Archive for the 'Economy' Category
Misinformation puts investors at risk, says Free Enterprise Action Fund (Ticker: FEAOX)
Washington DC, July 23, 2008 - The Free Enterprise Action Fund (Ticker: FEAOX) submitted the following letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requesting the SEC to warn publicly-owned companies against making false and misleading statements concerning global warming:
Continue reading ‘Global Warming: SEC asked to warn companies against making false and misleading claims’
It looks like the Global Warming taxes are going to start soon…
San Francisco: The Bay Area Air Quality Management District will vote today on a proposal to impose a Greenhouse Gas Fee. The fee applies to carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent emissions at the rate of 4.4¢(USD) per metric ton and is expected to initially produce an additional $1.1 million for the District.[1]
It’s all part of a plan that “would increase revenue to enable the District to address increasing regulatory program activity costs, and continue to move toward more complete cost recovery”[1]
The BAAQMD’s website describes “Environmental Justice” (emphasis mine)
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is committed to environmental policymaking and enforcement practices that are fair and equitable to all residents regardless of age, culture, ethnicity, gender, race, socioeconomic status, or geographic location in order to protect against the health effects of air pollution. [2]
The way the proposal is set up it could effect a lot more than carbon dioxide and the other listed greenhouse gases. Consider that water vapor is the most powerful GHG. I’m not sure what the “carbon dioxide equivalent” or “global warming potential” of water vapor is but, imagine a “carbon tax” based on the steam from showers or cooking.
Interestingly the supporters of this measure seem to be concerned with the precedent it will set than with the actual impact it would have on the environment.
The modest fee — 4.4 cents per ton of carbon dioxide — probably won’t be enough to force companies to reduce their emissions, but backers say it sets an important precedent in combating climate change and could serve as a model for regional air districts nationwide.
“It doesn’t solve global warming, but it gets us thinking in the right terms,” said Daniel Kammen, a renewable energy expert at the University of California, Berkeley. “It’s not enough of a cost to change behavior, but it tells us where things are headed. You have to think not just in financial terms, but in carbon terms.” [3]
- Final Staff Report and Draft Amendments to Regulation 3: http://www.baaqmd.gov/pln/ruledev/3/2008/0300_sr&dr_052008.pdf
- BAAQMD.goc - Environmental Justice: http://www.baaqmd.gov/pio/environmental_justice/index.htm
- Regulators in California to vote on global warming fees charged to businesses for emissions, International Herald Tribune, May 21, 2008: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/21/america/NA-GEN-US-Global-Warming-Fees.php
A few days back we talked about banning water. OK, it was the crazy environmentalists that signed the petition. Today we are going to examine bottled water. Penn & Teller’s Bullshit explores the bottled water industry to find out just what the big deal is with this $4 Billion a year industry. The EPA and FDA barely regulate the bottled water industry and sometimes all your buying is a fancy bottle of tap water.
Update: I decided to watch the Movie SiCKO and I can say I was not dissappointed. I knew it would be the same old Moore lies and it was. Moore shows a 7 year old World Health Organization report showing the U.s. to be #37. He fails to mention the age of the report only stating that we are just behind Slovenia. The report he shows also has Cuba listed belor the U.S. although he later tries to frame the Cuban medical system as far superior to that of the U.S. ~Malagent 07-08-2007
The only good that can possibly come from Michael Moore’s SiCKO is that people are at least going to debate an issue. We can only hope that it does not follow the pattern of the 9/11 deniers (self proclaimed “911 Truth Movement”). Open debate coupled with critical thinking is a good thing. Denying mountains of evidence that disproves you conspiracy and pushing forward with lies, however, is nothing short of dangerous. Just watch Loose Change and do a little research to see what I mean.
I have yet to see the film and I will not pay to do so either. I will watch it only to see how much Moore twists the facts and selectively chooses his material. That way I will be prepared with that knowledge when the need arises for debate.
People all over are criticizing the U.S. Health Care system and I have yet to really see the problems they speak of. Recently I had a potential life threatening infection and I finally went to the emergency room at one of three local major hospitals. After what seemed like an eternal wait (it was only 2 hours altogether) I was diagnosed and received treatment for the pain and a referral to a local doctor for minor surgery to remove the infection. After waiting for my ride for an hour I was discharged and went to the local doctor for the treatment. When I arrived at the doctors office I started immediately on the single page of paperwork I had to fill out. Before I could complete it I was called back to the doctor. After an examination I was given a local anesthetic and received the needed treatment as well as antibiotics injection and a steroid injection as an anti-inflammatory medication. The hospital and Ear Nose & Throat physician informed me of what the problem was and the potential to be life threatening.
As it turns out I had Tonsilitus that resulted in peritonsillar abscess. I had not recognized the symptoms and as such I delayed my treatment long past the nearly unbearable pain and only sought treatment after my airway became restricted and breathing difficulty became a problem. I guess I will now better if it ever happens again.
Treatment is through surgical incision and removal of the infection, thereby relieving the pain of the stretched tissues. Antibiotics are also given to treat the infection.
Peritonsillar abscesses are widely considered one of the most painful complications, primarily the surgical draining of the abcess itself. The patient is operated on awake, surgically slicing open the tonsil and then draining the abscess from within by placing a suction tube within the opening.Complications:
Parapharyngeal abscess
Extension of abscess in other deep neck spaces leading to airway compromise
SepticaemiaGeorge Washington is believed to have died of complications arising from peritonsillar abscess.
James Gregory of the band The Ordinary Boys was almost killed by peritonsillar abscess because it was left untreated. ~ WikiPedia
My initial impression (while I was in pain and waiting) was that the system was obviously broken, however, in retrospect I feel very different. It has been several weeks and I have completely recovered which means I have no signs of infection, swelling, pain or otherwise, and I can eat again. I arrived at the hospital at about noon and I was on my way home - treated and medication in hand by 5pm including travel time. Oh, I almost forgot. I am one of those uninsured people that Michael Moore and others say can’t get health care in the U.S. or would die before I get it. Well just as before, I do not seek medical care often - only when it is needed. I rarely take prescription medications when prescribed and I rarely if ever get sick. When I do seek treatment I either pay outright for the doctor visit or go to the emergency department and pay the bill after it is sent. When I did have rather expensive health insurance many years ago I never used it and it was a tremendous waste of money through the years. I decided that even if not entirely responsible, it is cheaper to just pay as needed.
Now lets compare this to a Canadian citizen who needed treatment for a brain tumor and was made to wait and told he could not seek treatment elsewhere. Canada’s single payer health care system is not hat everyone says it is. Many Canadians are frustrated by the long wait which in some cases can extend into the years.
The Wall Street Journal has a brief examination of the French Health Care System as well.
Now we come to H.R. 676, which is proposed by Michael Moore and Dennis Kucinich in a video as being the solution.
… Michael Moore’s artistry as a documentary filmmaker is going to provide a tremendous boost for this legislation…
What? Artistry providing a tremendous boost for legislation? As a documentary filmmaker. I guess artistry is more important than truth when your pushing an agenda and want to make it popular.
This is a 20/20 show concerning Education in America and it’s shortcoming. As the Title Stupid In America implies, there is a problem.
The union run education monopoly has failed to educate the children in aAmerica and this is nothing short of fraud. This video is not the only source of information on the subject, however, it does an excellent job of giving a detailed overview and several examples of the system failing America’s children.
This email arrived today and I decided to share it with everyone. Please do the same.
The Honorable Paul S. Sarbanes Senate Office Building
309 Hart Washington DC, 20510
Dear Senator Sarbanes,
As a native Marylander and excellent customer of the Internal Revenue
Service, I am writing to ask for your assistance. I have contacted the
Department of Homeland Security in an effort to determine the process for
becoming an illegal alien and they referred me to you.
My primary reason for wishing to change my status from U. S. Citizen to illegal alien stem from the bill which was recently passed by the Senate and for which you voted. If my understanding of this bill’s provisions is accurate, as an illegal alien who has been in the United States for five years, all I need to do to become a citizen is to pay a $2,000 fine and income taxes for three of the last five years. I know a good deal when I see one and I am anxious to get the process started before everyone figures it out.
Simply put, those of us who have been here legally have had to pay