Esoteric Meandering Shouting Into the Void

Dwain Northey (Gen X)

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/22/big-oil-companies-homicide-harvard-environmental-law-review

The big question that has been posed to Big Oil corporations for years was whether they knew that the continued of fossil fuels would have a negative consequence to the environment. To the extent that these projections represented contemporary knowledge of the likely effects of fossil fuel burning on global temperature, we can conclude that Exxon knew as much in the 1970–1990s as academic and government scientists knew. Yet they denied that they had any foreknowledge of the impending calamity of their actions.

Now an environmental group is looking into charging these multinational conglomerates for their reckless actions with homicide related to their denial and continued inaction. This was reported earlier this week by ‘The Guardian’.

I think that is awesome and amazing it about time they are held accountable for the global problem they continue to exacerbate and charges of negligent homicide, man slaughter, and even 1^st degree murder might just wake them up.

Exxon Mobile, BP, and many other large corporations have been lobbying governments for decades to let them continue to pollute and in the U.S. to subsides their profits. During his term in office, President Jimmy Carter fought for clean energy using renewable sources. As a symbol of his faith in “the power of the sun,” Carter had 32 solar panels installed on the White House West Wing roof in the summer of 1979. These panels were used to heat water in the household for seven years until President Ronald Reagan had them removed in 1986. George Charles Szego, the engineer who persuaded Carter to install the solar panels, reportedly claimed that Reagan’s Chief of Staff Donald T. Regan “felt that the equipment was just a joke, and he had it taken down.” The panels were removed in 1986 when work was being done on the White House roof below the panels. 

Can you imagine where we would be today if the example was set to have renewable energy running the White House? We could have even had solar panels on all the government buildings in the District.  Maybe the original panels weren’t as efficient as hoped but the confidence in renewable technology that the continued use and improvement of solar would have us in a far different position than we are in today.

Vice President Gore prioritized the climate crisis and its solutions throughout his career as a Congressman, Senator, and as Vice President. In the U.S. House of Representatives, Gore organized the first hearing on man-made global warming in 1981. In the Senate, Gore held numerous hearings on the climate crisis and hosted an international conference to discuss his proposal for a Global Marshall Plan to focus on “a unified global response to the worldwide environmental crisis.” As Vice President, Gore continued his focus on solving the Climate Crisis, encouraged the development of low-carbon technologies through the Climate Change Technology Initiative and the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles to replace the internal combustion engine.

Where would we be if G.W. Bush hadn’t stolen the Presidency in 2000? Al Gore, although not the most charismatic politician, would have put us on the path to renewable energy, not to mention that we most likely wouldn’t have been in a 20 year war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

As a species we have continued to be led down the path of profit at the cost of finite resources instead of resources that are and always have been abundant and unlimited. Collectively we have let those with the advantage of harvesting those finite resources convince us that the renewable methods are unreliable and inefficient and we have fallen for it allowing them to become insanely wealthy.

Cutting the cord to oil would not only greatly reduce the amount of CO2 and other climate changing gases released into the atmosphere and slowing climate change it would improve our national security. Energy independence and national security are linked and anyone who has been witness to the global battles over petroleum over the last 50-75 years cannot deny that truth. So, I am for getting off oil and if charging Big Oil, in a global court, with mass homicide will hasten for their recklessness then lets do it. I will bring the popcorn and watch the show as they go down.    

Dwain Northey (Gen X)

Privilege comes from the Latin privilegium, meaning a law for just one person, a benefit enjoyed by an individual or group beyond what is available to others. *Any right, immunity, or benefit enjoyed only by a person or group beyond the advantages of most.

Do we exercise or impose privilege in this country? If you say no, you my friend are a liar. We absolutely witness privilege every day, whether it is White, Male, Rich, Size, you can come up with a thousand categories of having a distinct advantage based on some physical or other perceived attribute.

Our society has been built on privilege all the way back as far as humanity has imposed its will on whatever opposed it. Privilege was exerted in ancient times by the strongest and that morphed into those with physical prowess to proclaiming themselves and their offspring as Ordained by God to lead. They made the decree and far be it for any other is challenge that declaration. The Royal Families of Europe have maintained this lofty claim for centuries and based on their wealth a privilege, far be it for a mere commoner to question their position.

This country was built on privilege, the original founders built in the patriarchy because only while male land owners where permitted a voice in the means and methods that governed, all others were just subject to the privileged self-named authority. It took more nearly 100 years after our independence for slaves to be recognized as human and that was vociferously opposed by nearly half the people (white men). It is 2023 and there still isn’t an ERA because not enough states have recognized equal rights for women.

The 15th amendment gave all (men) not matter race the right to vote in 1870 but the white men that held the reigns of power made it exceedingly difficult for anyone other than themselves and those who looked like them to exercise that right. The Voting Rights Act of 1965, signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, aimed to overcome legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote as guaranteed under the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Wow 95 years after the amendment was passed someone made an effort to let the more inclusive change to the constitution actually work. It was a nice thought be we haven’t completely kept our promise.    

The 19th Amendment makes it illegal to deny the right to vote to any citizen based on their sex, which effectively granted women the right to vote. It was first introduced to Congress in 1878 and was finally certified 42 years later in 1920. So, the white men said that women could vote 8 years after they said ‘all’ men could vote but it took 42 years and the suffrage movement for it to actually happen. Three years after the ratification of the 19th amendment, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was initially proposed in Congress in 1923 in an effort to secure full equality for women. It seeks to end the legal distinctions between men and women in terms of divorce, property, employment, and other matters.

In 2017, Nevada became the first state in 45 years to pass the ERA, followed by Illinois in 2018 and Virginia in 2020!

Now that the necessary 38 states have ratified, Congress must eliminate the original deadline. A joint resolution was introduced in Congress currently to do just that. On 21 January 2021, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), and Congressman Tom Reed (R-N.Y.) announced the bipartisan legislation, which reads simply: 

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That notwithstanding any time limit contained in House Joint Resolution 208, 92nd Congress, as agreed to in the Senate on March 22, 1972, the article of amendment proposed to the States in that joint resolution shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution whenever ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States.

This legislation, when passed, will eliminate one of the procedural barriers standing in the way of enshrining gender equality in the U.S. Constitution.

It is insane that as a nation that proclaims itself to a beacon of freedom and equality that we are still having this fight. And, When this finally passes will there be pay equity or will the privileged appose it based on their presumed position once again.

Pay equity will definitely be a rant for another day.  

Dwain Northey (Gen X)

The Gish gallop is a rhetorical technique that involves overwhelming your opponent with as many arguments as possible, with no regard for the accuracy, validity, or relevance of those arguments. For example, a person using the Gish gallop might attempt to support their stance by bringing up, in rapid succession, a large number of vague claims, anecdotal statements, misinterpreted facts, and irrelevant comments.

I know this is completely random but once again it fits into the title of this Blog ‘Esoteric Meanderings’. I want to discuss this technique because many have never heard of it and  have no idea what it is.

In recent history the republican party enthusiastically uses this practice to spew so many random claims at an opponent that their opponent, either a democrat or the press, that a cogent response is impossible. If their adversary can only respond to one or two of the unfounded claims the underinformed public will assume that everything not responded to must be factual.

Here is an example for Trump using this from ‘The Atlantic’.

 Let’s take as an example the first televised presidential debate of the 2020 election campaign. The Fox News host Chris Wallace invited Trump to deliver a two-minute statement. And he was off:

“So, when I listen to Joe [Biden] talking about a transition, there has been no transition from when I won. I won that election. And if you look at crooked Hillary Clinton, if you look at all of the different people, there was no transition, because they came after me trying to do a coup. They came after me spying on my campaign … We’ve got it all on tape. We’ve caught ’em all. And by the way, you gave the idea for the Logan Act against General Flynn. You better take a look at that, because we caught you in a sense, and President Obama was sitting in the office. He knew about it, too. So don’t tell me about a free transition. As far as the ballots are concerned, it’s a disaster. A solicited ballot, okay, solicited, is okay. You’re soliciting. You’re asking. They send it back. You send it back. I did that. If you have an unsolicited—they’re sending millions of ballots all over the country. There’s fraud. They found ’em in creeks …”

You can see that there are so many anti-factual claims made in that rant it nearly impossible to rebuff everything and even when the moderator tries the multitude of invalid statements continue to be hurled.

If you study debate techniques, they advise that you point out that a great number of constructs had been thrown out and then try to efficiently rebuff  or disprove that one particular item. While this is great in theory in an actual debate it is rather inefficient when trying to counter lies being hurled in rapid succession with little or no time to respond much less wrap your head around every twisted ‘fact’ that has been vomited.

I would probably use a John Stewart styled response and throw their crap right back at them and wait for their inevitable implosion from the mistruths that they just uttered. It always fun to watch someone crumble under their own argument.

Dwain Northey (Gen X)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/03/21/trump-warns-arrest-calls-protest-but-online-support-muted/11511264002/

Donald is finally looking down the barrel of indictments for his history of unlawful actions and I hope that they keep coming.

I understand historically that previous office holders, i.e., the Presidency, haven’t been held account for their actions that any average citizen would be. It started with Nixon being pardoned by Ford and now for nearly 50 years only one President has been accused of illegal conduct, actually Clinton wasn’t impeached for illegal conduct but for bending the facts about an affair with Ms. Lewinsky. To be honest I really don’t care where Donny dumbass put is private parts but the fact that in order the keep his indiscretion quite he paid off Ms. Daniels through his then attorney and repaid that via accounting malfeasance basically hiding what is considered a campaign contribution. Small potatoes I know but what got Capone was tax evasion not the countless mob hits everyone knew he ordered.

The campaign financing and PAC money is an entirely different rant but the campaign financing laws as it stands requires that the candidate disclose all money that is related to his or her campaign.

Donald had been walking through the rain drops his entire adult life and the fact that he willingly ran for office and was elected put his actions under a microscope. He could have lived out his day in relative anonymity but his narcissism would not allow that and now the piper is calling. His charisma, such as it is, has carried him and pulled the wool over a great number of people’s eyes, I am hoping that the fog is starting to lift.

Sadly there are diehard sycophants of Donald that insist and carrying his banner and now he is calling on them again to rise up and protect him from his own shit. Donald decries that “we have to take our country back”. He has never gave a lick about this country, this is just another grift to keep his inflated ego in the lime light and to pour money into his gaudy lifestyle. A man that was born with a gold plated spoon in his mouth has somehow convinced people that he is one of them. The unfortunate truth is that the individuals that idolize him he wouldn’t piss on if they were on fire.

He is announcing his imminent arrest in hopes that it will result in another Jan. 6 event. I believe that he really wants to come across as a martyr so that the Trump banners will fly high, and the unwashed masses will rise up and smite his accusers and lift him back up to the position that he believes he is entitled. Yes, I said entitled, this megalomaniac truly believes that he is, as in the King Arthur tales,  the once and true King. I honestly believe that Donald would love to be known as the last American President and its first King, that is how far I believe is psychosis goes. I am hoping that enough of the people that voted for him, that previously were fence sitters, have come out from under the ether and will not go back to sleep returning to the mongol hordes that tried to dismantle our democracy. The past two plus years have enlightened some and hardened other it is just my wish that the enlightened outnumber the rest.      

Dwain Northey (Gen X)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/taxes/2023/02/21/how-do-rich-people-avoid-taxes/11308215002/

This is a time of year most of us do not look forward to because in a few short weeks everyone’s taxes are due. Even if you don’t owe anything the copious amount of paperwork needs to be submitted so that the tax man doesn’t come a callin’.

I learned something new this morning and it how CEOs, CFOs, the ultra-wealthy manage to pay little of no tax by exploiting the current tax law. They are honestly not breaking any laws they have just found a giant hole that only people of extraordinary wealth are able to step through.

I never understood how CEO’s of large companies, with a straight face, that their salary is equal to or less than a median income employee of the same company. Well because they are paid in stock options. The question remains if they aren’t paid “more” how is it that they can live such extravagant lifestyles. Here is the loop hole, they acquire low interest loan to subsidize their lifestyle using their stock options as collateral… wait, what? I had the same response.

I am not an accountant but this is how I understood how the process works. A COE gets, let’s say, $90k annual salary but on top of that he gets $5million annually in stock options. Now for the big pull the wool over that world’s eyes moment. They have a lifestyle that requires $1.5 to $2 million, well they take out a loan at very low interest rate to support that lifestyle and when tax time comes the stock options are not taxable because the options are assets not income. Ok but the $90k salary is still taxable right? Yes it is but the interest on the million dollar loan is deductible and literally offsets the meager salary. Wala the IRS gets a big fat zero and Mr. Fat Cat gets to play the same game next year. He gets to fly on a private jet while all the employees get to pay taxes so that his executive airport can function and the roads his driver takes him there in are paved. Thank you to the working person so that your COEs and CFOs can continue to live their lavish lifestyles.

System is broken there needs to be an asset tax, anyone who owns a house pays property taxes. Guess what folks that is an asset tax, registering your car, asset tax, even if you don’t fully own it.

Now that I have completely saddened or enraged you… have a good time doing your taxes.

Lyle Northey (Silent/Boomer)

   Everywhere you turn be it TV news or newspaper or internet it is the same crying baby saying they are being treated badly.

   The Jan 6 individuals are sitting in jail in DC and whining about the food, conditions and how they would be better off at Guantanamo because conditions are better there. We want the trials moved out of the DC area, we don’t have any paid for judges in DC so we can not get a fair trial. A veteran that breaks ranks with his oath to defend the Constitution has had his VA benefits taken away. What a shame, he has the right to have an opinion, out of uniform he has a right to state that opinion, but he should have sense enough not to be involved in an insurrection. 

   We had one bank that over extended themselves and ended up having to sell out to pay the people that trusted them their deposits. We did not have a government bail out and have the bank’s stupidity become a taxpayer responsibility.

   There was a train wreck and chemicals were spilled and people had to leave their homes, and somehow this was chalked up to a government problem and the fact that the President did not go there immediately was called a real f’up. The fact that the 44th President had put restrictions on railways and the 45th President had removed them was not in the news.

   The rail companies convinced dear Don that it was just too expensive a requirement and cut into the profits, and if there is one thing Don likes it profits. So remove those pesky regulations and let the free market take its course. Then when this happened you show up with old bottled water and point fingers at number 46.

    We have heard this story since 2015 when you know who said that if he lost the election it was because the whole thing is rigged. Then he went on to bad mouth every candidate in his own party as well as the opposition. Once he was in office we thought perhaps he would shut up and attempt to act like an adult and that did  not happen as he kept on bad mouthing others and keeping the pot stirred while he went about arranging things for him and his family to make money.

    Frequent trips to Florida, the Secret Service had to stay at his hotel, our bill. Meetings and big events in his hotel in DC. Endless flights to fundraise and no one asked where all the money goes, it is quite obvious that the American people are paying the bill and getting nothing in return. Now it seems that he left the WH with a lot of stuff that was acquired through contact with foreign powers, conveniently kept out of the public and congressional view and now his stacked house of the Supreme Court says it is mute and we can do nothing about it.

    We are still complaining about how we are persecuted and harassed. No one believes me and I am just the nicest person you ever hope to meet,, not to mention the greatest person that has ever lived. It has worked so well for him that all the people that have worshiped him are using the same tactic to try and beat the system. One of these days someone will bring the KoolAid and all will be right with the world, maybe its McDonalds shakes.

   The beat goes on as now he is being indicted in New York and once again is calling on his loyal followers to bring their guns and protest this injustice. He again is seeking office and again will no doubt claim that things were rigged if he does not get elected. He has to be given the go ahead by the GOP first by since the talking heads seem to be lacking any kind of brain or spine it is likely he will get the nod.

  Once again the nation will be put through the wringer while we hear all the crap that can be dreamed up and thrown around for the sake of one man’s ego. In the meanwhile we will have forces outside our nation looking for the moment that may give them the opportunity to see what kind of damage they are able to inflict on us. If he wins the race, hopefully not, then be prepared to have the nation turned over to whatever despot pays him the biggest compliment and offers him the seat for life. 

   To some this may sound like a very bad dream and yet if you will take the time to revisit the remarks and adorations paid to some of the world’s worst leaders during his stay in office it is not far stretch to see him embrace the path that serves him best.

Dwain Northey (Gen X)

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-expected-sign-new-executive-order-gun-control/

https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/05/politics/pete-buttigieg-ohio-train-derailment/index.html

These could really be three sperate posts, but the title was just too perfect to pass up.

Guns

President Biden is signing an executive order call for more stringent background check on all firearm sales in the monumental amount of mass shooting and gun related homicides. Already there are cries from the gun activists saying that in this day of unprecedented violence restricting the purchase of firearms is only going to embolden the criminals.

It’s my right to own a gun has been the NRAs rallying chant from years since they support the gun manufactures and seem to have zero interest in public safety, which is counterintuitive considering they were established in the 40s as a gun safety and training organization. The NRAs lobbying PACT spends millions influencing members of the government and in recent history has gotten their way.

I don’t think that the executive order goes far enough, call for restricting large capacity magazines, full ban bump-stocks, make 3D and ghost guns illegal, hell I would stop future sales of AR style assault weapons. We banned assault weapons before and mass shooting went down, but no one wants to acknowledge that miniscule fact.

So good for you Joe for doing your job and protecting the public. 

Trains

Secretary of Transportation Buttigieg has come out admitting that he did not visit the site of the Ohio train derailment soon enough and other law makers, republicans of course, are calling for resignation or termination. These same politicians neglect to inform their constituents at in 2018 alone, 1,376 derailments occurred under Trump and neither or his Transportation Secretary Eline Chow visited a single one or that it was (45)s deregulation of the railways that has was a contributing factor. Not to mention that for 4 years we were told it was Infrastructure Week that could have invested in improving the nations rail system but the master builder and deal maker never pulled that off.

So, Sec. Pete you are doing a phenomenal job with the shit show you were handed keep it up. And please continue to show up on Fox and make their mouth pieces look like idiots.

Abortion Pills

A Texas Judge (of course Texas) is hearing a case that could ban the use and sale of mifepristone an early abortifacient once again restricting a women right to control her own body.

Texas already has some the most restrictive abortion laws that they implemented after the overturning of Roe. One is the “heartbeat” law that bans abortion after 6 weeks. I don’t believe it is a coincidence the mifepristone is only effective if taken between the moment of conception and 6 weeks and just stops implantation of a fertilized egg into the uterine wall. Not a baby not even a fetus a fertilized egg. So, in affect Texas wants to control a women’s body from the moment she encounters an erect penis.

I have another issue with this Texas Judge trying a challenge the FDA on the drug that has been in use for more than 20 years with the objective of a nationwide ban of the medication. How is it the that one Trump appointed, Heritage Foundation Judge in Texas, believes that his narrow minded opinion has dominion over 167.5 million women’s bodies nationwide. Now that is arrogance of a colossal scale.

Here is a quote from Planes , Trains and Automobiles that seem to fit the republican party.

“YOU’RE GOING THE WRONG WAY… YOU ARE GOING TO KILL SOMEBODY!!!”