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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM
Lost in Space
One of my Facebook friends is pushing Ebola conspiracy theories. I unfriended him.
The head of ALEC "doesn't know" whether climate change is real.
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
What sort of conspiracy theories?
Why do we care what ALEC says?
edited 2nd Oct '14 4:41:02 PM by kostya
Lost in Space
That Ebola's inability to spread by aerosol and contaminated surfaces is a lie. That the strain of Ebola in question is a bioengineered weapon, it's all a conspiracy to wipe out our citizens, and similar tripe.
ALEC pushes anti-environmental legislation, seeking to deregulate industry and remove pollution controls. It was recently "un-friended" by Google and other major companies, which accused it of directly lying about climate change. It's one of the biggest forces for conservative legislation in the country, by means of pushing boilerplate legislation to Republican state legislators. It's a cancer on our society. Now its CEO has come out and stated that he hasn't bothered to find out if climate change is real or not.
edited 2nd Oct '14 4:44:11 PM by Fighteer
"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
I dunno why any bioweapons grade strain of Ebola would happen in Africa.
You'd just get some dead Siberians or something. It wouldn't last this long anyway.
Oh really when?
Wandering Jew
So it isn't getting a lot of attention stateside, but Argentina and America are currently at each others throat.
Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
Too hyperbolic, although i wish her well against the vulture funds.
Lost in Space
We've discussed this before. Argentina is a serial bond defaulter. The fact that it borrows in foreign currencies, making itself vulnerable to a bond panic, while at the same time having a weak domestic economy, is a recipe for continual failure. My understanding is that the funds it borrows don't go towards production or infrastructure but rather to buy stuff from other countries, making it the equivalent of a guy who buys food and gas on his credit card but doesn't pay his mortgage.
Of course, U.S. creditors have no way, short of convincing the government to declare war, to compel Argentina to pay. So it's their fault as well, to the extent that the person who serves booze to a known alcoholic is partially responsible for their behavior.
edited 2nd Oct '14 5:49:07 PM by Fighteer
"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
The Wanderer
Kissinger Drew Up Plans to Attack Cuba, Records Show
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
I'm not as surprised by the revelation of these plans as much as I am about how bad they are.
A blockade and sending aircraft to mine Cuba's ports?
That's it?
Oh really when?
Indiana Solo
Given we sent a (admittedly small) army of Cuban exiles to invade it once, and were prepared to during the missile crisis, this is one of those "this wasn't officially known yet?" things.
Gunpla is amazing!
I think Scientists need to realize no one will ever listen to them.
Scientists: "Global Warming is a serious threat and we need to do something about it yesterday." People: "Pssh, whatever."
Scientists: "Ebola is a crisis but it will not endanger first world nations like America." People: "OMG PANIC WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!!!"
That's both stupid AND not even entirely true, Thorn. Especially in light of recent events to actually do something about cleaner energy and the rising importance (in this case, that it's being discussed at all, really) in political issues.
Also, the ebola thing isn't even causing that much of a panic here in Texas. Rabbling on the internet is not an accurate gauge of how people here are acting. Certainly not as you've so very simplisticly portrayed.
Gunpla is amazing!
We aren't doing nearly enough to combat climate change.
We're moving in the right direction, maybe, but its starting to become too little too late.
And scientists realizing "no one will ever listen to them" is a solution of any kind how? Seriously that whole post is stupid no matter what reasoning you use because you're basically advocating that they give up and not do anything at all. I stand by my judgement of your post. I will stand by my judgement of any comment that amounts to "things aren't happening fast enough, therefor we should quit trying at all." That's fucking juvenile is what it is.
edited 2nd Oct '14 11:36:33 PM by AceofSpades
The Potato's Choice
As to climate change, the fastest way to get it dealt with is, sadly, there has to be a financial or business incentive to do so. Survival doesn't matter in the world of business and politics. Fortunately, Solar at least seems to be booming.
Many were increasingly of the opinion that they'd all made a big mistake in coming down from the trees in the first place. - Douglas Adams
Well, scientists need to build better cred in legislatures. From what I know, it's a problem in volcanology as well.
Also, with Ebola I would be a bit more cautious. I don't think it needs that much for it to become a crisis.
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Resident Bollywood Nerd
Sadly, it is not as if scientists can contribute majorly to any politician or party, and in a post-Citizens United world, that is a reality that has to be accepted.
Businesses (to whom it doesn't matter) and religious groups (which range from apathy to 'IT'S A SIGN OF THE RAPTURE! PRAISE JESUS!'), however, do, and therefore will be able to manipulate the politicians into doing as they want. When money speaks, truth is silent.
noisivelet naht nuf erom era srorrim
V
Could there be a national security incentive, if Climate Change was framed in the right way?
Keep Rolling On
The Potato's Choice
V
Funnily enough, those final two panelsnote aren't a bad idea, either 
— the Interstates were constructed under the same premise, weren't they?note
edited 3rd Oct '14 2:20:33 AM by Greenmantle
Keep Rolling On
HGW XX/7
That's it?
That's more than enough when you're fighting an island. The mining of Japan's internal waterways and the blockade of the Home Islands was devastating.
Schild und Schwert der Partei
The Potato's Choice
I vaguely recall Eisenhower pushing it for something along those lines. Checking... Yes.
Re Arkansas Repub AG candidate's voter registration:
If I recall correctly, she registered to vote in DC in 2008, and then voted absentee in Arkansas the same year.
When you register in one place, you're supposed to cancel your old registration. Some places will automatically do this for you, though it may take a while. Still, though, after you newly register in one place, why would you go back and vote in the old one?
edited 3rd Oct '14 5:06:09 AM by GlennMagusHarvey
Wandering Jew
Yeah, they did the smart thing and had a press conference and the doctor there detailed how difficult it is to pass on and that they're taking all proper precautions now. It was stupid of the hospital to dismiss the guy the first time, but they're taking care of it now and there's been little harm done.
Not sure if the Liberians have a real case, though.