardengumby

Beautiful, Jackie!!

IllinoisLady

QuinnCat

I just looked into solar on Friday.  It really has come in price and instead of amortizing the cost over 20 years, by my quick calculations, it is more like 10 years.  That's before any State or Federal rebates and discounting any inflation in traditional power costs, but I'm not sure if there are any incentives for solar at the moment.   Subsidies (hmm, I mean corporate welfare) directed away from fossil fuels to solar would influence people like me to go this direction. Hell, with global warming, I could turn this 100 degree weather into some A/C.

The word is, the Hobby Lobby ruling will backlash on the GOP.  Women of child-bearing years are not very happy and I'm sure, their mother's generation.  Why do they work so hard on losing the woman's vote?  They've probably lost the Latino vote for the next 2 generations.  Bye Bye Republicans.  Bye Bye Tea Idjuts.

gardengumby

I hope you are right - I fear you are not. 

QuinnCat

They'll never win another POTUS.  Congressional districts are in another category.

brigadoonbenson

QuinnCat - African-American women were the largest single voting block in the last two Presidential elections.  The majority of women are affected by the SCOTUS ruling and the Republican agenda.  I believe women need to educate the men in their lives on how these decisions directly affect them, I.e. equal pay affects monthly income, 401K's, SSI, qualifying for loans.  

Women alone  can change this right-wing madness.  When unions, thinking,  self-assureed, unthreatened men join in we can do this.  

gardengumby

I get what you are saying - but then I hear my formerly far left "hippy" son saying things that make me want to puke, I wonder what on earth is going on.  So, while I truly believe that women can sway the vote - I also remember from my long ago days as a "fundie" that women, just like poor people, will vote against their own interests - indeed will be convinced that their own interests are actually "bad" and to their detriment if told so often enough by those people (read ministers and television personalities) to whom they have given their trust.

brigadoonbenson

gardengumby - Wow, I so admire you.  Fundieism is hard to walk away from.  I would love to hear your story. 

My middle-aged sons fight the battle all the time too.  They are more prosperous than we ever were and it is hard to not put self interest first.  When it comes down to it though my hope is that intellect will win out over the crazies. 

 

 

IllinoisLady

I tend to fall into the category of Quinn and Brigadoon.  Hate to admit it is mainly due to the hordes of rt. leaners in my family.  I use to just be upset, but after several years of their huge attempts to shove their ideas on me and get me to TOE their mark, nothing doing. 

I think the beginning of the end started a while back, and this is just another heavy-duty reason to keep on keeping on what the President we have now, started. 

Forgot to add......think white people as a minority -- along with the pounding all the others ( races ) have and are taking.  How long  can any group stand up and insult the majority and try to take everyone back in time. 

Jackie

brigadoonbenson

I am really glad that our first black president was a man like Obama, grace under fire.  It was inevitable that there would be this much hatred for him as the ugly face of prejudice is never as evident as it is when the status quo makes a seismic shift.   It will happen to the first woman president too.  Guess that is why I am okay with Hillary Clinton instead of my real dream Elizabeth Warren.  I do believe that Hillary has the backbone to withstand the same hatred and continuous stonewalling that Obama has.  Elizabeth has the backbone but I hate to waste her on inaction when she can be so valuable in the Senate.

IllinoisLady

Brigadoon...I have a Face book site that I use ( drives some people up the wall and like I care ) called I Love It When I Wake Up In The Morning and Barack Obama Is President.  Both he and Michele are wonderful people with as you say so much style and grace. 

I'm ready for Hillary too.  It is certainly time for the rest of the one-two if you ask me and she will be tremendous.

Jackie

IllinoisLady

Here is a sample for you:

brigadoonbenson

IllinoisLady - Yeah, what you said.  Thanks for the FB recommendation.

IllinoisLady

IllinoisLady

http://www.politicususa.com/2014/07/06/abc-news-cuts-rick-perry-middle-insane-obama-conspiracy-rant.html  This should be happening a lot more often.  Perry was not allowed to continue on with his lunacy.  It is always evident that these people are out of touch -- they don't hear what they say for sure. 

Jackie

QuinnCat

Let's just put it this way...the Hobby Lobby decision did not add votes to the Republican side.  It may have energized the fundies, or the Obamacare haters, but most of them vote anyway, but it also energized, imo, as many or more, progressive thinking voters.

The immigration issue will energize Hispanics, and not for the sit on their hands GOP and these Voter restriction efforts are not being missed by African-Americans, and hopefully college students.

IllinoisLady

Putting it here because Sunflowers would love it.

IllinoisLady

IllinoisLady

IllinoisLady

Such a can of worms un-leased.   I think some sorrow will be in the wind for the SCOTUS in many ways.  I was un-aware of this being one of them.  http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/07/03/1311556/-Reason-1-SCOTUS-Will-Regret-Hobby-Lobby

Jackie

IllinoisLady

H. Lobby news and views should be settling down soon, but here is something hard to resist.  http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/07/03/1311503/--HobbyLobbyLove-is-a-thing-but-it-s-not-going-well

Jackie

IllinoisLady

Another viewpoint on the corporate veil issue or lack thereof.....dicey.  Lawsuits by the ton.  http://www.addictinginfo.org/2014/07/07/how-hobby-lobby-may-have-inadvertently-signaled-end-citizens-united-video/

Jackie