Thirsty

A couple ahorisms have sprung to mind lately. First: "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink" and then "You don't miss your water till you're well runs dry." These spurred by the hot dry weather I suppose. Leading horses describes my political project to date; I always believed that once liberals saw how dire the situation was, how "politics" is now a tragic farce, how liberal democratic capitalism is leading inexorably to catastrophe, that some might rethink their devotion to the status quo. Boy was I wrong. Turns out you can argue and debate till you are are blue in the face, because while they know perfectly well, they act as if they don't. Only collapse will change that, and even then I suspect fantasy will prove resilient. Wells running dry is pretty obvious, but it makes much the same point. It is one of the main themes in my novel, the ease of remaining oblivious in the face of the obvious. And then there is the tendency to double down; no one likes to be conned, but the real trauma is having to admit they were wrong, that they were conned. That opens doors we prefer remained closed. New polling shows Trump's base doubling down with their support and love and pure devotion. Much of this base is less educated, blue collar, and convinced America needs to be saved. To that end they are, in this time of inflation, financing Trump and Company's massive legal fees. Taken to the cleaners to pay for high-priced lawyers. This same working class is still hoping they find the "weapons of mass destruction" in Iraq. They also don't include climate change in their list of things threatening America. As I watch the smoke billowing up from the forest behind my house. Better drink while you still can, Mr. Horse.

More Heating

The Times reports that Farmers Insurance is pulling out of Florida. Joining lots of others exiting the scene or going bankrupt. This article only got a couple of inches on the front page but it is huge. They mention the anxiety of the big re-insurance companies, which is where you want to pay attention.Lot of people in California can't find insurance as well. Another article points to the growing presence of earthworms in the far north, now that the tundra is melting. Keep going down the page and you see where climate envoy John Kerry was attacked by Republican House reps for having a "radical, far-left agenda". Another one called him a grifter. This because he wants to try to negotiate with China. In a democracy, really stupid people deserve representation. The more of them there are, the more morons we send to Congress, just like the Founders designed it. Speaking of Florida, ocean temps have reached 98 degrees. So long, coral reefs.Here in Montana, they are putting fishing restrictions in place due to warm river temperatures, the earliest I've seen it done. The only resistance local climate groups can muster is to give out air purifiers, so poor people can "adapt" to the coming apocalypse. That and submit comments to the EPA. Risky actions sure to threaten the authorities.

Heating Up

Nothing like a little sweat to get Americans all in a tizzy. Headlines blaring the frightening news. Wonks wonking about the Inflation Reduction Act. Bernie saying we must act now. A little heat wave and they suddenly stop trusting The Market to solve problems? Fickle bastards. Invest in deoderant, air conditioners, ammunition and stop your belly aching. Ultra-progressive Ezra Klein went deep in the weeds on the IRA, interviewing some liberal from heatmap.org. They talked green investment and hydrogen and carbon capture, and permitting blockages and yada yada and came to the conclusion we are fucked twice over. But they still believe in capitalist democracy and "policy" with all their hearts. In the end, it comes down to nuclear and geoengineering. Just face it. and oh yeah, Joe Manchin. Bernie pours his progressive heart out pleading that "members of Congress must develop an unprecedented sense of urgency about this global crisis." You don't know whether to laugh or cry. "The world must come together" he says, echoing John Lennon. We must take on the powerful special interests like fossil fuels. More yada yada, or "blah blah blah" as Greta would have it. Bill Mc Kibben on Democracy Now. Ezra, Bernie, whatever. Someone not heard from lately is the other Klein, Naomi. She would at least use the "C" word. It's pretty easy to see that Kim Stanley Robinson had it right. It will take an event where millions die to initiate any kind of real change. Pretty much the thesis of my own novel. Immigration stresses will take down more governments, resource wars will get hotter than Sudan, but Americans will buy bigger trucks in order to pull their giant campers into the great outdoors. We know but we act as if we don't.

More Liberal Shock and Outrage

How about that Supreme Court? In their uncowed supremacy whacking down all the liberal progress that had tried to make capitalism a little kinder, a little gentler. But conservatives ain't buyin it. You want to go to college so you can be a success and make a bundle? Fine. Compete with Asian students on a level playing field. Get yourself some of that hard driving ambition, some of that fanatic work ethic. Or be born to rich white parents who can get you in on a legacy deal. Figure it out, that's how this system works kiddies. You want your student loan forgiven? Right. Apparently no one has heard of moral hazard. You want a right to an abortion? Again, you need to pay more attention to what the Constitution is really about. Yes, Property.If you don't like the outcome, vote harder next time. Or do what the French do, set cars on fire. Works every time. If you lived in the Philippines you could vote for Bong Bong Marcos Jr. Here in America you can vote for Robert Kennedy Jr. I don't know who you get to vote for in Sudan or Haiti or Bangladesh.