Random Politics & Religion #24

This article was relevant to yesterdays pages.

It's an issue that the US disproportionately contributed to but you're fine with sticking everyone else with the bill. Definitely the party of personal responsibility.

Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump used a Massachusetts Institute of Technology study to back up his departure from the Paris climate agreement on Thursday. But one of the study's authors says the President misinterpreted their data, showing "a complete misunderstanding of the climate problem."
John Reilly, the co-director of the MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change, told CNN Friday that he was unaware the White House was going to cite the study and only found out that they were mentioned when he was contacted by a Reuters reporter.
The study -- titled "How much of a difference will the Paris Agreement make?" -- looked at the incremental changes in the accord that would happen if countries kept their promises. It found that over a 5- to 10-year period global warming would slow between 0.6 degree and 1.1 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.
"Even if the Paris agreement were implemented in full," Trump said Thursday, "with total compliance from all nations, it is estimated it would only produce a 2/10's of one degree Celsius reduction in global temperature by the year 2100."
He then held up his hand, pushed two fingers together and said, "tiny, tiny amount."
Talking points distributed by the White House also explicitly cited MIT.
The comment and the talking points were meant to undercut the efficacy of the Paris agreement, a claim that Reilly says is wrong.
"The whole statement seemed to suggest a complete misunderstanding of the climate problem," Reilly said. "I think Paris was a very good deal for the United States, contrary to what they are claiming."
He added: "This one small step with Paris is a necessary step. It is an incredibly important step. If we don't take the step than we aren't prepared to take the next step."
Scientists also note that while a small change in temperature doesn't seem like much, it could be the difference of survival for small island nations, like the Maldives.
Reilly said people at MIT have yet to have any contact with the White House over their use of the study -- and don't plan on reaching out.
"I think they are probably immune to fact," he said.
EPA administrator Scott Pruitt defended the White House's use of a MIT study that the authors now say is being misinterpreted. He also said there were "other studies published at the time" that found the same thing. But it is worth noting that the White House's talking points specifically cited MIT.
"There are other studies published at the time," Pruitt said. "The MIT study was something that you indicated showed 2/10ths of one degree. they didn't have a corner on the market in terms of studies at the time. There were many."

You have long since lost any capacity to look at this problem rationally.

This isn't really even a "problem". Humanity prospers in periods of warmth. Mild warming isn't bad even if the US is the cause of it. So to flip the coin, why shouldn't other nations be paying us for making the world more habitable for them to grow economically?

I bet youve never even bothered to wrap your head around that concept.

Wtf did I just read? It simultaneously argues that the Paris agreement is a toothless pact (which it is essentially) then continues on about how Obama mandated on behalf of the rest of the country as if Trump didn't mandate on behalf of the country when he announced a whitdrawal. I've had more coherent trains of thought after a bottle of Jameson's.

Y'know that scene in Ace Ventura where everytime they say "Shikaka" the entire tribe takes a knee? I hope WH staff does that everytime the hear "Covfefe."

Author of MIT climate study says Trump got it wrong

Yeah they should totally enjoy that small window of prosperity. How else are they going to afford to purchase goods and materials in preparation for the ice age that comes after the melting of the caps?

The Republican-controlled House Intelligence Committee asked U.S. spy agencies late last year to reveal the names of U.S. individuals or organizations contained in classified intelligence on Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election, engaging in the same practice that President Trump has accused the Obama administration of abusing, current and former officials said.

The chairman of the committee, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), has since cast the practice of “unmasking” of U.S. individuals and organizations mentioned in classified reports as an abuse of surveillance powers by the outgoing Obama administration....

look at the tax payers money evaporate before entering.

It's like they can't help themselves !

Y'know that scene in Ace Ventura where everytime they say "Shikaka" the entire tribe takes a knee? I hope WH staff does that everytime the hear "Covfefe."