John Kerry "We Can't Leave Climate Emergency to the" Neanderthals "in Power

[IdealsAndReal42]

From The Guardian.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/sep/03/john-kerry-says-we-cant-leave-climate-emergency-to-neanderthals-in-power

As always, truth to power and wisdom.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

1. K&R

[Hortensis]

2. "It's a lie that humanity has to choose between prosperity & protecting the future."

Yes.

The new jobs created through tackling the advances needed to address and eventually reverse the climate crisis would help usher in the next big era of widespread prosperity. Even the enormous costs to rebuilding what's destroyed can also be a means of redistributing national wealth to workers and rebuilding and growing the middle class at the same time. The New Deal's enormous expenditures at a time when our nation was economically broken paid off many times over in many ways. Synergy.

[NewJeffCT]

8. agreed

construction to mitigate global warming effects and to rebuild will be decades worth of work.

The big hurricane that hit NYC and NJ/CT several years back did upwards of $100 billion in damage. I think Maddow at the time had said that improving/enhancing the sea walls across the Northeast would have cost around $50 billion and would have mitigated/lessened much of the damage

[Hortensis]

12. Yes. Giant building booms are as inevitable as the

disasters that will no longer allow these needs to go unmet. And all the ancillary industry and jobs they spawn. Towns and counties will move whole neighborhoods and turn that land into protective natural areas for the rest. Thoughtful communities will be able to use these opportunities to undo mistakes of the past and become better than ever.

It's exciting to think about, once we finally turn the corner on denial and really get to work. Just thought to wonder if places like Houston will decide they need at least some basic land-use zoning laws or stay wild and woolly.

[MBS]

3. Bravo, Sec. Kerry!

John Kerry has been deeply committed to environmental stewardship for almost 50 years. In addition to his work on these problems as activist and senator. he started or facilitated several important initiatives as Secretary of State with international impact (the Paris accord, the Iran deal, some really creative and effective international agreements for fisheries and ocean conservation, and pushing for sustainable practices at US embassies). I’m so delighted that he’s continuing (to paraphrase you) to lend his wisdom to this urgent cause and to continue to speak truth to power.

[IdealsAndReal42]

5. You're welcome with paraphrasing.

I really do miss him, but glad watching he's still serving as a citizen and elder stateman for what is right.
If I could talk to him, I'll had tons of questions for him, on every topic that matters in today's world (climate, war and peace, immigration, populism...) !

[MBS]

13. Me, too.

Dredging up a ridiculous phrase from the 2004 campaign - he really IS a guy I'd love to have a beer with. Or, better, just a long, relaxed, frank conversation.
One of our most distinguished (and underappreciated) public servants.

[IdealsAndReal42]

14. An afternoon of all things politics conversation.

That could be a great moment.

[MBS]

15. sure would.

[2naSalit]

4. K&R

[abqtommy]

6. It's a mistake to compare corrupt and inbred persons to Neanderthals.

Neanderthals are proven by history to have many admirable qualities including survival and artistic skills. Neanderthals didn't die out; they interbred with homo sapiens/modern humans and there is Neanderthal DNA (also Denisovan DNA) present in modern day humans. So let's call corrupt and inbred persons Corrupt and Inbred, and give the Neanderthals their due.

[DemocracyMouse]

10. Darn! You're right! But we still need a colorful metaphor

[abqtommy]

11. Corrupt and inbred is colorful enough for me, and accurate too!

[CentralMass]

7. K&R

[bdamomma]

9. K&R

"Neanderthals in power", exactly Senator Kerry.