New Study Reveals Greenland Ice Melting Threatens Life on Earth - Thom Hartmann

[Rhiannon12866]

Greenland is losing ice so fast that scientists are concerned that the new fresh water in the Atlantic - could be a threat to all life on earth. - Aired on 07/12/2024.

[John1956PA]

1. On his speaking tours many years ago, Al Gore would point to this threat.

The introduction of fresh water into the North Atlantic could cause serious disruption of ocean currents which travel north and bring with them wam air from the tropics.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. Thanks so much! Clearly an environmentalist ahead of his time

So many times over the years I have thought about how much farther ahead we could be on slowing climate change if only Al Gore had taken his rightful place as president - if Katherine Harris hadn't stopped the vote count in Florida. Talk about "a stolen election."

[OKIsItJustMe]

3. Ironically, Florida journalists counted the vote

They found that if the recount had proceeded using the rules the Gore campaign advocated, Gore would have lost.

On the other hand, had the recount proceeded using the rules the Bush campaign advocated, Gore would have won!

Things were just that close.

Personally, I feel it is Ronald Reagan who bears the greatest blame for the mess we’re in. Had he followed the course set by Nixon, Ford and Carter, we would all be much better off today.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_Energy_Research%2C_Development_and_Demonstration_Act_of_1974
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_Photovoltaic_Energy_Research,_Development,_and_Demonstration_Act_of_1978

https://www.nrel.gov/about/history.html

…

1974
In October, President Gerald Ford establishes the Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) and signs the Solar Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act, which creates the Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI).

The establishment of SERI marks the first time the U.S. tackles energy issues through a center of innovation to create and market renewable energy technologies, versus through policy.

…

1977
In February, President Jimmy Carter tells the nation how critical SERI's work will be to his administration's goals: "We will emphasize research on solar energy and other renewable energy sources."

In March, ERDA selects MRI to operate SERI in Golden, Colorado.

On July 5, SERI, the first federal facility dedicated to developing solar power, opens with Princeton-based photovoltaic researcher Paul Rappaport as director. A small staff moves into temporary facilities in the Denver West Office Park near South Table Mountain.

In August, President Carter forms the U.S. Department of Energy, replacing ERDA.

SERI begins taking on part of the federal wind program's research and development work.

1978
On May 3, President Carter visits South Table Mountain to celebrate Sun Day, a new holiday commemorating the dawn of a new solar age. In addition to addressing the gathered crowd, President Carter reviews some of SERI's work, including solar photovoltaic systems, wind turbines, a biomass converter, and a model of a solar power plant.

In November, President Carter signs the Solar Photovoltaic Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1978. The act tasks SERI researchers with reducing the average cost of solar photovoltaic systems, or solar cells, to $1 per watt by 1988. (For context, a 1-watt cell cost almost $300 per watt in 1956 and $77 per watt about 25 years later.)

…

1980
SERI's budget increases from $90 million to $130 million—estimated to be more than all other nations' combined spend on renewable research. The staff grows to nearly 1,000.

SERI launches the Denver Metro Home Builders Program to bring new building technology into common commercial practice. A "Parade of Homes" draws more than 100,000 visitors touring model houses constructed using energy-efficient practices in the first weekend alone. The 2-week event yields 31 sales contracts and more than 60 preorders for additional passive solar homes.

1981
President Ronald Reagan slashes the SERI budget to less than $30 million and reduces its staff to 450 people; Director Denis Hayes resigns.

SERI relies on spending earmarks from congressional supporters to fund its work.

MRI Senior Vice President Harold "Hub" Hubbard is named SERI's new director.

In July, SERI earns its first patent for a concept that boosts the conversion efficiency of solar cells.

…

[Rhiannon12866]

4. Wow! Thanks! I remember watching the returns that election night on CBS with Dan Rather and Bob Schieffer

And they called the state of Florida numerous times, first saying that Al Gore won, then George Bush*, back and forth numerous times. And we know what finally happened after that. *sigh*

[OKIsItJustMe]

5. A little more detail

Because the vote was so very close, a legally mandated machine recount of the entire state was called for. Bush’s lead was cut. As it turned out, some counties did not perform the machine recount, but the Gore team did not protest this.

The Gore team requested manual recounts in 4 large, traditionally Democratic counties, believing that the “undervotes” would include enough additional Gore votes to carry the day. (“Undervotes” were ballots where no vote for president was recognized by the machine. “Overvotes” apparently had votes for 2 or more presidential candidates.) Making matters worse, the four counties used different standards for their manual recounts! Palm Beach County even changed their own standards multiple times!

Now, speaking as a Gore supporter (I even preferred Gore over Clinton in their primary) that seems kinda hinky, right? (You’re looking for additional votes in a few counties you think will be favorable to you, not, for example, in all counties where the vote was close, or seemed problematic.)

Further, remember phrases like “hanging chad” & “pregnant chad?” Those applied to punchcard ballots. There were also optical scan ballots to consider! (How much of a mark is a mark? What if it was clear that a voter had attempted to change their vote? (Can evidence of intent be used to count an otherwise invalid ballot?) In a large number of cases, people successfully marked their ballot for a candidate, and (to reinforce their vote) wrote his name in the write-in field as well. (Scoring an “overvote” or a “spoiled ballot." ) Counties had different standards for handling these as well! Later analysis showed that if these ballots were counted, using the clear intent of the voter, Gore would have gotten the great majority of them.

After several legal challenges, the Florida State Supreme Court eventually ordered that a statewide manual recount needed to be performed. The Bush team appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States. (Since Bush was ahead at that point, they had nothing to gain in any recount.) SCOTUS accepted the appeal, and put a stay on the recounts already in progress.

SCOTUS swiftly decided that under the “Equal Protection Clause” of the 14th amendment, everyone’s vote should be counted the same way. A statewide recount, using a uniform standard set of criteria was the appropriate response. — Seems reasonable, right?


Now, here’s the problem: SCOTUS also ruled that there was insufficient time for Florida to determine a uniform standard and perform a manual recount of the entire state. Since there wasn’t time to perform a recount, the results would remain as they were (effectively making Bush the winner.)


Could Gore have stopped Climate Change in its tracks if he’d been named President in 2001? I honestly don’t think so. — Perhaps he could have slowed it down.
https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-heat-waves