sent 2/28/15 "What’s in the conscience of today’s conservative?" [+ 2 (& 3)]

1. "What’s in the conscience of today’s conservative?" [LINK], by David Lightman, McClatchy Washington Bureau, February 27, 2015

That seems to me to be a great and current overview on its topic within the limitation of the maximum number of words.

Along with explaining differences, the article indicates that there is agreement among the different breeds of conservative that are described, that everyone else "should" work harder, it says there.  I wonder whatever happened to the concept of working hard and achieving a more laid back retirement.  That concept does seem to be one thing that has been under chronic threat ever since George W. Bush started his relatively failed effort to ruin Social Security Retirement a few years back. Even if being busier than ever is not where I imagined I was headed, at least I do have more freedom to decide what to be busy at; that will do.  Anyway that is what the Social Security Retirement contract provided for.  Because of that, I think that it is evil for anyone to pretend that Social Security retirement was ever supposed to be some sort of "human right" and therefore open to question as we discuss removing some of what have been or were talked of for a time in our history as "human rights," like good education for children for example.

Ok, yes, there are many other things to think about in this world.  That one is just me being selfish.  I make no apology, whatever anybody else thinks.  Because Social Security Retirement is an actual contract that I did pay for, and Americans of all sects generally say that they do believe in upholding basic Contract Law.  Its existence ruins nothing.  The existence of the Social Security Retirement system does, however, frustrate the desires of some powerful individuals in banks and other financial institutions to increase their personal incomes a huge amount by leading the ripping off of people who are looking for security in their old age.  If you need further detail, feel free to ask me privately.
---------------
Here is another piece that plugs right into that one.  Jim Wright has lived a long and totally fascinating life.  His writings always have personal and fascinating twists in them, right there out in the open for all to see.  Stonekettle Station is his entire creation and responsibility.  Just of late he has become a professional writer.

"And So It Goes, by Jim Wright, Stonekettle Station, February 27, 2015.

I am not sure any of that tells us what is going to happen next, but hey, I think that it is interesting, at least a bit.

2. Please go check out the revised version of something that you may remember from one year ago yesterday, sent 2/27/14 Swarthmore VIDEO what it means for intellectuals to learn from each other despite deep differences on important questions.  There is an instant download link included there now.  Thanks!

Larry
P.S. Oh, and by the way, 3. in case you live under a rock someplace and have not heard already, :-) net neutrality was won yesterday.  I have heard that the cable company devils have written a bill to try to get Congress to overturn the final decision (finally a decision!) of the FCC, so the war with them might not be over.  I strongly suspect that they would not be able to get enough killer votes to overturn a Presidential veto.  But the main point is that what happened yesterday is a huge demonstration of what can be done with activism by a huge enough number of citizens, even if it might take years and years.  I might bring that up again to you sometime. :-)

sent 2/27/14 Swarthmore VIDEO what it means for intellectuals to learn from each other despite deep differences on important questions

This took place in the Friends (Quaker) meeting house on the Swarthmore College campus.  Having been listening to Robert George I am a bit choked up right now.  It seems to me as though he has it right. You decide for yourself.  I urge you just to listen and to withhold any judgment upon him, if you happen to incline toward making judgments, until he is finished.  I'll be getting to Cornell West.*
-----------------------------------------
Watch: Cornel West and Robert George '77 Hold Collection on Campus
Robert George '77 and Cornel West held a collection to discuss what it means for intellectuals to learn from each other despite deep differences on important questions. Speaking from personal experience, George and West shared how they found ways to teach together and work with students to develop the skills of talking fruitfully across political, ideological, and other differences.
------------------------------------------
I recommend watching this video "locally" on your computer if you can.  It's better.  Instant ge.tt download link, mp4 video file format. 

love to all,
Larry
* I did watch the entire event, parts of it more than once, including, here's the point, Cornell West.  He was wonderful that day also.  But that is the only amendment I want to make as I put this writing out here one year later. 2/27/2015
Oh, and I am interlinking this and another message, quite different--it has a pdf download alternative, not a video--resource that also came from Swarthmore College: sent 1/22/15 of personal import: "Faces of civility"

--

http://larryatblogspot.blogspot.com
"undisclosed recipients" email message archive, no logging in, no public comments
It is wonderful having a conversation with someone who does not have the concept of respecting my intelligence mixed up with the false concept of having to do what I say just because I am intelligent.

sent 2/26/15 (this is affecting things) "The Pentagon & Climate Change: How Deniers Put National Security at Risk"

This new Rolling Stone article published February 12th this year, "The Pentagon & Climate Change: How Deniers Put National Security at Risk," seems to have hit hard, given things a big shove, one might say.  I saw it on the front cover at the grocery store today.  It even has pictures.  Think "moving military bases--huge ones and smaller--to other places because of rising sea levels, melting of permafrost, and and worsening weather."  It begins about Norfolk, Virginia and then goes to other places and bases all over the world.

The article has "hit hard" particularly in the sense that the 170 global warming/wilder weather "denialists" in Congress, the best known one being Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe,* are under increased pressure to get themselves out of the way of things of things that need doing yesterday, or, actually, 20 or more years ago or at any time since or at any time there remains any human civilization on earth, [i]however[/i] the earth might have gotten here.

There is a list of 170 of those U.S. Congress people who are seriously in the way.   Tina Casey has reported at Clean Technica: "...That figure of 170 doesn’t include legislators who refrain from making ridiculous statements about climate change in public, but who nevertheless actively work against policies that will help reduce emissions."  According to this other one at Clean Technica, a significant one of those others is Rep. Eric Koch from Indiana, Chairman of House Utilities and Energy Committee.

"The Pentagon & Climate Change: How Deniers Put National Security at Risk," by Jeff Goodell, Rolling Stone, February 12, 2015

And then Google (through startpage) turned this next one up second from the top after the Rolling Stone article itself.  You know what that means, right?  It means that many people are reading this besides just people in Jerusalem, in Washington, in U.S. military installations, and among those relative few American/Jewish Zionist business people, military and oil business people, most of them, who represent the AIPAC lobby.  The AIPAC lobby is a big segment of the Israel Lobby, which also includes the American Christian Zionist sects along with officials from the government of Israel:
"US Navy Reacts To Blockbuster Rolling Stone Climate Change Story," by Tina Casey Clean Technica, February 18, 2015
Included on the same page, same link, is another piece, "The US Navy And Climate Change."

Larry
* Senator Inhofe is the one I wrote about only four days ago [link], about his having been relying for his public excuse for remaining in denial for the past 10 years upon a lying--it turns out--professional scientist named Wei-Hock Soon. 
That particular previous writing of mine of the other day also contains links over the past year or so to releases by a number of authorities on this topic of wilder and wilder weather.

Larry

sent 2/23/15 U.K. vs the U.S.: Privacy Critical to Human Freedom

The U.S. and the U.K. seem to be moving in opposite directions on increasing versus decreasing spying under public pressure.

Google warns of US government 'hacking any facility' in the world, Ed Pilkington, The Guardian, February 18, 2015
Google Joins Civil Liberties Groups To Oppose Expansion of FBI Spy Powers: 'Government is seeking a troubling expansion of its power to surreptitiously hack into computers.' [print-friendly], Jon Queally, February 19, 2015

In Latest Vindication of Snowden, Court Rules UK Mass Surveillance Illegal, February 6, 2015

'Privacy Critical to Human Freedom': Snowden, Poitras, and Greenwald Talk NSA, February 13, 2015

Larry
--
Brother Larry/Attorney Scott archives (Larry at Blogspot) "undisclosed recipients" email message archive, no logging in, no public comments
One way or another, raise yourself up I say; do not be afraid.  If you are not doing it you can do it.  Other people are doing it.  We can learn from them, I find.

sent 2/23/15 The Spy Cables--Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera seems to have another huge treasure trove of stuff from intelligence services around the world.  It has not all been released yet.  Al Jazeera says the rest of the news about "The Spy Cables" is coming out over the next few days.  It is said to involve human communications more than most of what our hero Edward Snowden was able to give us.  You might want to keep an eye out to see what comes next at Al Jazeera now.

There are different fascinating things already, as you may look and see.  Some might differ, but to me the highlight is Israel's own famous intelligence service, Mossad, having said that Iran was not working toward producing nuclear weapons when our "friend" the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin ("Bibi") Netanyahu had been proclaiming that Iran was barely a year away from having nuclear weapons.

This seems to be the main page for that now and might possibly be that page that gets updated ongoing:
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/02/spy-cables-world-espionage-snowden-guardian-mi6-cia-ssa-mossad-iran-southafrica-leak-150218100147229.html

See also Hareetz, a popular Israeli publication that is commonly referred to in Israel as "liberal," as at least some Israelis may call themselves.  This is dated today, February 23, 2015.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.643783
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For a few previous things from me about Israel and Israel's Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu that I think are also significant, leaving everything to do with Israel vs Palestine.  See articles and further links at these pages:

sent 2/15/15 Iran, Israel, and Bernie Sanders

sent 2/13/15 "Congress torn over Obama war power request"; what I wrote the gov't Re: ACTION PLEASE, call/write Congressperson, please don't be worn out yet: President sent new war resolution to Congress NO NO NO

sent 2/3/15 William Astore, great review and analysis: 7 Reasons Why America’s Wars Aren’t Ending Anytime Soon

sent 2/2/15 a slightly good thing YES! (yes? please?) Netanyahu may have dug a deep hole for himself—and for *America’s Israel lobby*

love,
Larry
--
Brother Larry/Attorney Scott archives (Larry at Blogspot) "undisclosed recipients" email message archive, no logging in, no public comments

sent 2/23/15 (better than YouTube) instrumental beauty

Tom Rasely & Scott B. Adams playing "Going Home" (1996).  It is instrumental beauty. 

You can press the Play triangle button near the center of this ge.tt page (LINK) and/or click here for an immediate download that you can put into your mp3 player.   It is in a high quality VBR mp3 format, which means better sound quality than anything that YouTube is set up to transmit.

It has bass in it, if your speakers happen to be able to do that. :-)

love,
Larry

sent 2/22/15 my motive

Hey, :-)

I recently had occasion to write this to a friend in the course of adding one more person to "undisclosed-recipients."  You might know all of it.  Even so, I like the way I wrote this, so I'm sharing it with you, my motive for doing this, in one short paragraph. :-)

I have been spending much time lately reading and figuring out what the news is that is important to share with family members, friends, and whoever else seems willing to hear it. I have been doing this for about 10 years. I have an on-line archive of about the last two years of it. It is not to tell any adult what to do, and I never ever succumb to any temptation to use the word "should." The purpose, aside from a song or something else just for fun once in awhile, is to share information that might help them better figure out for themselves individually how things that one does not hear about from Fox News might lead them to decide to do anything differently at all with their lives, to be more effective perhaps, possibly in improving their personal survival skills for the actualities that are constantly developing.

By the way, on a different but related topic, theoretically it would be possible for me to make a little money from my website through something called "Google Adsense."  But it would track visitors without anyone noticing.  So I have that turned off, so that you do not get tracked by advertisers.

love,
Larry
P.S. For myself I reject the standard labels such as "conservative" and "liberal."  I have recently discovered the term "individualist" [Wikipedia LINK], and I may be one or another of the subcategories there, if you seriously need a term as a placeholder.  But even that does not say much except that there really are some who are neither "conservatives" nor "liberals," whatever else we may be.  I would propose that one might reasonably just piece together the things that I have actually been inspired to talk about, without trying to make me into someone else, anyone else who has said things with which I might disagree violently.  We just do not know until those other things might happen to get mentioned, one at a time.! :-)
--
Brother Larry/Attorney Scott archives (Larry at Blogspot) "undisclosed recipients" email message archive, no logging in, no public comments

sent 2/22/15 Inhofe's favorite scientist got $1.2 mil over 10 years from fossil fuel industry--("humans have little to do with climate change")

Subject: Inhofe's favorite scientist got $1.2 mil over 10 years from fossil fuel industry--("humans have little to do with climate change")

This is NOT mainly about "ain't it awful."  This is about now that this guy is maybe out of the way I wonder can we get things to move faster given also that 97% of the world's climate scientists say that wilder and wilder weather and global average temperature warming are serious problems that we could do something about at least to slow down its getting worse and worse.  How much can we make of this new event, I wonder.  Inhofe and this Wei-Hock Soon have done a great job of slowing us down for 10 years or so, and the Koch brothers and the rest of the fossil fuels industries have made bigger and bigger bucks in that time as a result.  I don't know whether or not you might know any climate change deniers that you think might be reasonable enough people that it might possibly be worth mentioning this to them.  If you do, please do.  Every little bit helps, or might help.

Wei-Hock Soon of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics is being investigated by some professional journals for scientists.  For 10 years Wei-Hock Soon has been one of the forefront authorities for climate change denial, especially denial that humankind's activities have anything much to do with it.  He's been saying that it is all mainly due to changes in the sun.

Now, there is no rule against scientists being paid for research.  Research takes up much of the time in their lives for some scientists, and it is generally not the easiest work.  But there are rules against failing to disclose such conflicts of interests, that is, especially when they are getting money from parties with an interest in how the research might go.  Those are very serious professional rules.

This is from the New York Times is about who's been paying Wei-Hock Soon--the Koch brothers, David and Charles, among others.  Oh, and by the way, Wei-Hock Soon is not and never was a "“Harvard astrophysicist.”  Turns out, he has never worked for Harvard, and his degree is in aerospace engineering. 
"Deeper Ties to Corporate Cash for Doubtful Climate Researcher," February 22, 2015.

I have collected great authority in these pages below and in more pages linked in these pages.  You may recall having read some or all of them:

sent 12/3/14 "The Ethics of Climate Hope:..." by Naomi Klein December 2, 2014 (+)

11/21/14 Excellent column by Amy Goodman: Keystone, Climate Change and the Cold

sent 6/18/14 Al Gore "The Turning Point: New Hope for the Climate" in new Rolling Stone

sent 5/31/14 Prof Michael T. Klare What's Big Energy Smoking? +3, video Re: climate disaster update [was the last word on climate change 30 min vid dead serious (message 1 of 2)]

sent 6/27/14 climate disaster is not so bad right around where I am; "Warmest May temperatures on record worldwide"...

sent 7/6/14 2. help maintain civilization 1. ‘Citizen Koch’ Filmmakers: Watching This Movie Is ‘Civil Disobedience’

still active: sent 8/22/13 PLEASE, YOU CAN HELP Fight back against the Koch brothers

related:
sent 2/14/15 "Population of the World," by friend-of-friend scientist Tom Snell

sent 6/15/14 1. Fox News Must Die; 2. What To Kill a Mockingbird can teach parents

love,
Larry

sent 2/18/15 unplanned followup on apocalyptics

NB: You might want to check the "***" footnote about "that woman's eyes" below the taglines if you did not see it yesterday.

I think this works as an unplanned followup to the one yesterday on "creationism," now here [LINK] for your easy reference.  Really the two topics are related only by the fact that they involve what's commonly called "religion" [dictionary LINK].

I have decided to share with you a personal interaction that has taken place today, involving two other people, with the other people anonymized here, of course!  The thought occurred to me only now, awhile after the conversation got this far and only because it ends on a humorous note.  But the key line for you, to make it easy to find, is: "I suppose it's a personal choice."  I don't know, that particular topic may be finished now between me and two Anons. :-)  It's all below, starting up from at least glancing at the page linked at the very bottom [repeating LINK from the bottom]:

Date: February 18, 2015 2:08 PM
Subject: the moment may have passed <was: my discussion here might interest you Fwd: Re: Millions of Evangelical Christians Want to Start World War III … to Speed Up the Second Coming | Global Research>

The article is dated 2012, and, as I recall, I think the Apocalypse was supposed to come in the year 2012, right?.  So perhaps the moment has passed, d'ya think? lol
---------------------------------
On-line update: So far no one seems to have felt the need to write to inquire as to my authority about "the Apocalypse" and 2012.  This might interest a passerby or two. :-)
"2012 phenomenon" [Wikipedia link].

On 2/17/2015 1:29 PM, Larry Scott wrote:

This is an anonymized private conversation of just today, [Anon].  Enjoy!  You might start by glancing at the web page linked at the bottom.  This correspondent is hundreds of miles from here, part of my (non-local) community.  :-) Larry

-------- Original Message --------

Subject:	Re: Millions of Evangelical Christians Want to Start World War III … to Speed Up the Second Coming | Global Research
Date:	Tue, 17 Feb 2015 13:07:00 -0500
From:	Larry Scott <larry.at.blogspot@larryascott.com>
To:

Dear xxx.

I think this is a major case where the more effective fight is social rather than political, as some very bright person said recently in an article.  He or she was chiding "Christians"--some sort of Christians anyway--for trying to fight in the political world what cannot be won there and should not be won there.  This news seems to be showing one example of people wasting time trying to generate fighting in the political world.  Most likely the main effect is to drive people away from churches and toward atheism.  That is not an effect that I particularly want to contribute toward.  I suspect that even many Republicans are not advocates for pushing for the Apocalypse.   I suppose it's a personal choice.  love and hugs, Larry

On 2/17/2015 11:32 AM, xxx wrote:

http://www.globalresearch.ca/millions-of-evangelical-christians-want-to-start-world-war-iii-to-speed-up-the-second-coming/29362?print=1

sent 2/16/15 "Answers for Creationists"

I know, just what you've always wanted, "Answers for Creationists." [LINK]  It's a super-great article by a very obviously  super-smart man,  Phil Plait, "astronomer, public speaker, science evangelizer, and author of Death From the Skies!"  Technically this particular article by Phil Plait refers to a subset of Creationism that is referred to technically as "Young Creationism," a term you may recall.  Young Creationists include the concept of God having gotten most of it done inside of seven days and all with some time period that started less than 10,000 years back from today's date. 

I see that (Dr.) Plait even claims to have a Ph.D., and no doubt he does, one that he earned with a lot of hard hard work.   He gives totally straight answers to 22 tricky questions that he says activist creationists are trained to memorize and to ask those who will admit to "believing in" science and evolution.  There are many reference links where more information can be found than he has, or we have either, time for, those who don't personally really have a burning question on topic of science and evolution.  That includes both 1) some very religious people whose personal and/or institutional religions incorporate science and at least the theoretical willingness to learn some of the results of ongoing science experiments, along with 2) some atheists as well.  My strong impression is that the set of those who are not "creationists" and who DO believe in learning through the process known as the scientific method is NOT comprised mostly of avowed atheists.  This is serious science but you might be able to learn a bit more science of you happen to be interested for whatever reason including no reason.

I happen to be personally acquainted with only one person whom I believe I know to be one of those "creationists."  She is an otherwise very lovely  female cousin, the mother of some lucky children.  Let me say that she is not one of those who is likely to see this, so she personally is not the point here. There might be others, but if so I might not know.  It is just a topic that has seemed not to need discussing in the family, because they know I'm "hopeless," and I am not totally evangelical when it comes to religion.

But I have seen evidence on line of the existence of "creationists."  There might be some among our national leadership, in fact.  That's bad, because they have that and whatever goes with it getting in the way of some important possible solutions to serious problems.

So here you go, now you know, and perhaps you will have some occasion arise wherein it is important to talk about these things a bit seriously if only for the sake of truth and personal honesty/honor.

"Answers for Creationists" [LINK], by Phil Plait, Ph.D., February 6, 2014.

Larry

sent 2/15/15 Iran, Israel, and Bernie Sanders

Who knew: America (the U.S.) is and has been trying to pressure Iran into agreeing to all demands without Iran getting in return the lifting of economic sanctions against that great* country.  See the article link a few paragraphs down.  Sheesh. 

That U.S. particular policy stinks to high heaven of manipulation by the so-called Israel Lobby (Wikipedia LINK).  Israel has been pushing and pushing for a U.S. attack on Iran.  The Israeli Prime Minister said once that Israel would attack on its own if he couldn't get the U.S. under control to be in the forefront, or words to that effect, but I understand that Israel just does not have the military air power to even to begin any such thing on its own.   

According to a survey of those in Congress the Israel Lobby is the second-most influential U.S. Congressional lobby after the old folks lobby, AARP, Inc.  Trying to push Iran into such a totally unfair deal as that seems like a suspiciously purposeful-seeming way to be unsuccessful in reaching an agreement and to try to excuse pushing us and our people and our money into going ahead and doing a big military attack on Iran with the Israelis in a role of assisting.

Gareth Porter may be well-known to you as a great journalist, as he is to me: 
"The real problem of 'getting to yes' with Iran," by Gareth Porter, Middle East Eye, February 12, 2015 (OR "print-friendly" link)

But hey, maybe there's a bit of hope that we can keep ourselves under better control despite Israel and the Israel Lobby.  Oh, by the way, the Israel Lobby includes a significant group of wealthy Jewish American/Israelis who travel back and forth for business.  They are the leaders in the forefront of AIPAC, which is a significant segment of the Israel Lobby in the U.S. Congress along with members if the Israeli Government.  Here is one basis for hope, the open and public offense that AIPAC committed in getting the Israeli Prime Minister scheduled to speak directly to a joint session of the U.S. Congress on March 3, 2015, which happens to be just before an election in Israel in which he is running for reelection.

"Bernie Sanders: How Netanyahu Destroyed the Israel Lobby," by Juan Cole, Informed Comment, February 10, 2015 (OR "print-friendly" link)

There is a ways to go yet before March 3, 2015.  Perhaps you might like to say something to the Federal officials who have jurisdiction in your area, something about boycotting that speech and perhaps making a big deal out of doing so.  There is time; I have put this on my to-do list.

I have argued that for many reasons, Israel is becoming more a Republican Party project than a Democratic one. Many in the GOP agree and hope this development will bring US Jews, who vote overwhelmingly Democratic, over to the Republicans. But another development is possible, which is that Jewish Democrats may become less supportive of an increasingly far rightwing Israel.--Juan Cole.
 
love to all,
Larry
* From my perspective, Iran is another wonderful country taken as a whole--though I might not, for various reasons, care to live there myself--I am the wrong color for one thing--a different mostly peaceful place in the sense that I like to think of the United States as a "mostly peaceful place," though perhaps Iran is the more peaceful as between the two of us.  In addition, Iran is a historic monument that would remove something of great value from the world if it were turned into someplace with a flavor like New York or Texas or California, just a lot bigger.  Of course Iran could never be like those places anyway, if it were subjected to nuclear bombing.  I am fairly sure that there are some who do not live in Iran who enjoy the concept of its total nuclear destruction.  But I would miss Iran even though I have never been near there.
------------------------------------------------
P.S. I talk somewhat often about the role of Israel in the world because it is a major influence on my life and on your life, not because I hate anybody.  Just so you know.  I think we need to be a bit cold blooded and businesslike sometimes just to take better care of ourselves.  And if we want to consider Israel as another state in the United States then I would join in voting with the big and less known opposition to military action that is alive inside Israel.  Up to now the Israel Lobby has not been much interested in statehood for Israel, that I've heard.  Being in charge in Washington D.C. has been good enough, probably better from their point of view and from the points of view of those involved with the military business part of the U.S. economy.  LS

P.P.S. Here are some relevant things I've sent you just recently:

sent 2/3/15 William Astore, great review and analysis: 7 Reasons Why America’s Wars Aren’t Ending Anytime Soon

A case can doubtless be made for continual escalation of military activity in the world to "improve" the economy, especially the financial sector of the economy.  But the attention requirements for that are already costing us way too much in our individual lives.

Larry

sent 2/15/15 a song for each one of us for February 15, 2015

Barry Manilow singing "15 Minutes."  Get your sound up and click the Play button on this ge.tt page or click here for immediate download for your mp3 player.  I converted this from lossless to the highest quality possible in the inherently lossy mp3 format.

You might want to attend to the words while you are listening, something I most often do not do.

love,
Larry

sent 2/15/15 a photo, no words, no story, make of it what you will

sent 2/14/15 "Population of the World," by friend-of-friend scientist Tom Snell

Subject: "Population of the World," by friend-of-friend scientist Tom Snell

I wrote yesterday about Mr. Tom Snell. [LINK]

I am not a scientist.  Not really.  My mind just has limits in that direction, the direction of understanding everything that has been learned so far, the progress that has been made in narrow parts of fields such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Computers, even at one of the universities that have reputations for being easier than some others.  I have tried, so I do know.  The very best I am able to do is to rely on simplified reports from the colleagues of scientists that I might happen across, other scientists who understand the first ones.  True, scholarly majorities have sometimes been flat-out wrong, such as with the thing awhile back about the universe, including the sun, revolving around the earth.   Even so, the best the rest of us can do is to look as best we can to see what respect various scientists get from their colleagues.

I happen to be blessed with a wife who is a scientist--one with an actual four year degree in Biology from an institution that is known nationally as very very difficult.  And I know her well.  And she is a personal friend of Tom Snell.  And she has said recently that she is honored to know him.  I have not met him.  For one thing, they reside 3,000 miles from me.

All that is to encourage you to take a very hard look at the article, "Population of the World," (LINK) by friend-of-friend well-recognized scientist Tom Snell.  What he says fits with what we already know but with some new and major insights that you are not likely to enjoy but which you might want to take into account in your personal planning in one or more ways along with everything else.  Or not.  I have informed you in the past of some serious suggestions like this.  This is the strongest suggestion so far.  It has facts and conclusions that I can actually follow and understand.  Note that it's a very personal story that I am pointing you to here.  Tom Snell talks about his own beloved children and grandchildren.

love,
Larry

sent 2/13/15 Global [fossil fuels] Divestment Day; Mr. Tom Snell, from northern Maine to Swarthmore to Brown, now retired in Santa Cruz, CA

Subject: Global [fossil fuels] Divestment Day; Mr. Tom Snell, from northern Maine to Swarthmore to Brown, now retired in Santa Cruz, CA

1. I receive email messages from 350.org because I signed up with them.  Hopefully you did and do as well.  However, just in case you didn't, today, February 13, 2015, is a day of action for people all over the planet called "Global [fossil fuels] Divestment Day," the "action" being divesting and encouraging others to divest from investments in all the fossil fuels industries, "others" being both individuals and institutions.  You can go to 350.org (LINK) for details and pictures of what is going on live all over the world and including some on Facebook.  There are also suggestions of ways that you can help if you have any time, either a lot of time or just a little bit of time.

2. I was very privileged this morning to discover the website of Mr. Tom Snell of Santa Cruz, California, by way of Mount Desert Island on the coast of northern Maine--his parents were fascinating people too by the way--Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, to Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, to years as a teacher, to years back in Maine as a software developer (Encyclopedia of the Mouse Genome), receiving with a small team an award for innovative scientific software.*  Besides hiking in the Redwoods and walking the shores, Mr. Tom Snell works for his children and grandchildren's future and the future of others like them.

This is part of what Mr. Tom Snell does with his time.  His work appears authoritative based upon the work of the 97 percent of climate scientists that agree on what's happening to our world [nasa LINK] including the 40-year-delayed-effects of burning fossil fuels.

Tom’s Climate Change Blog
http://www.tomsclimatechangeblog.com/

I have not had the privilege of communicating with Mr. Snell.  I learned of him as a good friend of a good friend of mine.  I have heard that he is currently organizing a group visit to a meeting to be arranged with their local Congressperson for out there in Santa Cruz.  He is yet another person about whose existence I am very pleased to have learned even if I never meet him.  Three thousand miles is a distance, and I have not been traveling much lately.

Here are some background links.  Note that the second one contains a collection of links that go back further and collectively contain much information:

sent 12/3/14 "The Ethics of Climate Hope:..." by Naomi Klein December 2, 2014 (+)

11/21/14 Excellent column by Amy Goodman: Keystone, Climate Change and the Cold

love to all,

Larry
* For an update on that work see Wikipedia, Mouse Genome Informatics.
P.S. See Tom’s Climate Change Blog
http://www.tomsclimatechangeblog.com/ :-)

sent 2/13/15 "Congress torn over Obama war power request"; what I wrote the gov't Re: ACTION PLEASE, call/write Congressperson, please don't be worn out yet: President sent new war resolution to Congress NO NO NO

First, here is what I wrote to my Congresspeople, Senators and House Representative.  I used the (totally personal but also efficient) action link that the FCNL provides, to send an email.  I think I am going to go back and send this same thing as a personal paper letter, which is another service the FCNL provides free to any and all.  Feel free to steal my words if you like.  There are also three quite different texts provided at the link.  You can mix and match or write your own as I ended up doing.

-------sent to officials 2/12/2015---------

Please repeal the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force and say NAY to the new bill that would authorize military force force against the Islamic State. 

Everyone who is not making money one way or another from military action says military action in this situation can ONLY make things worse.  I believe them.

Thank you for your efforts.  I hope and pray that you have the power to look at the situation with clear eyes, ignoring any and all military-related campaign contributors in this case.

Here is a great article that outlines some of the discussion from different sides in the Federal administration and Congress about this bill the President offered a couple of days ago now, the bill about military action against the Islamic State in the Middle East and wherever they might go to escape if the American military forces could force them into wanting to move to somewhere else that is not adjacent, something that does not seem to be the Wahhabis' point so far.  From the point of view of experts from outside the military business, there are other things besides using military force that Americans might try, the big problem being that any American will be viewed with intense suspicion and seen by many as part of the problem in that part of the world, because of the many many years of evil for which American money--tax dollars and otherwise--and other American power have been responsible up to and including the present.  I would say that that statement is not clearly made in this article.  McClatchy has a great reputation for being more honest and more discerning than most newspaper conglomerates, but McClatchy is still a huge conglomerate selling its individual city major newspapers in parts of the country where too many people and/or some especially powerful people tend to be terrified authoritarian personality (Wikipedia link) types.
"Congress torn over Obama war power request," By Lesley Clark and William Douglas, McClatchy Washington Bureau, February 11, 2015

Larry

On 2/12/2015 4:57 PM, Larry Scott wrote:

[for text see LINK sent 2/12/15 ACTION PLEASE, call/write Congressperson, please don't be worn out yet: President sent new war resolution to Congress NO NO NO]

sent 2/12/15 (videos) Interfaith Conference on Drone Warfare at Princeton Theological Seminary January 23-25, 2015.

Subject: (videos) Interfaith Conference on Drone Warfare at Princeton Theological Seminary January 23-25, 2015.

From FCNL: "More than 150 religious leaders gathered to attend the Interfaith Conference on Drone Warfare at Princeton Theological Seminary [link added LAS] on January 23-25, 2015. The attendees represented many of the world's religions, and the Just War, Pacifist and Just Peace traditions.

"After two and half days of presentations and conversation, and in full awareness of the differences in our faith traditions and our beliefs about war, the groups came together to issue a statement of recommendations."  (LINK to immediate pdf download of the statement) 

The statement is much more interesting and complex than you might expect. 

One of the seven listed calls upon our government is for the repeal of the "2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force"--what I asked you to help (HELP) with just earlier (LINK to "just earlier").  By the way, I have just added a number three (3) into the list of background references in "just earlier," to incorporate the material I sent you the other day in "sent 2/5/15 (rev2) *American Sniper*, Wahhabism, and ISIS."

If you are interested, this LINK is to YouTube videos of the different sessions of the conference.  The one that I saw recommended but have not (yet) watched is number 2, session 2, "Legal and Policy Issues."

Larry

sent 2/12/15 ACTION PLEASE, call/write Congressperson, please don't be worn out yet: President sent new war resolution to Congress NO NO NO

Subject: ACTION PLEASE, call/write Congressperson, please don't be worn out yet because: President sent new war resolution to Congress NO NO NO.  Repeal the one from 2001. 

And please help take this one viral.  There may be as many Republicans as Democrats in favor of repealing the President's existing unconstitutional power to declare war as well as saying no to a new reinforcement of that unconstitutional power.  Not that the President is entirely in control of things or would be.  But this might actually help to put some of the war control back in the hands of Congress and therefore give people more of a voice than we've had in the last 14 years or so.

NOTE: My understanding is that, as things stand, our war industry really does not need this new war resolution to pass, that the war industry can go ahead and do whatever it wants to without that.  That is why the mention in the proposed text in the action link below, for the need for the repeal of the "2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force."  It appears that our President put this new bill before Congress to open public debate about more war.  So by all means, let us have that debate, because this is a clear opportunity.

I am giving you below what I received yesterday from the Friends Committee on National Legislation on this topic.  One highlight from them is that in the opinions of impartial or less obviously partial world experts, the U.S. going to war in this situation with ISIS and its friends and local enemies in the Middle East can only make things worse for everybody except for those in the military, private contractors to the military, and those in other parts of the war business.  By "impartial or less partial world experts I am excluding people like the military generals and the Prime Minister of Israel, all of whom are speaking on behalf of themselves and others of their followers who are deeply involved in making money from wars.  Wars are everything to their personal budgets.  Though they may fool themselves into feeling that their intentions are good for all, like the General Motors CEO famously thought once, they are not trustworthy foreign policy leaders for the people of America overall.  Included is the convenient personal action capwiz link that the Friends Committee on National Legislation provides for the use of any and all.  This time it goes to a special setup for communicating on this topic.  You don't join anything in using their tool to contact some of your government officials.

Ahead of the message from the FCNL and aside from whatever it points out, here are two articles in major publications and an easy source for more that I recommend in particular in addition for background:
1. "5 Reasons Congress Should Reject Obama’s ISIS War," by Peter Certo, Foreign Policy in Focus, February 11, 2015 (print-friendly link for easier reading).
2. "Curb Obama's endless war power, don't expand it: Column," by Elizabeth R. Beavers, USA Today, February 12, 2015.
3. This incorporates material that I sent you the other day in "sent 2/5/15 (rev2) *American Sniper*, Wahhabism, and ISIS."

Larry
P.S. Thank you for being awake, and please do take action (link) ASAP.  Because it actually does matter to your life and to the lives of those around you.
And also please do make your own request of anyone you can talk to or write to about this without having him or her bite your head off for doing so.

(I have changed the links in this so they all work but without connecting you with me or mixing you up with me at FCNL. :)

(banner missing here) Dear Larry A. Scott Esq., This morning, President Obama sent a new Authorization for the Use of Military Force to Congress that perpetuates the endless war of the past 13 years. The debate about how the U.S. will engage in war is alive in Washington, DC -- add your voice. Please urge Congress to oppose this new war authorization. Then tell them to repeal the 2001 law that has been the basis of U.S. military action for more than a decade. President Obama's request today for a new war authorization is meant to define the war against the Islamic State that has already been underway for six months. The president’s proposal extends authority for war for three years and has no geographic limits. Significantly, it has something missing: a repeal of the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force. Even members of Congress who support military force against the Islamic State can agree that keeping the 2001 AUMF -- the law behind the "war on terror" -- on the books sets a dangerous precedent. Unless this 2001 law is repealed, the president can continue using it to override any restrictions Congress places on a new authorization. The president started this war on the Islamic State based on the old 2001 AUMF, without consulting Congress. Tell Congress not to pile one war on top of another. Urge your members of Congress to oppose the president's proposal and repeal the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force. The endless war, now in its 14th year, has failed--and at the cost of too many lives and too much money. And the violent extremism of the Islamic State will not end as a result of our military air strikes or use of ground troops. The U.S. should lead with political, economic and diplomatic policies that cut off weapons, funding and support for the Islamic State. Answering violence with violence cannot lead to peace. The debate on this new AUMF and whether the 2001 will be repealed may go on for weeks. We need you to weigh in with your member of Congress now and throughout the debate to help our elected officials understand the opposition to endless war. Sincerely, Diane Randall Executive Secretary   About Contact Us Donate Find us on:   ... © Friends Committee on National Legislation 245 2nd Street NE Washington, DC 20002 | 800-630-1330 Powered by ARCOS | Design by Plus Three

sent 2/12/15 inspiring prisoner Kathy Kelly "The Shift: A Note from Lexington Federal Prison"

You might find inspiring the words of this great woman, Kathy Kelly (Wikipedia link).  She is the author of this piece, from prison.  Spending parts of her life in prison seems to be built into her life plan in a way.

inspiring prisoner Kathy Kelly "The Shift: A Note from Lexington Federal Prison," February 10, 2015 (CommonDreams print-friendly link)

Larry

sent 2/9/15 immediate ACTION please and please take viral "I just signed the petition: 'Extend the Comment Period for the Pieridae LNG Export Permit Application FE Docket 14-179-LNG'"

Subject: (immediate ACTION please and please take this message viral.) "I just signed the petition: 'Extend the Comment Period for the Pieridae LNG Export Permit Application FE Docket 14-179-LNG'"

First I got a telephone call from great old friend Anon, and then I got the email forward just below, about signing an on-line petition. 

President Obama's Washington telephone number is (202) 456-1414, and you can call and leave a message.  You are calling about pausing action by his Department of Energy in approving a permit to a particular company to export liquid natural gas, Pieridae LNG Export Permit Application FE Docket 14-179-LNG. 

I understand the key background point to be that as much as possible natural gas should be left in the ground, for two reasons: Those younger than I will need fossil fuels over a longer term--hoping that there is going to be a "long term"--to support and supplement some of the major alternative energy solutions such as wind and sun, just because those sources may be intermittent in many locations.  Second, burning natural gas will cause the escalation of average global temperatures and wilder and wilder weather, although less than some other things.  So we really really need to keep most of it in the ground even if Saudi Arabia with its escalation of oil production is going in the direction of as much global warming and wilder weather as a fast and as soon as possible.  For rather deep background on that see here and here and follow back links in those to sources of information sent earlier.

In addition to calling, you can sign an on-line petition asking for an extension of the comment period for "for the Pieridae LNG Export Permit Application FE Docket 14-179-LNG."  The number of signers seems to be rising fast.  I think my friend said the deadline for helping with this at this point is today, February 9, 2015. 

This below composed by CREDO action and forwarded to me by our good long-time friend Anon just now.  I add my request for action and further request that you forward this to any and all who probably will not hate you for doing so:
--------------
Dear Friends,
I just signed the petition: "Extend the Comment Period for the Pieridae LNG Export Permit Application FE Docket 14-179-LNG"
It would mean the world to me if you could also add your name to this important issue. Every name that is added builds momentum around the petition and makes it more likely for us to get the progressive social change we want to see.
Will you join me by taking action on this petition?
http://www.credomobilize.com/petitions/extend-the-comment-period-for-the-peridae-lng-export-permit-application-fe-14-197

After you've signed the petition, please also take a moment to share it with others. It's super easy – all you need to do is forward this email.
Thank you!
[good friend Anon]
--------------------------

P.S. Please call President Obama's Washington telephone number (202) 456-1414, sign the on-line petition, and forward this message on.  Thanks in advance, Larry

sent 2/9/15 book recommendation *American Reckoning: The Vietnam War and Our National Identity* February 5, 2015, by Christian G. Appy

Subject: book recommendation *American Reckoning: The Vietnam War and Our National Identity* February 5, 2015, by Christian G. Appy  http://www.amazon.com/dp/0670025399/

One review: In “American Reckoning” Mr. Appy’s fluent and broad command of history allow him to give a brilliant, compelling account of a tragic war that still haunts America today. Indeed, I question whether most Americans have the courage to fully acknowledge the terrible truths that Mr. Appy’s book reveals. But I am convinced that for every American who does, our nation stands a better chance of obtaining some semblance of real, rather than mythical, American exceptionalism. For this reason, Mr. Apply’s book is tremendously important. --Alex Green, February 8, 2015 {emphasis added-LAS}

Larry
P.S. While we are on the subject of Vietnam here is another recent book that is highly recommended if you have a strong stomach.

I knew there was a reason we had a problem with the concept of joining the military and going to Vietnam.  I've just been reading the reviews of this book.  We knew a little back then, just not the full extent of some downright evil that should never ever happen.  I have read many news articles by Nick Turse over years and have found him authoritative, which is to say that his news has fit in with the news of other authorities with whom I am familiar from reading their material.
Kill Anything That Moves: The Real American War in Vietnam (American Empire Project), by Nick Turse (January 15, 2013)
http://www.amazon.com/Kill-Anything-That-Moves-American/dp/0805086919?ie=UTF8&n=283155&ref_=dp_proddesc_0&s=books&showDetailProductDesc=1#iframe-wrapper
That link is to show the page that includes the editorial reviews.  I see that Amazon has arranged the editorial reviews to put first the one and only editorial review that is negative.

sent 4/4/14 book recommendation: Israeli Apartheid - Second Edition: A Beginner's Guide

Subject: book recommendation: Israeli Apartheid - Second Edition: A Beginner's Guide by Ben White (2014)

Amazon has one good review (above link).  Here is another review of the above book (link) that I happened upon after having happened upon the piece mentioned just previously by Ramzy Baroud, dated today (link).

As I said earlier, I have been trying to ignore Israel as not being my business.  But $%*&@, the Koch Brothers and their ilk and their major influence/control in both the United States and Israel, as well as other parts of the world, are my business.

Larry

sent 3/30/14 book recommendation: Manufactured Crisis: The Untold Story of the Iran Nuclear Scare by Gareth Porter

Subject: book recommendation: Manufactured Crisis: The Untold Story of the Iran Nuclear Scare by Gareth Porter (2014)

Again, please read the reviews.  And again, it's important.  Lies can make a difference in our lives, as we all know very very well.  I pretty well know this story, I think, by reading a lot of news as the story has gone along.  The chances are high that I read more news on this topic than you did.  But maybe not.  Television will not have done it for you, by the way.  Not even close.

Larry

sent 2/07/15 "...accountability for the career military has been much sketchier than during our previous wars..."

Subject: "...accountability for the career military has been much sketchier than during our previous wars..."

I took those words from a significant piece by the well-known James Fallows in The Atlantic, "The Tragedy of the American Military," January/February 2015.  That's part of it.  The article is long and worth reading, to raise your consciousness if nothing else so as to be better equipped to defend yourself against the propaganda and lies from the war machine that you will continue to overhear whether you want to or not.  It seems unusually forthright and refers to others in various positions of expertise.  It is especially interesting for some material on modern weaponry, especially air weaponry, and who it is that is benefiting from modern developments, that I have not seen before.

For what it's worth, the current situation is not within any American tradition, and I think Americans have the job of being aware of that, as a simple citizenship responsibility.  You live here and may even be paying taxes.  "Politicians say that national security is their first and most sacred duty, but they do not act as if this is so."

.... "'Many on Capitol Hill see the Pentagon with admirable simplicity,' he said: 'It is a way of directing tax money to selected districts. It’s part of what they were elected to do.'”

Other recent things I've sent that are relevant to this one:

sent 2/5/15 (rev2) *American Sniper*, Wahhabism, and ISIS

sent 2/3/15 William Astore, great review and analysis: 7 Reasons Why America’s Wars Aren’t Ending Anytime Soon

sent 2/2/15 (action needed to oppose big arms to the Ukraine) Robert Parry and others 1. "‘Group-Thinking’ the World into a New War

Larry

sent 2/5/15 (rev2) *American Sniper*, Wahhabism, and ISIS

Subject: American Sniper and Wahhabism (Wikipedia link).

Members of the Wahhabi religion comprise 22 percent of the Muslims in Saudi Arabia and are historically centered in Saudi Arabia.  To be and remain a Wahhabi one must agree that it is one's responsibility to work toward killing anyone and everyone who refuses to convert to the Wahhabi way of seeing things.  The Wahhabis  comprise 100 percent of "The Islamic State."  The Islamic State seeks the territory now known as Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, as I recall from some recent article.  Saudi Arabia too?  According to the eminent Alistair Crooke writing "Middle East Time Bomb: The Real Aim of ISIS Is to Replace the Saud Family as the New Emirs of Arabia" in Huffington Post, (updated November 2, 2014): "We should understand that there is really almost nothing that the West can now do about it but sit and watch."* 

I wonder how all that might relate to Saudi Arabia recently having decided to have a closeout-everything-must-go-sale on oil, or so it appears.  (See "sent 2/2/15 .... Historic moment: Saudi Arabia sees End of Oil Age coming and opens valves on the carbon bubble - EnergyPost.eu.")

The very best thing to know about the Wahhabis is that there are none around here, and there are not likely to be any around here ever. 

When we want to worry about tribes, the main thing we have to worry about here is some so-called Christians.   (See generally., "sent 12/2/14 "Dear [evangelical Christians]: You’re Being Had" by Jay Michaelson {LINK}.  And adding 2/7/15, see also now: "The Fiery Cage and the Lynching Tree, Brutality’s Never Far Away (print-friendly LINK), by Bill Moyers, February 6, 2015.  It seems more precise in a way.)

In the last paragraph of sent 2/2/15 ..1. "‘Group-Thinking’ the World into a New War" I talked a bit about Michele Obama's response to the recent movie, American Sniper (IMDB link), a somewhat autobiographical version of real war in Iraq American sniper Chris Kyle.

This is a newer piece by eight (8) year Army combat MP (including one (1) year in Afghanistan) Brock McIntosh: "As a veteran, I see ‘American Sniper’ as dangerous, but not for the reasons you’d think," (LINK)" February 3, 2015.  Brock McIntosh is not very critical of Chris Kyle.  Brock McIntosh takes Chris Kyle's word for the beliefs that he had in his head when he enlisted.  Then he details the actual falsity of some beliefs that Chris Kyle had.  Not all of that is likely to surprise you at this point.  Many have learned much since Chris Kyle enlisted.  Brock McIntosh reinforces our knowledge with his own personal experiences.  Then what Brock McIntosh actually criticizes is an American situation in which global and American leadership could implant those false beliefs into Chris Kyle's head and into the heads of more than a few other people.

The piece by Brock McIntosh is well worth reading, and not just for a rehash of the false beliefs that were put into many people's heads leading up to the American invasion of Iraq but of trying to encourage resistance to false stories, current stories about why we Americans should keep on attacking other countries, for example. Print-friendly link.

I myself am very frustrated by the situation of America, the United States, continuing to increase and increase and increase the military budget year after year.  Remember I was considered to be a big worker on the side of peace during the Vietnam war, despite my "professional" neutrality.  To be honest, world peace seems to me quite hopeless now.  And the American "security" apparatus is totally out of control, just driving itself.  We even know about this: [download (ge.tt) LINK for 58 min "Bush and Obama--Age of Terror" video (mp4 format). No web page, just download.]  And we know from information several years ago that the military and related industries, private contractors, and supporting businesses comprise at least one third of the U.S. economy overall.

So maybe perhaps we should put our energies to other problems besides world peace, like peace at home perhaps.

Should I mention again Fox News as a continuing major source of falsity (that jokes are told about in major broadcasts in Europe)? (this question could well relate to the article by Brock McIntosh linked below.  I just thought I'd throw it in again as a contribution.  Seriously.  If you are a Fox News fan the least bit you might want to consider forcing a change just for a month or so to begin with just to see whether your life might get better.   I happened to notice the other day, here's a good place to look for many vastly better news sources, scrolling down the right side of the page (LINK).   You might be familiar with some or many of them.

Larry
*Or make it worse, of course, referring to all that Americans have the power to do to and for the Middle East or any part of it.  We are just a big part of the problem, background and foreground.

sent 2/3/15 William Astore, great review and analysis: 7 Reasons Why America’s Wars Aren’t Ending Anytime Soon

Subject: William Astore, great review and analysis: "7 Reasons Why America’s Wars Aren’t Ending Anytime Soon: How never-ending war became—and will stay—the new normal," The Nation, February 2, 2015 OR (instant pdf download via ge.tt (LINK), copyright exception, educational and non-profit)

You may recall William Astore as another great American soldier,  retired an Air Force Lieutenant Colonel as of 2005 after 20 years in  the Air Force.  He has been and obviously still is, a great analyst.  As a career soldier, he obviously had and took opportunities to make himself aware of some things that many of us have not experienced and/or about which we know little or nothing.  And he also remembers when America was a different place and what it was like.

"7 Reasons Why America’s Wars Aren’t Ending Anytime Soon: How never-ending war became—and will stay—the new normal," The Nation, February 2, 2015 OR (instant pdf download via ge.tt (LINK), copyright exception, educational and non-profit)

--first published February 1, 2015 at TomDispatch.com, a project of the Nation Institute.

Contrast:
The last lines in William Astore's piece are:

"How do we inoculate our children against such a permanent state of war and the war state itself? I have one simple suggestion: just stop it. All of it. Stop making war a never-ending part of our lives and stop celebrating it, too. War should be the realm of the extreme, of the abnormal. It should be the death of normalcy, not the dreary norm.

"It’s never too soon, America, to enlist in that good fight!"

The last lines in a different piece by Tom Engelhardt of TomDispatch are:

"....What’s missing is any sense of connection to the government, any sense that it’s “ours” or that we the people matter.  In its place -- and you can thank successive administrations for this -- is the deepest sort of pessimism and cynicism about a national security state and war-making machine beyond our control.  And why protest what you can’t change?"

"Tomgram: Engelhardt, I.F. Stone and the Urge to Serve," by Tom Engelhardt, TomDispatch, February 3, 2015.

Tom Engelhardt became an activist during the war in Vietnam, starting with turning in his draft card and writing articles about that to tell the world why he had done it.  He was a public hero of a different time.  It is not clear to me whether Tom Engelhardt was expressing personal hopelessness today with his question quoted above or whether he was putting words into the mouths of some other people.  Either way, I would point out that the answer is not necessarily obvious. 

And by the way, one article I just saw today and plan to write more about is "As inequality soars, the nervous super rich are already planning their escapes," by Alec Hogg in Davos, The Guardian, January 23, 2015.  Huh!  Well actually, now that I think of it, you might remember my mentioning a few years ago articles on New Zealand possibly being a good destination for those who might desire to move and could qualify and manage it financially.  I wonder what the climate change models say for New Zealand.  I don't think climate change was a well-known factor in those previous articles.

Larry