Solar, wind energy are increasingly practical
David Weisman’s excellent response (“Nuclear power is a dinosaur technology,” Dec.7) to Robert Hargraves’ Forum letter about nuclear power and climate change (“Fission power promises a check on climate change,” Dec.2) rightly branded nuclear a “dinosaur technology” a term well-chosen indeed.
As a trustee for more than 40 years of the New England Coalition on Nuclear Pollution, I had occasion to study the hazards of uranium mining, the many problems (including emissions) of a nuclear plant in operation, the enormous cost overruns, the long time spans required for the building of nuclear plants (15-19 years typically), and the gnawing dilemma of radioactive waste disposal, since there is no permanent storage for the waste — some of which will emit poisons for at least 200,000 years.
What we also studied, however, were the increasingly practical and available solar, wind and conservation technologies, which will provide the promise of jobs across the land and are a real deterrent to climate change.
With enough determination and good effort, Joe Biden’s presidency can once again care for the environment and restore hope to all of us.
We need a new normal
Do we really want to return to the pre-Trump, pre-COVID-19 normal, as called for by President-elect Joe Biden?
Normal was a culturally divided nation that spawned the likes of Sarah Palin, Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump.
Normal was watching China build roads, railroads and pipelines across Southeast Asia and Africa while we bombed Vietnam, Cambodia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Libya and Yemen.
Normal was seeing China build high-speed 21st century infrastructure while our stagnant 20th century infrastructure continued to deteriorate.
Normal was allowing working-class salaries to remain frozen while the salaries and net worth of corporate executives skyrocketed.
Normal was countenancing ever-increasing police militarization and violence directed against people of color and peaceful demonstrators.
Normal was witnessing the accelerating politicization of our judicial system.
Normal was world’s highest cost for health care and medication.
Normal was seeing opportunities and economic growth for younger Americans crushed by massive student debt.
Normal was half-hearted efforts to reduce pollution, generate sustainable energy and combat global warming.
A new normal is vital to the survival of democracy, let alone our nation and the planet.
Biden presidency doesn’t bode well for America
Gerald Ford, at his 1974 inauguration following Richard Nixon’s resignation, said, “Our long national nightmare is over.” Since we’re facing the prospect of a Joe Biden/Kamala Harris administration, I predict a national nightmare of epic proportions is just beginning — one we can’t wake up from when the alarm goes off.
Notwithstanding platitudes about “being president of all Americans regardless of how they voted,” Biden forfeited becoming a “healer” and “unifier” by calling hecklers at one of his rallies “chumps.” Meaningless campaign rhetoric? No more meaningless than empty campaign promises he’s incapable of fulfilling, based on his 47-year track record of do-nothingism. Columnist Steve Nelson put it aptly (“Understanding Joe Biden’s apparent victory,” Nov. 7) when he wrote “the 48% (as of his writing) who supported Trump are not our primary community.” He went on to say Biden’s strength was in the “blue” cities and suburbs. Translation: Biden couldn’t care less about rural red state voters. He neither wants nor needs us, except to loot our retirement funds, savings and investments through confiscatory taxation to bankroll programs and giveaways benefiting the half of Americans to whom he’s beholden.
So what is my Christian responsibility? I’m commanded to love him and pray for him. I’ll certainly pray for his health and safety, especially given that the one waiting in the wings to take over is to the left of Bernie Sanders. What’s the most loving thing I can do for Joe Biden? Help him develop character by praying for the failure of most of his policy initiatives, with the exception of coronavirus relief.
In my opinion, Biden and Harris have forfeited the support, respect and trust of half of Americans. Most of what they want to do would be bad for America across the board. Biden lost “the battle for the soul of America.” He claims to have a “moral compass,” but his doesn’t point true north. That doesn’t bode well for America. Read More..
Source : vnews
