Obama's CHANGE: No HOPE for Farmers

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How did Cass Sunstein ever get approved for any position in this country? He is the most radical intellectual that has ever wielded any power over policy or monies in the United States. He believes that a smart dog is more valuable than an infant or elderly human. He is against the 2nd Amendment and wants rigid gun control. He wants to force people into becoming vegetarians by establishing policies that will make a pound of ground round unaffordable. This is his “nudge” policy. Slowly pass unnoticed legislation that can be expanded, until the people have no power, and no money, left. Our Senators were warned. Why didn’t they listen?

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Now farmers in the Sacramento area and the San Joaquin valley in California are facing a dust bowl equivalent to that of the 1930s Great Plains. Water has been turned off to farmers to supposedly protect an endangered minnow-like fish called the Delta Smelt. The loss of the smelt has affected the fishing industry in the northern Pacific waters, but it is also suspected that the land of the San Joaquin Valley is wanted by the government for solar and wind farms. Meanwhile, thousands and thousands of acres of prime farm land is blowing in the wind and thousands of farmers and agricultural workers are lining up for food at food banks. Food from China. Foods marketed without the oversight of the FDA. We will all pay for the food shortage. We have already seen recall after recall of Chinese products for our infants and children. Do you really want to eat Chinese food? Are you willing to pay double for food, when you may already be asked to pay triple for energy if the Cap and Trade bill passes?

The boot is on our throats.

And, suppose the Delta Smelt does go extinct. That would be a natural occurrence for the earth. Let’s look at this time-line of extinctions and man:

Ordovician-Silurian extinction - 439 million years ago - 25 percent of marine families and 60 percent of marine genera.

Late Devonian extinction - 364 million years ago - 22 percent of marine families and 57 percent of marine genera.

Permian-Triassic extinction - 251 million years ago - 95 percent of all species.

End Triassic extinction - 199 million to 214 million years ago - 22 percent of marine families, 52 percent of marine genera.

Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction - 65 million years ago - 16 percent of marine families, 47 percent of marine genera, 18 percent of land vertebrate families, including the dinosaurs.

Homo sapiens arrival – 90,000 years ago.

The founding of the United States of America – 230+ years ago.

Scientists have documented the disappearance of only 1,100 species over the past 500 years. New species have constantly arisen over these millions of years to fill niches left unoccupied. Clearly, the action of man is nowhere near as detrimental to species as the forces of nature, forces that we cannot control. If we could, there would have been no eruption of Mt. St. Helens, no hurricane Katrina, no wildfires in California and no earthquakes in San Francisco or the New Madrid area in Kentucky.

Extinctions are natural; therefore a true environmentalist would not interfere with these extinctions. What we have, however, are environmentalists who think that they DO have power over nature. In times of wealth (prior to our bankruptcy by all manner of intrusive federal programs), we could afford to let a bird live and pick an insecticide other than DDT. We had capitalism and free enterprise and our chemical companies have given us 1000s of choices of approved chemicals TO HELP US GROW FOOD. (The United States continued to produce DDT after its use was banned here, as the poor nations that favored healthy children over dead birds relied on the DDT that we exported for profits.)

Now, we are facing those same decisions. Although our nation spends a lot of money, we are no longer a wealthy nation. Do we favor healthy children or a thriving population of fish? Do we favor healthy people or a thriving population of insects? Are we going to support starvation and poverty or endangered mollusks? Can our government look at families in line at food banks and not feel extreme shame?

Congress, turn off your lights when you leave a room, drive the speed limit, get a push mower for your lawn and TURN ON THE WATER for our farmers!!

Living Green

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No one really knows if the affect we have on carbon dioxide or methane production will spell our doom. In the 1950’s, there were climate irregularities that were blamed on the communists and bombs! We’ve only been keeping weather data for 150 years or less, and we’ve only begun to interpret it. Computer models for the Greenhouse Effect are built on computer models for nuclear winter and dinosaur extinction. We’ve not experience nuclear winter and we were not on the earth to record dinosaur extinction. Scientists are doing the best they can, but they disagree.

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I taught environmental biology and ecology for over 25 years on both the high school and college level, and have been the keynote speaker for Earth Day and Arbor Day events in central Alabama. I’ve also worked with community organizations interested in ‘greening’ their activities. We know human activities affect our environment, and we know how to live green, live wisely. I don’t advocate that anyone try everything, but pick a few and make a difference!

In the yard:

• Use a mulching mower so that nutrients aren’t bagged and sent to the landfill.
• A good stand of grass will choke out weeds, so go easy on the chemical weed killers.
• Old newspapers can be used under pine straw to prevent weeds in shrubs and garden areas.
• Put movement sensors on outdoor lights, or use solar lighting.
• Start a compost heap for yard wastes, kitchen wastes and newspaper strips.
• Plant deciduous trees near the house and coniferous away from the house, to let sunlight warm you in the winter.
• Let shrubs grow large against the house if you have high summer cooling bills. Trim them back if your power bills are highest during cold winters.

In the laundry room:

• Use half the recommended amounts of detergents and additives.
• Try non-chemical laundry balls instead of more detergents.
• Use liquids so you won’t inhale powders in the air.
• Buy low phosphate detergents.
• Wash in cold water.
• Hang clothes to dry.
• Buy clothing that doesn’t need ironing.

In the kitchen:

• Purchase energy efficient appliances.
• If you use but a few dishes/utensils a day, hand wash and air dry them.
• Buy foods with little packaging, like fresh produce or bulk sizes.
• Take bags with you to the grocery store (or any store).
• Keep organic wastes separate for a compost heap to fertilize gardens and beds.
• Purchase reusable plastic containers for leftovers instead of disposable plastic bags.
• Buy ‘pick a size’ paper towels.

In the bathroom:

• Purchase a low-flow shower head.
• Purchase a toilet with a small tank, or put a plastic bottle full of water in the tank.
• Use pump sprays instead of aerosol cans. Recycle the containers.
• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth.
• Re-use towels (at least once).
• Wet, lather, rinse…and do not repeat. Instructions for most products are to make you run out fast and buy more.
• Reduce your shower time or lower the level of water in the tub. If you must, savor the time and water once a week.
• Use more ‘elbow grease’ to clean and scour, and less bleach-type products.
• Rinse disposable diapers. Read the directions for their use and follow them.

In the garage/car:

• Buy fuel-efficient cars.
• Travel the speed limit to conserve gasoline.
• Be faithful to the recommended maintenance schedule.
• Sweep carports, patios and pool aprons instead of cleaning them with the power nozzle on the hose.

In the bedroom:

• Use contraception/birth control. Plan your family.
• Turn the television off when you are sleeping or out of the room.
• Remove plastic from dry-cleaned clothes immediately.

In the home:

• Install ceiling fans.
• Use devices that will automatically turn equipment off if no one is in the room.
• Install solar screens or storm windows, especially on east and west facing windows.
• Set thermostats to allow you to be comfortable in sweaters during the winter and tanks during the summer.
• Participate in your community’s recycling programs.
• Put entertainment equipment and chargers on power strips that can be turned off at night.
• Purchase energy efficient light bulbs. Turn lights off if not in use.
• Increase insulation in outside walls and attics.

If you want to know why these practices are recommended, post a comment and I’ll be glad to elaborate. By adopting such practices, you will not only ‘save the planet,’ but you will save your pocketbook as well! Right now, most Americans need every penny that they can squeeze!