In the last presidential election, the idea of expanded domestic offshore oil and gas exploration seemed like a slam dunk to Republicans. And a few weeks ago, in order to hold out a carrot to Republicans to get them to sign on to his domestic energy agenda, Obama said that he would open up offshore drilling. Since the offer came from a Democratic president, we heard a deafening silence from the left. Outspoken opponents were a minority.
The horrific Gulf of Mexico oil spill has changed everything. Eleven lives were lost, and the environmental consequences are already dire. The potential for worse is frightening.
At a hearing yesterday in the House Energy & Commerce Committee about dependence on foreign oil, there was a lot of talk about reducing American dependence on oil imports. But where you might have expected lawmakers to make reference to offshore oil production, it was almost like the option never existed. A few members were focusing on containing the spill and preventing a coastal disaster – but most did not say a word.
The widening oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico will complicate the politics of offshore drilling. It looks like proposals to expand oil and natural gas production on the outer continental shelf will be shelved.
The explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig and the estimated 210,000 gallons of oil gushing daily from an underwater well into Gulf of Mexico waters are providing fresh meat for congressional foes of offshore drilling. They have seized on the disaster as evidence that offshore drilling threatens the environment, human life, fishing industries and coastal states' tourism dollars. On the Senate floor, Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) hauled out photos of the Gulf oil spill, warning that a similar accident along the Atlantic Seaboard could be just as catastrophic:
"This is all happening as a result of a spill and a fire from the most technologically advanced rig in the world," Cardin said, challenging his party's President on the idea of new offshore drilling. "I urge my colleagues to take a look at what happened off the Gulf of Mexico."
Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) said, "The potential disaster looming in the Gulf of Mexico could devastate....economically crucial species such as snapper, grouper, red fish, mackerel, oysters, shrimp, crab, and wildlife populations and their habitats, as well as the tourism and recreational businesses that rely on the Gulf." Senator Shelby was one of those who believed in “Drill, baby, drill.” Now he is singing a different tune.
President Obama has already indicated that he views this spill as a warning about offshore drilling – that it is not as safe as he had been told it was. He is saying that this disaster will cause him to rethink offshore lease proposals and plans for expanded drilling.
The success of the massive recovery and containment mission now under way will influence the future of offshore drilling. It will depend on how bad this gets. If this drags out for months and oil starts affecting local businesses that rely on marine life, it is not just an issue of environmental costs. It also becomes an issue of economic costs.
If the spill stays offshore, the well gets plugged, and everything is fine, then it all goes away because Americans have a short memory. “Drill, baby, drill’ will once again become a slogan in 2012. If this spill turns into an environmental and economic disaster for Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, then new action in Congress on offshore drilling will be put on the back burner for a long time to come. And we will not hear “Drill, baby, drill” again.
Oh, and for those who insist that nuclear energy is safe because we now have “improved” automatic safeguards, here’s your proof that safeguards fail. The fail-safe system and back-up system on this rig both failed. There was no acoustic shutoff valve installed. The WSJ reports that the Minerals section of the Department of Interior recommended that the acoustic shutoff valves not be required on deep-water rigs because they’re too expensive. What? This nightmare is cheaper?
Now the new slogan is “Spill, baby, spill.”
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
Words do hurt
Retrieve personal memories of growing up and you will know without a doubt, words did hurt and still do. As children, many of us were emotionally injured when another kid poked fun at us. If an adult, particularly a parent, made fun or criticized us when we tried to do something, it was even worse – we were devastated.
As sharp words continued to be aimed our way during childhood, what did we do to survive the injuries? In order to save ourselves from being severely and emotionally wounded, we abandoned the things we liked, ignored the desire to try new things, and did only what we imagined other people, especially our parents, would approve in order to avoid risking the humiliation and embarrassment triggered by the nasty words of others.
In trying to act as if their harsh words did not faze us, we became adept at denying or ignoring our hurt feelings. Yet, if the criticism was constant, we became more than hurt – we became emotionally crippled on the inside in a way that affects our decision-making and relationships throughout life. According to Oprah Winfrey, an old-fashioned phrase we are all familiar with should be rewritten to read, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will diminish my self-esteem and infect me with the disease to please."
Whether you are on the sending end or receiving end of hurtful words, it is time, as an adult, to focus on improving your personal standards. First, strengthen your psychological boundaries (how you let other people treat you). Second, consider the way you treat other people. You should not do one without the other.
This is something that I am trying to internalize: When setting personal boundaries, speak up before you become angry with the sender over their verbal message and what they are saying. You might respond to the sender by saying: "Wow! That sounded like an insult. How about rephrasing it so we can continue this conversation?" Remember to give no argument, no challenge, and no charge in your voice when you speak. You must stand your ground and insist that that digs and cracks, no matter how subtle, are just not okay with you. If the person lets the hurtful statement stand, then stop the conversation and walk away – even if the person is your parent!
In order to set standards for your own behavior, it will be crucial for you to become aware of your impact on others. Pay attention to how your words and actions affect others. Empathize, by giving some thought to what you are going to say; listen to and watch other people as they respond to you. When an individual feels insulted by a statement you make, do not react in anger. Stop, count to 10, calm down, reflect, and respond. Your response may include a statement denying your intention to insult: "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to insult you – what I really wanted to say is...." Stay focused on your ultimate intent – to communicate without hurting.
Statements that imply the listener is wrong, such as "I'm sorry you feel that way." or "Stop being so sensitive!" or even, "Get over it," lack responsibility and maturity. These types of people are not being responsible for their own behavior, often trying to place the blame for their foul statements on you, their victim. Their statements will only serve to intensify the problem or conflict – and cause you further pain.
And absolutely do not allow anyone to say hurtful things to you. Let them know that their statement sounded like an insult, and if the person does not stop being negative, walk away. Leave the premises if necessary.
Words do hurt, often permanently, so protect yourself.
As sharp words continued to be aimed our way during childhood, what did we do to survive the injuries? In order to save ourselves from being severely and emotionally wounded, we abandoned the things we liked, ignored the desire to try new things, and did only what we imagined other people, especially our parents, would approve in order to avoid risking the humiliation and embarrassment triggered by the nasty words of others.
In trying to act as if their harsh words did not faze us, we became adept at denying or ignoring our hurt feelings. Yet, if the criticism was constant, we became more than hurt – we became emotionally crippled on the inside in a way that affects our decision-making and relationships throughout life. According to Oprah Winfrey, an old-fashioned phrase we are all familiar with should be rewritten to read, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will diminish my self-esteem and infect me with the disease to please."
Whether you are on the sending end or receiving end of hurtful words, it is time, as an adult, to focus on improving your personal standards. First, strengthen your psychological boundaries (how you let other people treat you). Second, consider the way you treat other people. You should not do one without the other.
This is something that I am trying to internalize: When setting personal boundaries, speak up before you become angry with the sender over their verbal message and what they are saying. You might respond to the sender by saying: "Wow! That sounded like an insult. How about rephrasing it so we can continue this conversation?" Remember to give no argument, no challenge, and no charge in your voice when you speak. You must stand your ground and insist that that digs and cracks, no matter how subtle, are just not okay with you. If the person lets the hurtful statement stand, then stop the conversation and walk away – even if the person is your parent!
In order to set standards for your own behavior, it will be crucial for you to become aware of your impact on others. Pay attention to how your words and actions affect others. Empathize, by giving some thought to what you are going to say; listen to and watch other people as they respond to you. When an individual feels insulted by a statement you make, do not react in anger. Stop, count to 10, calm down, reflect, and respond. Your response may include a statement denying your intention to insult: "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to insult you – what I really wanted to say is...." Stay focused on your ultimate intent – to communicate without hurting.
Statements that imply the listener is wrong, such as "I'm sorry you feel that way." or "Stop being so sensitive!" or even, "Get over it," lack responsibility and maturity. These types of people are not being responsible for their own behavior, often trying to place the blame for their foul statements on you, their victim. Their statements will only serve to intensify the problem or conflict – and cause you further pain.
And absolutely do not allow anyone to say hurtful things to you. Let them know that their statement sounded like an insult, and if the person does not stop being negative, walk away. Leave the premises if necessary.
Words do hurt, often permanently, so protect yourself.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
The “No You Can't” scream by John Boehner
I'm a politically moderate (slightly left-leaning) Christian who believes that government should provide some socialist programs such as Medicare and Social Security for the elderly. I also believe that government should make sure that all citizens receive healthcare. It is a God-given right – not just a privilege.
If you are truly a follower of Christ, you know he taught nothing like the ideas that the rightwing believes in: like not providing services to the poor, increasing the income inequality gap by giving the most tax cuts to the top 2%, lessening banking regulations and allowing banks to run rampant on the average fiscally undereducated citizens, not giving healthcare for people who can't afford it, hating undocumented workers, exploiting children in foreign countries economically and socially for their goods and services, supporting child slavery through money sent across the globe to get things done your way, strapping guns on to intimidate, or torturing anyone.
Jesus taught just the opposite.
If you are truly Christian, be still and listen to the voice of Jesus preaching love for God and love for all your neighbors – including those whom you dislike. Read and soak in the Sermon on the Mount with the Beatitudes. Stop listening to rightwing politicians tell you that God is on their side. They are lying.
A viral video, based on Will.i.am's "Yes We Can" from the 2008 primaries, was inevitable. It was edited to include Minority Leader Boehner screaming, “Hell, no you can’t!”
I'm not sure anyone needs to write or create anything further about American politics in 2010. This pretty much says it all.
New Will.i.am video: http://tpmtv.talkingpointsmemo.com/?id=5158255
And here is the wonderful 2008 Will.i.am video for your pleasure:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY
YES, WE CAN!
If you are truly a follower of Christ, you know he taught nothing like the ideas that the rightwing believes in: like not providing services to the poor, increasing the income inequality gap by giving the most tax cuts to the top 2%, lessening banking regulations and allowing banks to run rampant on the average fiscally undereducated citizens, not giving healthcare for people who can't afford it, hating undocumented workers, exploiting children in foreign countries economically and socially for their goods and services, supporting child slavery through money sent across the globe to get things done your way, strapping guns on to intimidate, or torturing anyone.
Jesus taught just the opposite.
If you are truly Christian, be still and listen to the voice of Jesus preaching love for God and love for all your neighbors – including those whom you dislike. Read and soak in the Sermon on the Mount with the Beatitudes. Stop listening to rightwing politicians tell you that God is on their side. They are lying.
A viral video, based on Will.i.am's "Yes We Can" from the 2008 primaries, was inevitable. It was edited to include Minority Leader Boehner screaming, “Hell, no you can’t!”
I'm not sure anyone needs to write or create anything further about American politics in 2010. This pretty much says it all.
New Will.i.am video: http://tpmtv.talkingpointsmemo.com/?id=5158255
And here is the wonderful 2008 Will.i.am video for your pleasure:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY
YES, WE CAN!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)