OH GROW THE #$%^&! UP
One thing is certain - this nation is more divided today than it has been in the past century.
I don't know that Obama is at fault completely for that - but he certainly has not helped the situation.
About the coal...the right wing used old footage and a sound byte to invent the fallacy that Obama is against coal...I actually checked the charts and graphs provided by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, mining and logging are thorough the roof and off the chart under the Obama Administration. He has accomplished a lot more than you will ever hear in the media, but if you look up the CBO reports or the data from the BLS or the Treasury Dept., you can see the truth
I believe the stock fell because the people believed the fallacy, the people control the market price, so being fearful of his "supposed," revenge on coal and therefore created this self- fullfilling prophecy on stocks...I have written a hub called POTUS that lists many of his accomplishments, we are not allowed to promote on forums but since you asked I hope that it ok..
How are you, Tsad?
The election cycle is over and it seems the time has come to stop pointing fingers at candidates and political parties. If you are truly interested in understanding the plight of coal-burning power plants in the US, I suggest you stop reading the political blogs and other slanted media outlets and, instead, independently research and examine the real facts facing the industry.
For starters, take a look at the latest report from the consulting firm The Brattle Group. “There’s some grim news in here for the coal industry,” reports the Washington Post. “Between 59 and 77 gigawatts worth of coal capacity is set to retire by 2016 — between one-fifth and one-quarter of the country’s coal-fired plants. That’s even larger than earlier forecasts. But, the Brattle report notes, the recent uptick in retirements has largely been driven by market forces.” {1}{2}
Here are just a few facts that have absolutely no connection to the President and the EPA or to existing and future regulations:
1. Spot and forward natural gas prices have fallen drastically as a result of improvements in drilling techniques.
2. Wind turbines are creating more power on the national grid than ever before.
3. Coal mining on the East Coast has been declining for four decades due to competition from more efficient mining operations in the West. "Wyoming (with 5,837 coal miners) produces more coal than West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Alabama, and Illinois combined (with a total of 58,995 coal miners).” {3}
4. Newly developed mountaintop removal mining requires fewer miners underground.
5. In some regions, coal resources are waning. Some Appalachian seams are gradually running out. “There's just one problem: Analysts agree that much of the best coal in Southern West Virginia has already been mined…production is headed down regardless of air or water pollution restrictions.” reported the West Virginia Gazette in October 2012. {4}
Hence, regardless of which candidate won in 2012, more than 10% of the total coal generating capacity in the US has already been slated for retirement by 2016. If market conditions continue as expected, many additional units will join the retirement list. However, those playing the political blame game, those choosing to ignore the harsh realities that are changing the coal industry, should at least make a note of the prevailing consensus. “That change is primarily due to changing market conditions, not environmental rule revisions, which have trended towards more lenient requirements and schedules.” {2}
While I sympathize with the many unemployed miners, I see few reasons to blame the President and dozens of reasons why coal is not the dynamic economic engine it was a hundred years ago.
{1} http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/won … -policies/
{2} http://www.brattle.com/_documents/Uploa … ad1082.pdf
{3} http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?ti … ted_States
{4} http://wvgazette.com/News/MiningtheMoun … 1210130087
Thank you so much
Hi Onus. How have you been lately?
I just wanted to suggest that a petition with 10,000 signatures does not represent the sentiments of all Liberals, all Democrats, all Progressives, or even all Americans. We should all be bright enough to recognize this as a fact.
Also, Liberals are not stupid, as you put it, nor are they all ignorant or on the dole as others have claimed. The same can be said for non-Liberals as well. I believe all rational adults know this without having to be reminded. Political discussion should be about specific issues and include an exchange of reasonable, well-established facts. It should not be a verbal joust in which participants attach labels to people so they can attack the labels and the people while they ignore the pros and cons of the issues.
In the final analysis, Onus, the best choice is not to be tethered to one or another faction. Rather, we should be independent thinkers who leave the labels, the name-calling, and the insults to the uninformed rabble who have no other arguments to offer. We should not be part of the discussion if we are unable to present and support our personal opinions with verifiable facts. The power of our facts will always have the greatest impact while our personal opinions will always be just our own personal opinions.
I’m glad to have the opportunity to exchange thoughts with you, Onus. I hope to see you around soon. Everyone knows we can use more reasonable and effective voices in these forums.
Did someone say paradigm!?!
I thought the ability to seek a redress of grievances has already been annulled?
OH, its that pesky free to speak and express thing that needs to be squashed. That would make everything so much easier.- ahorsebackposted 11 years ago
0Sassy, Republicans have been trying to lay this whole thing on Obama, it is not playing a game to point out the fact that he adopted this economy from the Bush Administration...We paid for 2 wars on our Chinese credit card, remember...bush created a huge mess, it took 8 years to make that mess, it is ridiculous and naive to think it would take 4 to clean that mess up and then on top of that have a thriving economy...it takes twice as long at least to dig out of a hole than it does to get into one, ask anyone who has maxed out a credit card...The Republican's ran on lies and blaming Obama for a mess he did not create, and for not fixing the mess they made fast enough
I have heard the blame Clinton Arguement, and yes the Bubble was created because of the Bush policy Sassy, not enough regulations on the banksters, the housing bubble however, was created under the Clinton policies...and you have proved my point, there is plenty of blame when it is not "your guy"....And the country is divided because of the propaganda machines, wonder who finances those guys? Oh yea, the big corporations
- jenuboukaposted 11 years ago0
Well I'd like to offer a perfect compromise.
That is awesome Sassy:) And I would like to add, all Republicans can give up their welfare benefits, it should equal out nicely
Sassy, red stated receive more welfare than do blue, so that was the tit for tat
Seeing there many ways too research, so this nifty little site I think you will appreciate:http://www.statemaster.com/graph/eco_wel_cas_tot_rec-economy-welfare-caseloads-total-recipients
You can reorganize per capita, you can click on the state to review all of the economic factors, etc....Cool site
Hi Poodle.
I am sympathetic. I am truly sorry that you feel so badly over a simple election. There have been 57 presidential elections. After every one of them, there were some Americans feeling as you do today. I, a registered Republican, was in the same frame of mind in 2004. It is not likely to be a terminal illness for you or the country unless you make it into one.
Among the 100 million voters on Election Day there were over 100 million visions of America’s future and citizen had to choose between just two. You should not feel bad that your vision was not the one selected. America is not doomed because half of us did not agree on who would set the course for the country during the next four years. It is the reason we select a President and not a king. Governance is meant to change, meant to include new visions, meant to allow changes in course.
Ours is a unique system and it has functioned fairly well for a long time. You will surely have another chance to celebrate. Until then, Poodle, sleep well and feel better in the morning.Should that happen (which history has shown it does not), we will have a great model of smugness turned despair:
The GOP after Romney's "surprise" but spectacular loss.
Very well said
Thanks Tammy
. I've been reading the threads if not commenting, and you seem reasonable.
</g></g>
The Fed is in cahoots with the FDIC, SEC, and Treasury Department to centralize the banking industry, as well.
Here, I found you a good avatar so you won't have to go with the man in the shadows look.@Poodle Head Mikey - (Laughing) I love it!
Okay, I read all the comments here. Lots of sharp come backs - Excellent!
I do agree we live in a country divided and believe there's a reason for that, which has not been brought to light in this forum. I think I may write a hub about it.You just write about anything your interested in studying or talking about or DIY or anything...You can add pictures videos, etc. you just go to the write hub tab and it will walk you through, very user friendly
I apologize, tone is hard to discern in the written word... But after you click on the start new hub the promps will walk you through, and you will get better at it with time...I usually write in word and copy and paste in the text box because I like reading through and not having to scroll so much,lol...But seriously, whatever interest you, just write...it's fun to get that stuff out of your head(no pun intended poodle head
)
You make very good points. It will take action not just words, but actions are being taken not in spite of but because of oppression, as history dictates...However, one must never give up hope, never...we do matter, we matter to the wealthy because we do all of the working and tax paying in this country, they can not live without us:) Remember that and you always have a reason to grin...because if it gets bad enough, the people will join together; in much the same way as did a bunch of immigrants from different backgrounds that came together and buit this country
I am sane, I assure you, I just have a positive personality. I am nobody's servant, I will fight for my rights, I will pass along petitions, I have joined an organization called the house fire project designed by Jim Brown aka themanwithnopants, an organization to fight corruption...Occupy Wall Street is and has made a difference, they may be an independent party before you know it...many people are doing...
History actually shows that a group of misfit toys got sick and tired of tyranny and built this country...now I glossed over the part where we kind of stole the land from the aboriginies(I am 1/8 Cherokee, so I am not making light) I am making the point that yes, it can be done...The beautiful framework from the Founding Fathers needs dusting off, but there is no need to throw away our Constitution, we need to grow up and quit acting like spoiled children. There is no free lunch, we shouldn't think we are entitled to this land or the infrastructure. You know, you get what you pay for.Every choice has a price, every movement an equal and opposite movement. I do not believe politics can be fixed, I believe Government can be fixed and politics is the biggest money sucking problem:) Too much money floating around...lobbying should be out, campaigning out, stations allow free time per person who wants to run for office, no titles(R's or D's), the candidates can post on line their plan, the people vote...well, that's one idea anyway...Many ideas will work with the people, it's those silly willys at the top, we need to get their attention...the wealthy can not stay wealthy without employees, heck who will build their planes
Seriously though, I know it's complicated, but with sheer determinations, we can make change, and it starts within ourselves....Yes I prefer to live in a civilized society? Maybe you should travel, maybe live out in the wild? Maybe this would turn your frown upside down...I hate labels, we need a mixture society, which we have we just whine too much about silly things...The haves do try to feed off the have nots(not all of them, some actually give to the have nots) But that is what the law is suppossed to do, protect the citizens...Look many things are broken, but it is repairable..And my opinion I am spouting is called free speach, pretty cool stuff
- ahorsebackposted 11 years ago0
Hey izetti, I haven't seen you in ages, I hope you and your family and new baby have been doing well
I think Obama lost a lot of support for three important reasons: 1) He didn't repeal the Patriot Act, he strengthened it's scope 2) He did not repeal the Bush tax cuts (but I actually understand now that was a smart decision with the economy falling through the floor) 3) He did not pursue the Bush Administration for war crimes....Those three promises were biggies to us lefties...But all of this craziness since the election was very unexpected, at least by me. I thought we were a different kind of people. This has made us all look like complete morons to the rest of the world, and that is the scariest part of all...
So good to see you, I will have to drop in your hub and catch up on some reading...Can't recall any Repubs trying to overturn abortion rights in your lifetime?
How about severely restricting? (see chart below). Since 2010 -- remember what happened in 2010? A whole bunch of Republians got voted into office in Congress and as governors.
Or ...
How about the Republican candidate (Romney) saying in the primaries he would happily sign legislation that makes abortion illegal?
How about the other Republican candidate (Ryan) proudly touting his "pro-life" voting record and stating on camera that the method of conception (e.g., rape) doesn't change anything.
I could go on and on about the many GOP candidates who got defeated specifically for their extreme positions on abortion.
Why don't you go live in some communist country since you think it's so great? Besides I already live in an authoritarian place. Every time liberals pass legislation they seek to abridge the rights of others. They create speech codes in colleges, they take money away from the wealth producers in exchange for a vote from a growing number of their own dependents, they force companies to hire people based solely on the color of their skin, they litigate against the rights of churches, they think that cops and criminals are the only people who should posses fire arms. and their stance on abortion proves that they do not believe that all men are created equal, that some lives are more valuable than others.
When Jefferson said the tree of liberty needs to be watered with the blood of tyrants and patriots he wasn't talking about babies.Yeah not the same thing
Firstly that's just not true, people can use proper protection and get pregnant, it just happens, then there is rape also, so that is a completely invalid argument.
What you want to do, forcing women to give birth against their will and regardless of their wishes is far more tyrannical and oppressive and is a much bigger overreach of government force than anything you have railed against in this thread, simple as that.
Yeah that would be pretty childish, I sure am glad you didn't suggest that.
If I were an extremist I would probably resort to name calling when I start loosing a debate with someone. Or my extremist buddies and I might start rioting in the streets if we didn't get our way. That's actually more of a liberal thing though.
Thank you, Jesus!
Thank you, Jesus!
They can't see their hypocrisy. But everyone else can.Jillian, you truly should have done your research, Romney was not against abortions but was going to make it so tax payers didn't have to pay for which we do now, Obama supports more people on welfare and support from the tax payers while he tries to bring us back up from unemployment. They both had good polices, but there are up and down side to both. Other than that they both have their head stuck up their asses and get paid to much I bet if we cut the pay of the president and the congress men/women we could be closer to being financially free as a nation
Other than that you are right but are there not extremest on the left as well? I am in the middle myself but I love watching people because they both have their extremest that are equally as bad as the other. Most of our rights are being stripped away regardless, Obama said in a press meeting that the Constitution is out of date just last week, so again no matter who is in office we loose our rights and freedoms.
I'm actually asking for clarification of what you mean about women/girls who the victims of rape or incest can avoid getting pregnant with proper medical care.
I'm stymied by such a statement, made with apparent certainty.
Please explain what proper medical care prevents pregnancy in the case of rape or incest.
And if there is such a magical pill or procedure, why would it not also apply to ALL women who wish to avoid pregnancy?
- JustCraftyposted 11 years ago0
Howdy Ms. Fae.
I spotted your comment above and became very curious. Your statement is rather vague. I can not find any reports regarding precincts reporting 100% of their ballots for President Obama. I could use your help locating the details. No doubt you have some sources. Which of the 9,245 precincts in PA are you referring to?
Thank you so much, Ms. Fae, for your help. I am looking forward to reading your reply.Never mind, Ms. Fae.
Thanks to Ms. Barclay, I have the information from the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Clearly you and Sean Hannity have made up your minds on this issue after little or no investigation. Still, I don’t blame you for not paying attention to Hannity.
“Mo Elleithee explained to Hannity that Romney, George W. Bush, and John Kerry all had won precincts where their opponents won zero votes. Nevertheless, Hannity insisted that the possibility of this happening is ‘zero,’ adding, ‘I don't believe it. I think this is voter fraud.’”
It seems his public position is to believe what he wants to believe despite the over whelming data to the contrary.
The Inquirer explained, “In 2008, McCain got zero votes in 57 Philadelphia voting divisions. That was a big increase from 2004, when George W. Bush was blanked in just five divisions.” According to the newspaper this phenomenon is nothing new.
Philadelphia has a long and well-documented history of having all the ballots in some precincts cast for just one candidate. Furthermore, evidence of fowl play has not surfaced after this election cycle. Some folks must be paranoid to spread suspicion in the absence of proof.
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