Fear seems bigger in the middle of the night - or does it? Not now for me. SO scared and sad for our falling apart country and world. In just about every aspect, we blew it. WWI and industrial age brought much of it upon us. Mostly, we suffer at the whims and actions of one crazy/evil person or group. The more I learn about then and now, the more scared and sad I become.
Wondering if anyone in this community has read or is reading The Precipice by Toby Ord. I am only 60 some pages in, but this post definitely makes me think of the book and how it is so hard to convince people to think about long-term improvements when you cannot prove how much harm you may prevent with regulations and laws that protect public goods and when, as a society, we are so consumed with short-cycle outcomes and instant gratification.
Well said - Regulations are not very exciting until something happens and that is why they are there ! They also must be enforced and adherence independently verified to be effective. Making regulations and then allowing industry to voluntarily police themselves does not work and we fall into that trap too many times.
Our government is the reason our country is the most prosperous, successful place in the world. Because of our government, we all have better lives. Without regulations, everything would be a mess.
Most of this weeks felt to me like the media stepped in to cal fears to prevent the bank crisis. Settle fears, settle fears, settle fears was the mantra. Enough people listened, but did anyone really learn a lesson? Greed is a very powerful thing indeed. Something we humans appear to be very good at.
The tens of thousands of people who died in Turkey and Syria due to the horrific earthquakes last month would still be alive if the government regulations of construction had been followed. Instead bribes were paid and those in charge of protecting the people from disaster turned away. Remember that anytime you feel irritated that the government is “meddling” in your daily life.
We, the people. I can’t say it enough! When I was responsible for a business in California and earthquakes were our greatest threat, we did everything possible to protect our employees. Replacement equipment can be purchased. Replacement employees can not.
We, the people. Our democracy requires healthy, educated citizens!
Hi Dan, nice article. Bottom line here is the unmitigated gall of the Chiefs Unions!!! I wrote a little about these unions in my last comment! A single Chiefs Union consists of all the executives of a Company who own a 3-letter suffix after their name on their business card(s)… CEO, CFO, CIO, COO, CMO, CTO, ETC, ETC!!! We have on display prime examples of the CEO of a large railway company and a large national bank!!! These scumbags are so hyped up with becoming richer and richer that they will do “anything” to enrich themselves while flaunting their idiocy everywhere they can. It is high time that we citizens pay attention to what the Chiefs Unions have become over the past 50 to 60 years! Only when we clip the feathers of these fly-by-night vultures will America begin to right the National ship that have been sinking for all these years!!! Thanks, Dan, for letting me vent a little!
Hi Dan! Elaina Plott from The Atlantic here - I messaged you on Twitter but I'm not sure if you saw - I'd love to talk to you for a story I'm working in, could you reach me at eplott@theatlantic.com when you have a moment?
Like any good conman would tRump has done a number on the repthugs and they thank him for it. He had no plan while President and still doesn't and the magas don't care which makes the whole party dangerous.
So true. Governor DeSantis opposes Federal regulations and interference from the "Brandon Administration" until Hurricane Ian hits and all of a sudden, it's "Dear Mr. President, Please help us."
If there had been earlier regulations to prevent climate change, we would not be experiencing as many tornadoes.
Fear seems bigger in the middle of the night - or does it? Not now for me. SO scared and sad for our falling apart country and world. In just about every aspect, we blew it. WWI and industrial age brought much of it upon us. Mostly, we suffer at the whims and actions of one crazy/evil person or group. The more I learn about then and now, the more scared and sad I become.
Wondering if anyone in this community has read or is reading The Precipice by Toby Ord. I am only 60 some pages in, but this post definitely makes me think of the book and how it is so hard to convince people to think about long-term improvements when you cannot prove how much harm you may prevent with regulations and laws that protect public goods and when, as a society, we are so consumed with short-cycle outcomes and instant gratification.
Well said - Regulations are not very exciting until something happens and that is why they are there ! They also must be enforced and adherence independently verified to be effective. Making regulations and then allowing industry to voluntarily police themselves does not work and we fall into that trap too many times.
Our government is the reason our country is the most prosperous, successful place in the world. Because of our government, we all have better lives. Without regulations, everything would be a mess.
Rolled back/Weak regulations are causing many of today's problems.
Most of this weeks felt to me like the media stepped in to cal fears to prevent the bank crisis. Settle fears, settle fears, settle fears was the mantra. Enough people listened, but did anyone really learn a lesson? Greed is a very powerful thing indeed. Something we humans appear to be very good at.
The tens of thousands of people who died in Turkey and Syria due to the horrific earthquakes last month would still be alive if the government regulations of construction had been followed. Instead bribes were paid and those in charge of protecting the people from disaster turned away. Remember that anytime you feel irritated that the government is “meddling” in your daily life.
And stop putting the fox in charge of the henhouse. Too many high-powered people appointing people into these positions that will benefit them.
And stop putting the Fox in charge of the hen house. Too many people in charge are appointed by people that will benefit from them being there.
so true!
this is from a stockholder vote card: Shareholder proposal requesting greenhouse gas reduction targets Board Recommendation:Against
Shareholder proposal requesting adoption of policy to cease financing new fossil fuel supplies Board Recommendation:Against
Shareholder proposal requesting a racial equity audit Board Recommendation:Against
BOARDS DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT COSTS MONEY!
We, the people. I can’t say it enough! When I was responsible for a business in California and earthquakes were our greatest threat, we did everything possible to protect our employees. Replacement equipment can be purchased. Replacement employees can not.
We, the people. Our democracy requires healthy, educated citizens!
Hi Dan, nice article. Bottom line here is the unmitigated gall of the Chiefs Unions!!! I wrote a little about these unions in my last comment! A single Chiefs Union consists of all the executives of a Company who own a 3-letter suffix after their name on their business card(s)… CEO, CFO, CIO, COO, CMO, CTO, ETC, ETC!!! We have on display prime examples of the CEO of a large railway company and a large national bank!!! These scumbags are so hyped up with becoming richer and richer that they will do “anything” to enrich themselves while flaunting their idiocy everywhere they can. It is high time that we citizens pay attention to what the Chiefs Unions have become over the past 50 to 60 years! Only when we clip the feathers of these fly-by-night vultures will America begin to right the National ship that have been sinking for all these years!!! Thanks, Dan, for letting me vent a little!
Hi Dan! Elaina Plott from The Atlantic here - I messaged you on Twitter but I'm not sure if you saw - I'd love to talk to you for a story I'm working in, could you reach me at eplott@theatlantic.com when you have a moment?
Like any good conman would tRump has done a number on the repthugs and they thank him for it. He had no plan while President and still doesn't and the magas don't care which makes the whole party dangerous.
So true. Governor DeSantis opposes Federal regulations and interference from the "Brandon Administration" until Hurricane Ian hits and all of a sudden, it's "Dear Mr. President, Please help us."
So true thank you