The Murrieta Insider - July 2005...
... is turning out to be a useful monthly, but I'm not sure what is meant by the slogan "Fair and balanced". Perhaps they ascribe to the same definition of the term that Fox News does for their special brand of neo-conservative twaddle.
But seriously, I do appreciate the P.D. Spotlight, and the community news is nicely done, but the pro-chamber-of-commerce leanings of this paper are sometimes a little hard to swallow. The persistent attempt to rebuild J. VanHaaster's tainted image I cite as an example. At least they used larger type for the "A Paid Advertisement" line in his full page ad.
The most entertaining article this month was an editorial by our illustrious assemblyman Ray Haynes about "The Myth of Global Warming." I asked myself, 'What's this, global issues in a community rag?'
It gradually grew on me while reading his editorial that in the field of science, the esteemed Assemblyman was full of hogwash. At first I became nervous about someone of this intellectual stature holding public office in Sacramento, but as I continued reading I gradually got into the spirit of the spoof, reading on in growing hilarity until I laughed out loud at his punchline “…no matter how you drive your SUV. [sic] So happy motoring...!” What a gas!
The joke is over though, and if Assemblyman Haynes is unwilling to take the time to research the issue of global warming before introducing public commentary on it, then I think the 66th Assembly seat would better be filled by someone of more understanding of global issues.
But seriously, I do appreciate the P.D. Spotlight, and the community news is nicely done, but the pro-chamber-of-commerce leanings of this paper are sometimes a little hard to swallow. The persistent attempt to rebuild J. VanHaaster's tainted image I cite as an example. At least they used larger type for the "A Paid Advertisement" line in his full page ad.
The most entertaining article this month was an editorial by our illustrious assemblyman Ray Haynes about "The Myth of Global Warming." I asked myself, 'What's this, global issues in a community rag?'
It gradually grew on me while reading his editorial that in the field of science, the esteemed Assemblyman was full of hogwash. At first I became nervous about someone of this intellectual stature holding public office in Sacramento, but as I continued reading I gradually got into the spirit of the spoof, reading on in growing hilarity until I laughed out loud at his punchline “…no matter how you drive your SUV. [sic] So happy motoring...!” What a gas!
The joke is over though, and if Assemblyman Haynes is unwilling to take the time to research the issue of global warming before introducing public commentary on it, then I think the 66th Assembly seat would better be filled by someone of more understanding of global issues.
posted by J. L. Kunkle at
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
12 Comments:
J.L. There is no debate on whether the Earth is getting warmer. There has been a warming trend for at least 100 years. What is debatable is what is the cause of the warming trend. It is just too staight forward and simple to blame this trend partly or entirely on industrialization. There were many cooling and warming trends in the last 1000 years before the industrial revolution that were more extreme. Check out how temperate the climates of Europe and Greenland were during the 1300 and 1400's. There are many more examples of radical climate change that predate industrialzation and they almost all occurred within short periods of time. There are all kinds of written accounts of the little ice age that occurred during the 1500's. Global warming is here but I doubt there is much that can be done to stop it. There might be larger trends involved (maybe a slight warming of the sun) that humanity has no control over.
By
Anonymous, at Wednesday, July 06, 2005 7:26:00 PM
I have to agree with Rholmgren, even scientists are at odds to what extent damage is being done. But another point I’d like to make is we need to start using more alternative fuel sources and get rid of our dependence on fossil fuel and the big reason is national security we can’t let other countries control our economy.
I do agree the Murrieta Insider is a good read.
Mike
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Anonymous, at Thursday, July 07, 2005 7:46:00 AM
Unrelated comment: JL, if a string could be somehow added just so a person could express opinions (or vent feelings) on world events... Today's bombings in London for example, which illustrate the mastery of using the media as not only a tool of terror, but the tool of choice. Nothing magnifies the destructive impact of a relatively low-yield bomb like CNN and all the other bleeds-leads news outlets in the world. Companies headed presently and in the past by the likes of Rather and Turner et al are the best of friends to the bin Ladens of the world.
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Anonymous, at Thursday, July 07, 2005 9:11:00 AM
Mike It would be nice to find a replacement for gasoline. It's been the main source of auto fuel for over 100 years. I like the idea of using more zero emmission and hybrid vehicles. I just wish there was a clear replacement for gas. It sure would be nice to breathe cleaner air.
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Anonymous, at Thursday, July 07, 2005 9:13:00 AM
Rholmgren, I don’t think we’ll see gasoline go away for years to come but hybrid vehicles are a great start, a good sign is Toyota has a backlog on theirs and the promising thing is that they have figured out how to add horsepower these vehicles, which is either equal to or close to a full burning gasoline engine which has been a limit for sales in the past for hybrids for people that want trucks, SUV’s or larger cars. I haven’t read or heard anything about GM or Ford but I hope they are making the same progress in this area.
Another thing is I’d like to see the government give subsidies or tax breaks to local utilities, businesses and individuals that use alternative energy, such as solar, wind, hydro and even something else I might not have mentioned. I know some people might say we’re just giving money to big business but right now in the early and experimental stages of alternative energy it’s much more expensive than the standard burning fuels, I feel that just giving the incentive it can make a big change on our dependence on oil.
I would just like to see our country in a position that if worse comes to worse in the world we can survive as an isolationist nation…and don’t want to ever see that happen.
Mike
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Anonymous, at Thursday, July 07, 2005 10:19:00 AM
Sorry, I don’t think that’s going to happen. We are a consumer society, the biggest consumer society. Oil and products derived from it are the basis for much of what we use daily. Gas isn’t the only thing, plastics and even clothes are derived from oil. A book that gives a good look at how important oil is to the U.S. is called "The Prize" by Daniel Yergin. Discovery channel did a huge documentary based in large on this book. Our whole economy for over the last 100 years revolves around oil. I don’t see the government giving subsidies that take Oil profits out of someone’s pocket. I also don’t see Americans willing to use or increase their tax dollars for researching alternative fuels either, until they are absolutely forced too.
As for the Insider, tell me how to unsubscribe, just another piece of Junk mail.
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Anonymous, at Thursday, July 07, 2005 7:45:00 PM
Anon 7:45
I don’t disagree with you that we won’t change unless we have to, and now with gasoline prices the way they are going; people are being forced to do just that, I would think that is the reason that the Toyota Prius has a backlog of orders. If fuel prices were still in the low one-dollar range people would still be buying gas guzzling SUV’s and big trucks with the hybrid cars having a surplus. And doesn’t look like is going to get any better at the pumps.
You are correct in that oil is used in all kinds of products that we are using not just the automotive industry, but we need do as much as we can to lessen our dependence on oil, years ago we were able to start using water base paint from oil base paints, even though oil base paints are still used it is not the only option. It can be done with dollar signs as incentive.
One thing I’d like to clear up is I never said we should give money for researching alterative fuels, I said we should give it to people who use it. Big difference is that private companies can compete for the best alterative fuel, competition has worked out very well in this country. Depending on the quality of the product will depend on the subsidy, which will create competition in the private research sector for the best product.
As for Americans willing to spend tax dollars…when has that stopped the Federal Government? In my scenario money would not just be going just to businesses but to the everyday person who might buy solar panels to heat their swimming pool or run their interior lighting, etc. As for oil companies they’ve already developed synthetic oil it’s just not as profitable and as you said oil is still used in our everyday lives besides cars so they’ll survive.
If we had an unlimited supply of oil then I would be just fine with the “stay the course” attitude. But we don’t.
Mike
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Anonymous, at Friday, July 08, 2005 10:32:00 PM
I agree JL. The "fair and balanced" re-packaging and remarketing of the, long-mistrusted, now notorious van haaster is pretty repugnant.
One must assume that these are the initial efforts to run "honest Jack" in '06. Good Luck.
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Anonymous, at Saturday, July 09, 2005 6:53:00 PM
The only good Terrorist is a dead Terrorist. All left leaning Terrorist sympathizers deserve a punch in the face. My heart is with all Londoners right now.
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Anonymous, at Saturday, July 09, 2005 8:12:00 PM
It would seem that terrorists have been doing what they do for so long, that they aren't even sure of why they do it. Is there any specific reason for a terrorist act that is delivered by the media?
The media are not responsible for these events, but I'll bet that the terrorists factor the media into the planning of their next act. Before a battle, the generals check the weather. I imagine to a terrorist, the media, like the weather, exists with or without them, so they use them. I'm not sure that there is a solution to this conundrum (except the blog?)
What can the media do about it?
1. re-regulate - almost all media outlets in the world are owned by seven mega-companies: Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., Bertelsmann, Vivendi Universal, Sony, Time Warner, Walt Disney, and Viacom. During the Clinton administration, people were too distracted by MonLew's blue dress to notice the de-regulation of the media by the FCC. As a result, there was a frenzy of buying and selling of small TV, publications and radio stations that ended in the current situation.
2. ?
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J. L. Kunkle, at Monday, July 18, 2005 12:35:00 PM
Well I am going to post a line here because I became upset after reading the article by Sen. Ray Haynes. I can't believe a man like this is allowed to represent the people of California. What is this guy from a shack in Tennessee with no clue of the research that has been done on a global basis on the effects of our overuse of fossil fuels? Not just the warming issue, how about smog and cancer rates?
I think Senator Haynes should try his first obvious science experiment (since it seems that he wasn't educated in a public school system): I would like him to live in a big plastic bubble (made from oil of course) and constantly pumped with 50% oxygen and 50% exhaust from his SUV tailpipe. We could check in on him for rapid environmental change rather quickly.
The temperature in his bubble would rise rather unbearably and dramatically. If he was tough enough to withstand it for a few days, he would soon come to find out he has lung cancer.
I heard through other blogs that Senator Haynes term is almost up --although I didn't check it through. I sure hope so. The changing demographics of Southwest Riverside County (that I have observed over my last 6 years living here) is changing. I feel that I am expressing a voice of a changing climate which does not withstand his red-herring dogma. Senator Haynes needs to disappear into the archives as a man out of touch with California as a whole.
I hope I never see him on the street in Temecula, as I will have a personal word (and possible vendetta) with him.
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Anonymous, at Sunday, July 24, 2005 1:43:00 AM
JL.,
I am in total agreement of your statement concerning the Murrieta Insider. I just got a new copy today and its opinions are not fair and balanced in the least. This is a neo-conservative rag, that fully supported Van Haaster and the two that remain. I encourage the people of Murrieta to think for themselves on all issues and not be lead by a developer backed paper. There is no other side to Assemblyman Haynes conservative dribble but I'm sure his next column will be why we can't have guns in our cars at work. Or that Iraq really did have WMD's and that Karl Rove would never have slipped out the name of a CIA agent to protect an agenda. Throw this in the garbage where it belongs.
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Anonymous, at Wednesday, August 03, 2005 1:49:00 PM
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