Comments on: Wow: Treasury says Cap and Trade to cost $100-200 Billion in new taxes

By: kramer

kramer — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:39:49 +0000

…and by the way, you just said that everyone in the world who isn’t American wants American health care. You generalized, incorrectly, about the entire world, in a blindly xenophobic way. And you call me arrogant? Do you understand how incredibly arrogant your statement was, or does it not matter, because nobody outside of the US deserves respect?

By: kramer

kramer — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:07:41 +0000

You said yourself that you are opposed to anti-pollution legislation on the basis that global warming is not real, and cap-and-trade is therefore just a government power grab (albeit one based on the premise that we are impacting our weather, a fact agreed upon by plenty of experts around the world who have nothing to do with the US government…so I guess it’s a global conspiracy against US corporations?). So I ask again: If you are opposed even to the idea that there is a problem to be solved, what ideas could you possibly want to share? What solutions do you think might work to solve a problem you deny exists? Do you see my point?

Anyway, as often happens, I gave you an easy out by putting a snarky comment in there, thus allowing you to address only that, while conveniently ignoring the substance of what I wrote. Presumably, you did this because you have no response. You don’t have any experience of life outside your little bubble, you just make your pronouncements about a wider world that you generally fear. It’s sad. You should actually think about these things. It might help our country.

By: Bill Dupray

Bill Dupray — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:21:31 +0000

I live in the real world where these things are, absolutely, settled science. If you don’t live here with me, what is there to talk about?

We could talk about taking the ignorance/arrogance quotient to new heights.

By: Bill Dupray

Bill Dupray — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:18:02 +0000

Exactly which proposal allows folks to refuse to buy insurance if they don’t want it?

By: kramer

kramer — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:23:03 +0000

Funny you mention the VA. My recently-retired parents just joined the VA. What a fantastic (and affordable) program. I would join it in a heartbeat if I were eligible.

“As for the health care in other countries, the folks that can afford it come here to get care if they can because we have the best care in the world. That is a fact.”

No, that is a fantasy. It happens occasionally, of that I have no doubt. But anyone who considers himself well-informed on this topic and still believes that is delusional. I’ve seen the talking point all over the place, though, so reading it again feels like coming home. Thanks for that. As I said, I have lived in countries with great health care systems, and trust me: to a man, everyone I ever met there considered ours a joke. I bought insurance in Germany (required for residency permits) and had a choice: one plan that covered me everywhere in the world except the United States for $60/month, or one that included coverage in the US for $250/month. And no, it’s not because our system is better. It’s because our system is a disaster, and the rest of the advanced industrialized world knows it.

As for the “debate” I’m “ducking,” I presume you would point to energy-industry-financed studies that find no link between industrial activity and global warming? OK, great, so what is there to talk about? I live in the real world where these things are, absolutely, settled science. If you don’t live here with me, what is there to talk about?

By: CEI Touts Study of Non-Existent Climate Policy | The Lie Politic

CEI Touts Study of Non-Existent Climate Policy | The Lie Politic — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:05:48 +0000

[...] course, climate bill opponents are pitching quite a fit over the documents, egged on by a report by a CBSNews.com correspondent, claiming them [...]

By: brendanm

brendanm — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 06:23:20 +0000

You do know that is essentially the proposal, right?

By: brendanm

brendanm — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 06:21:21 +0000

Mr. Dupray, this is all complete nonsense. This is entire post is based on an article predicated on a lie; CEI is either run by stupid people, dishonest people, or – as is often the case with wingnuts – stupid and dishonest people. The Treasury numbers as presented by CEI and the Washington Times (such a reputable paper!) in question have little relevance to the climate bills under debate (the House bill passed auctions 15%, not 100%, of carbon credits) or to Obama’s actual proposals (in which most of the auction revenue goes right back to consumers and into long-term investments that lower energy costs), but rather reflect the untrustworthiness of an amoral corporate mouthpiece posing as a “think tank,” a Moonie rag posing as a newspaper, and flat-earther, conspiracy-nut ideologues who buy their bullshit and reprint it online.

What I’m saying is that you should leave these discussions to adults who understand science and are not crazy. But I’m sure there are plenty of “global warming is a communist/liberal/Jew conspiracy to impose a socialist NWO” discussions at FreeRepublic and Stormfront, so don’t feel bad.

By: brendanm

brendanm — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 05:24:25 +0000

Yeah, that was clearly the reference…you aren’t very clever, are you?

By: CEI Touts Study of Non-Existent Climate Policy | GSA Schedule Services

CEI Touts Study of Non-Existent Climate Policy | GSA Schedule Services — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 04:25:48 +0000

[...] course, climate bill opponents are pitching quite a fit over the documents, egged on by a report by a CBSNews.com correspondent, claiming them [...]