Until today, there has been a deathly quiet about deliberate attacks made on climate science taken by NC’s legislature. I recall six, seven years ago when those bone-headed, knuckle-brained, examples of craven greed, mega-myopia, and yes, a conservative Christianist conviction that prayer, not science, would save them. Then, I read this article, and pardon the choice of words, the memories came flooding back.
But in North Carolina, lawmakers chose to ignore the threats. A panel of scientists on the state Coastal Resources Commission issued a dire warning in March 2010, estimating that the sea levels along the state’s coast would rise 39 inches over the next century. Conservative lawmakers and business interest groups feared the report would hurt lucrative real estate development on the state’s coast and sought to undermine it. A lobbying group committed to economic development on the coast accused the panel of “pulling data out of their hip pocket.”
Conservative state Rep. Pat McElraft, whose top campaign contributors were the North Carolina Association of Realtors and the North Carolina Home Builders’ Association, drafted a bill in response that rejected the panel’s predictions.
McElraft introduced the bill in April 2011, and it passed the legislature in the summer of 2012.
Part of the bill stipulated that state and local agencies must also refer to historical linear predictions of sea level rise rather than current research, and another alarming section required that research look only at 30-year predictions rather than at a century, as the CRC report had done. Supporters of the bill saw short-term benefits in more affordable insurance, and continued opportunities for real estate development and tourism along the attractive coast. Critics saw the long-term consequences of damaged homes and businesses and vast swaths of the state being swallowed by floods.
www.huffingtonpost.com/…
admittedly, I knew this back in 2012, but put it out of my mind because it was a prime example of ineffable stupidity. Blinders, it would seem, only work on race horses. When used on humanity, the effects can be deadly. Like now.
Ashville, and a few gems, appear to have a far more realistic grasp, of reality, but frankly, it still appears as though the majority of NC citizens willfully choose to live in the 17th, not 21st century. Prime example? Listening to interviews of coastal residents who claim, “We’ve seen storms before,” and “god will save us, if we pray hard enough.” Those were direct quotes I heard yesterday on the T&V machine last night. Hopefully, the newsies have escaped, and won’t stay to give us video images of a reporter trying to stand up to 160 MPH gusts. No worries, with this coming storm surge, EIGHT FEET OR MORE, there won’t be a place for the reporters or camera crews to stand. Swim? Perhaps, but, not to stand.
To those deciding to stay, I have these suggestions:
a. Don’t look to the rest of us to bail you out of a mess you compounded and made worse, with your denial of overwhelming science and rational observations and thinking
b. Go ahead and pray, for all the good it will do you, as your coastal homes are swept away.
c. Make sure, in your collective response, when you try to put your communities, villages and towns back on the map, to highlight the great job Rep. McElraft (at least she has a raft in her name to cling to) and other science deniers have done for you. Perhaps with her help, and that of her kindred spirits, you can pray to to repeal the laws of gravity and cause the rain and storm surge to be sucked up by your giant sky fairy and keep your towns, houses and businesses intact.
For myself, I don’t think ineffable stupidity is something to reward and cherish. If not for the general sense of empathy and caring for innocents’ losses and pain, I would be insisting that we simply leave you to deal with the deadly impact of your bad decisions, in the face of almost universal scientific warnings.
Instead, I’ll probably donate blood, send money to the Red Cross, and think about how else I can help, while fighting that strong feeling to point fingers, scream “Naw naw naw”in your faces, and insisting that the rest of us should not contribute to try to fix your boneheaded idiocy once this storm finally goes away. It will be an internal battle, but I already know my response. And it will be the proper one.
But, you anti-science morons, it feels good to get this off my chest now, than a few days from now. I’d say shame on you, but between anti-science, and your conservo-Christianist solutions, I know you are incapable of that.
I’m no stranger to NC. I’ve studied there several times for extended periods, learning iron work, blacksmithing, and other arts. I am still particularly struck by that church south of Ashville where they lock the doors, keeping the faithful inside, while they release the poisonous snakes. Been there, did not stay for the service, but was struck by the similarity of my reaction then to my reaction now. I think it can be summed up thusly: “You stupid gits. You made your own problems worse. Have you learned anything from this mess?” Sadly, we know the answer.
By the by, you can contact the American Red Cross at www.redcross.org
or in the muddle west, call 773-863-8048 to find a place to donate blood or $$$.
Now, i will try to dig up contact info on Rep. McElraft so you can ejumakate her about climate change. I’ll post it when I do.