Originally Posted By plpeters70 It just keeps getting worse: <a href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hXBV9U9SBb_hysHw0UpNdHvcmx4gD92GDKFO0" target="_blank">http://ap.google.com/article/A...92GDKFO0</a> <<Parts of the Endangered Species Act may soon be extinct. The Bush administration wants federal agencies to decide for themselves whether highways, dams, mines and other construction projects might harm endangered animals and plants. New regulations, which don't require the approval of Congress, would reduce the mandatory, independent reviews government scientists have been performing for 35 years, according to a draft first obtained by The Associated Press.>> And here's my favorite part, where we learn the real reason behind these changes: <<Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne said late Monday the changes were needed to ensure that the Endangered Species Act would not be used as a "back door" to regulate the gases blamed for global warming. In May, the polar bear became the first species declared as threatened because of climate change. Warming temperatures are expected to melt the sea ice the bear depends on for survival. The draft rules would bar federal agencies from assessing the emissions from projects that contribute to global warming and its effect on species and habitats.>> It's amazing - this administration tries to pretend that they are taking the climate change issue seriously, and then they pull crap like this. It just makes me sick, but at this point I'm no longer surprised...
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Luckily, the neocon is an endangered species. Going the way of the dodo.
Originally Posted By Mr X Think so, do ya? You must be one of those airheaded fans of "the One", why not man up and join the REAL Americans?
Originally Posted By dshyates "to ensure that the Endangered Species Act would not be used as a "back door" to regulate the gases blamed for global warming." These guys make me want to vomit. Literally. Evil is the word that comes to mind. I like how they use the word "blamed" instead of "that cause". They have no compunction about killing for profit. None.
Originally Posted By ChurroMonster Capitalism is what it is. Our system of so-called democracy exists to perpetuate capitalism. As long as the majority of the population believes that our economic interests are more important than the environment and health and infrastructure and our children's future than we will continue to get the political leadership we deserve.
Originally Posted By plpeters70 <<than we will continue to get the political leadership we deserve.>> Sad, isn't it. Our political leaders are the ones who should be telling us non-stop when we're doing something that might threaten the country in the long-run. But instead, they only look to getting re-elected -- and the easiest way to do that in 2008 is to not tell Americans anything they don't want to hear. Take the example of off-shore drilling. The Energy Information Administration has said that because oil prices are set internationally, the small increase in drilling here won't really effect prices. Yet, both of the candidates are calling for drilling off our coasts when they both know it won't help things - short term or long term. Yet, no one is telling the American people what they really need to hear. We're going to endanger our coastal regions for something that won't even help us.
Originally Posted By DAR <<We're going to endanger our coastal regions for something that won't even help us.>> While I think if we do drill we need to be careful how we do it. But the technology used is advanced enough that you can avoid the disasters that have occured in the past. And when it comes energy all options need to be on the table right now.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***And when it comes energy all options need to be on the table right now.*** Yup...screw the planet and screw our kids and grandkids right? We needs out fix, damnit!
Originally Posted By plpeters70 <<And when it comes energy all options need to be on the table right now.>> I agree that all options should be considered, but in this case, it has already been determined by the EIA that drilling our coasts won't help our energy problems. In this case, it is pretty clear that the negatives associated with off-shore drilling are far greater than any small gains we might see in oil prices. It just doesn't make any sense to focus on drilling more oil when there are other options open to us that will bring far greater benefits in the long run - like solar and wind power. Sure, they may not make things better right away, but they are guaranteed to help us in the future, where oil is guaranteed to be virtually gone within the next 100 years.
Originally Posted By DAR Well considering that's not what I said but by all options I mean coal, natural gas, electric, hydrogen, crude oil all need to be pursued as a means for energy. Some of these we have right now and are affordable to everyone. Others like electric and hydrogen we're still years off from making it affordable to everyday people.
