Politics Corner October 12

 

photo mine  (beware of  Harlan)

It's been a while so let's start with energy. By now you must be familiar with the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in Texas. Often mistaken for an angry kindergarten, the 5th Circuit have punched well above their weight this time. They are demanding the impossible.

I still remember my high school chemistry teacher talking about how atomic energy was the most efficient source and how it was the most safe source except for one major problem that would likely never be solved: nuclear waste.

The US Supremes fucked themselves with this one. They gave judges the power to overrule government agencies. The 5th circuit decided that no one in the US should be allowed temporary storage. There is no such thing as permanent storage. There is an attempt at permanent storage in the Nevada mountains which Nevada has been fighting off for decades for the very good reason that it likely won't work and will leave behind radioactive mountains, radioactive wildlife and god forbid radioactive people (and their pets, hi MClen!). The Supremes now either have to come up with a way to say backsies or shut down all nuclear power in the US (there's a lot) and force the US to pay other countries to take our nuclear waste (there's even more because it doesn't go away) which is not only reprehensible but unlikely to be taken except by the poorest countries least likely to care for it.

This is why judges should stay out of science. Now lets get them out of gender and reproduction. [Slate]

via Slate

When you think energy and Ohio you probably think consumption or coal. Let's talk about solar. Lots of farmers wanted to convert to farming solar energy. The fossil fuel companies went ballistic. The started by buying the local paper and gutted it except for anti-solar, pro-fossil fuel news (without by lines of course). They've pitted residents against each other making enemies of formerly friendly neighbors. [ProPublica]

this guy considers himself a steward of the land and he wants to trade his soybeans and corn for a solar farm because "we need energy"

via ProPublica

Oh you thought that we could escape the 5th Circuit Court? This time it's positively Dickensian. (And I don't say that lightly because I don't like Dickens.) US District Judge Janis Jack has spent over a decade holding the state of Texas accountable for it's mistreatment of foster children. The 5th Circuit decided that since she continually ruled against the state of Texas that she was biased and removed her. They did not consider that - as documented - the state of Texas was continually mistreating foster childrem. [Texas Tribune]

via Texas Tribune

Trump wants more protection than Biden gets. Try and tell me that this is about "assassination attempts" and not looking like a dictator on stage. [NBC]

via New Republic

Political Discussion Welcome.