Tom Toles for September 05, 2017

But there’s PROFITS to be made! Who needs clean air and drinkable water, when we can have a profitable third quarter??

Definitely got that right.

Hey, the only base that’s important to them can easily afford to move to nicer climes.

WORDS WITH THE SYLLABLE “EL” – {rhyme}The party of Elephants // invigorates the elements // by ignoring the relevance // of science’s intelligence // ‘bout the carbon industry’s developments. ========

THE CANCEROUS RIGHT – {1.80 limericks}

We grieve in these days of low mirth,

when Every durn’ thing on earth

is fouled by the blight

of the cancerous Right.

Of happiness there’s a dearth. …

… To cope with the tumor,

we try some humor, -

- tho’ humor is not two cents worth

in shrinking the cancer’s yuuge girth.

=========

It’s “subdue the Earth,” not “SCREW the Earth.”

Die Humans! Maybe we’ll all destroy ourselves, and I’ll find it entertaining! until I die…

Welcome Back, Tom.

Welcome back, we missed you.

They are experts at sending thoughts and prayers. Anything tangible, not so much.

“Sympathy? You want sympathy? Look in the dictionary, right between syphilis and suicide.”

Glad you are back Tom. I missed you and Old Curmudgeon’s poetic responses. And by the way, most of the regular posters with their snappy comments.

Good to see you back, Mr. Toles. Your wit and humor have been missed.. and when you’re gone, all the comments are gone, so it’s a doubly empty room. Welcome back all.

The elephants have no mercy, they only want your money and they will lie, cheat and steal to get it.

All to appease the alt-right, which is all they have left, just to keep their jobs.

Welcome back Mr. Toles!

For those who think that there are two sides to the climate change issue, a few notes:

1. The closest we have now is “the right side,” which has accepted the scientific findings, and “the wrong side,” which rejects data and relies on personal beliefs, fake news, or conspiracy theories devoid of rigorous information. And this is not new – we had 97% consensus over five years ago.

NASA: https://climate.nasa.gov/scientific-consensus/

Recent research: Cook, et al., 2016 have found massive consensus among climate scientists (and the more you know, the more the data are accepted: https://www.skepticalscience.com/global-warming-scientific-consensus-intermediate.htm

2. For those who think it is political: it is, but perhaps not the way you think. The US is the ONLY major nation IN THE WORLD where a major party fundamentally denies global warming as part of its platform. Everywhere else, conservatives acknowledge the reality of a warming world, even when there is debate. The only exception to this is Russia, which relies on its petrochemical industry. (Indeed, one of the only research papers to deny global warming in YEARS was written by…a Russian scientist.)

3. For those who think scientists are somehow making money off this, nope, wrong side again. Research funding goes for research, nothing else. Foundations monitor their grants quite closely. In fact, the only scientists making bank off this are those funded by the petrochemical industry to DENY global warming, as has been shown compellingly. Or, for that matter, members of Congress who fear the loss of money from the Koch brothers.

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/why-republicans-still-reject-the-science-of-global-warming-w448023

4. And for those who somehow imagine that tens of thousands of scientists are maintaining a hoax, I refer you to Ben Franklin: “Three people can keep a secret — if two of them are dead.”

A DYSFUNCTIONAL GESTALT – {limerick & coda}

Our gummint’s stumbling. – The fault

lies with Trump and the Right’s dadgum’ Alt

and Repugs’ default

and Plutocrats’ assault.

It’s yuugely a dysfunctional gestalt.

… Coda:

It’s a mess of the governing arts,

worse than the sum of its parts.

=========

“And they are known for showing none.” Truer words were never spoken. Bravo.

The type of elephants that should be culled, electorally speaking.

We are all at the mercy of people whose climate policy is to give the rich more money, and curbing pollution only helps the environment, not this quarter’s bottom line. Plus there are plenty of low information voters who think we’ve always had bad storms, so what is the problem? They don’t seem to realize these storms are coming more frequently and are stronger, this is tied directly to the pollution we have been dumping into our ecosystem. but Republicans have little mercy when it comes to anything that isn’t directly making the rich money, so what is a few little people getting flooded (and not getting any help thanks to GOP government agencies and insurance laws leaning toward the insurance companies.) I’m sure Republicans will keep voting for them, because they sure don’t want to be socialists who rely on government assistance (except when THEY really really for real need it)

I think “primate policy” is more appropriate here. What a bunch of apes.

NOT A MENSCH – {rhyme & image}

The Donald’s base think him quite a mensch, -

- although they ought their ardor to quench.

{1} His tweetings and mouthings reek with a stench.

{2} He governs by throwing his monkey wrench.

Trump makes a sane fellow tremble and flinch

that his nation is ruined by a dadgum’ Grinch.

… Image:

http://wp.production.patheos.com/blogs/teachingnonviolentatonement/files/2017/04/trump-and-grinch.jpg

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Climate deniers are complaining about learning to goose step wearing Wellies®.

So, what do you think will happen if Irma takes out Mar-A-Lago??