The Week That Was: 2013-11-09 (November 9, 2013) Brought to You by SEPP (www.SEPP.org) The Science and Environmental Policy Project
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Quote of the Week: The scientist has a lot of experience with ignorance and doubt and uncertainty, and this experience is of very great importance, I think. Richard Feynman, Value of Science
Number of the Week: 7
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THIS WEEK: By Ken Haapala, Executive Vice President, Science and Environmental Policy Project (SEPP)
EPA and the Supreme Court: Writing in American Thinker, Fred Singer expresses some of his views on the difficulty the EPA may have in explaining to the Supreme Court its legal justification in expanding regulations that apply to motor vehicles to stationary sources such as power plants. It appears that EPA is changing the law to suit the administration’s policy. One of a number of issues is setting National Ambient Air Quality Standards for carbon dioxide (CO2) that is well mixed globally in the earth’s atmosphere and enforcing such standards on countries that are increasing CO2 emissions, such as China. See Article # 1 for the review of the logical trap that EPA may have created for itself.
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Is economics a science? Robert Shiller, one of the co-recipients of this year’s Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, asks this provocative question. He points out that economics is more focused on policy, rather than the discovery of fundamentals. He asserts that once economists focus on economic policy, a great deal of what is involved is not science, but politics and political posturing. He addresses some of the critics of the “pseudoscience” of economics who claim it uses the trappings of science, like dense mathematics, but only for show.
A similar question could be asked about climate science as practiced by the climate establishment, the heavily government funded scientists who are in the pursuit of attempting to demonstrate humans are the major cause of climate change, rather than uncovering the natural causes. They focus more on climate models, incorporating data into the models without testing fundamental assumptions in the models and testing the predictive power of the models. Granted, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was formed to uncover the human influence on climate change (then called global warming). However, by failing to emphasize its limited scope in its grand announcements, the IPCC misleads the public. It has become more of a public policy advocate, than a scientific entity. For Shiller’s discussion see link under Seeking a Common Ground.
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War on Science? In Below the Bottom Line, last week’s TWTW linked to a paper by Lewandowsky, Mann, et al. entitled “The Subterranean War on Science.” The opening paragraph starts with “Science denial kills.” It combines whooping cough, tobacco deaths, climate deaths, mass migrations, etc. with those who dare challenge the climate establishment. In short, anyone who demands rigorous science and points out the deficiencies in the science in forums outside of peer reviewed literature is labeled as engaged in a war on science.
As witnessed by the editorial policy of Science Magazine, the peer review process on global warming/climate change has been dominated by the climate establishment at the expense reputable scientists who are making substantial advances in understanding the natural causes of climate change. As explained above, natural causes are beyond the scope of the IPCC charge.
As Judith Curry points out, the real war on science is from the climate clique, who are playing power politics with their positions. The skeptics are gaining because nature does not agree with the climate clique’s flawed interpretation of a natural science. As Curry states the policy relevant science needs to be transparent and accountable, audited by a wide range of people. See links under Seeking a Common Ground, which also contain the link to the paper by Lewandowsky, Mann, et al. For an amusing comment about prior work by Lewandowsky from non-establishment Steve McIntyre, see link under Communicating Better to the Public – Make things up.
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Willie Soon: The Boston Globe published an article on astrophysicist Willie Soon, who was one of the authors of the recent report by the Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC) and a critique of the IPCC’s Summary for Policymakers. The title, “Researcher helps sow climate-change doubt”, speaks to the quality of the piece. Czech physicist Luboš Motl, who lived in Cambridge, just outside of Boston, identified the article as propaganda, which seems to fit well. Would the Boston Globe published a similar article on Lewandowsky and Mann? See links under Communicating Better to the Public – Go Personal.
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The Legacy: Journalists who follow such things report that President Obama may focus on stopping climate change as his legacy for the second term as President. Since the Washington climate establishment does not recognize the natural causes of climate change, the stopping climate change part of the legacy will probably be short-lived. The issues are how much damage will instituting this legacy do to the economy, economic freedom, and to the credibility of government agencies and scientific institutions. See links under Expanding the Orthodoxy.
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Promoting the Legacy: According to reports, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz insisted the technology for carbon capture and storage (CCS) is ready. This technology is critical for the construction of new coal-fired power plants, which cannot be constructed under new EPA regulations without it.
The statements by Moniz are contradicted by a report from the Congressional Research Service which states that the technology may be available by 2020, if all goes well. DOE is funding 18 research projects exploring CCS. Further, reports state that injection of CO2 may have caused small earthquakes. How this plays out in deploying CCS technology remains to be seen.
Moniz may become just one more academician who sacrifices credibility to advance the administration’s policy.
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Conservatives Promoting the Legacy: Donn Dears has a critique of an op-ed by two conservatives (former Secretary of State George Shultz and Federal Express founder Fred Smith) who promote greater government control of energy production and use. The argument of energy security is a false one. As long as we live in a global economy, no source of production is immune from changes in global price. The issue is, can the resources be delivered when needed? The great expansion in oil and natural gas production did not need government subsidies, in fact, it happened in spite of Washington. Why should any particular energy using industry benefit from government subsidies at the expense of others? See links under Oil and Natural Gas – the Future or the Past?
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The Boom: The Geological Society of America held a meeting during which several people questioned the sustainability of surging oil and gas production by using smart drilling, which includes hydraulic fracturing. A number of comments are highly suspect using terms such as “sweet spots”, which applies more to conventional drilling rather than smart drilling of dense shale. Well-life of the new techniques is an established issue. Thus, more fracking may be needed. But to claim it is a short-term boom is too much. The success rates in shale are spectacular, compared with conventional wells. See links under Oil and Natural Gas – the Future or the Past? For a direct comparison of the benefits of drilling against not drilling see Article # 5.
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EPA Listening? At the EPA headquarters on Nov 7, EPA held one of its listening events on the need for rules to regulate carbon dioxide emissions at existing coal-fired power plants and other major emitters of CO2. The EPA web site, hand-outs, etc.; frequently used the term Carbon Pollution in discussing the event. No doubt, EPA will use these events to claim that the public demands regulation of existing plants.
Though he recognized that nothing he could say would change matters, Ken Haapala (KAH) represented SEPP. He greeted those assembled as carbon-based life-forms and asked is life a pollutant? He asserted that human breathing increases carbon dioxide concentration of the air used by 100 times and asked does your breathing endanger human health? By this time, many in the audience were sitting up, listening; not necessarily with pleasure.
KAH reviewed the 3 major lines of evidence the EPA used for its endangerment finding: 1) a human fingerprint (hot spot), which does not exist; 2) recent unprecedented and dangerous warming, which stopped 16 years ago and was not unprecedented; 3) climate models are reliable, all of which failed to predict warming would stop and greatly overestimate warming. EPA is basing its policy on failing science and climate models that are wrong.
Then, he reviewed the Federal funding since 1993 and asked what has $165 Billion bought us? Some very good instruments to measure climate change, particularly from satellites. But, these are largely ignored. Much has been spent on failing science, failing climate models, and extreme exaggerations of the human influence on climate.
Why this failure? Because government-funded climate science tries to blame humanity for naturally occurring climate change. Based on its failing science, EPA is issuing economically destructive regulations on power plants
It is past time for the EPA to study the principles of empirical science and of model testing. Its credibility is at stake. In addition, the EPA should study the tremendous benefits to humanity and the environment from enhanced atmospheric carbon dioxide.
The comments were submitted to the EPA panel including references to the following documents, with links: Climate Change Reconsidered II, Physical Science; NIPCC’s Summary for Policymakers, Physical Science; and The Positive Externalities of Carbon Dioxide.
Upon conclusion of the comments, a view of the audience revealed many nervous smiles. It is great to see smiling faces at EPA headquarters on a dreary fall morning.
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Additions and Corrections: Australian Des Moore correctly questioned a poorly constructed statement on the social costs of carbon (SCC) in last week’s TWTW. Adding the SCC onto appliances, no doubt to be expanded greatly, has the negative effect of a tax without the revenue. Whether or not it will be expanded into a tax in the form of a monetary penalty remains to be seen. As always, TWTW deeply appreciates additions and corrections.
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Number of the Week: 7. The first paragraph of Section 1. Policy in last Friday’s executive order contained 7 false or severely misleading statements. “The impacts of climate change — including an increase in prolonged periods of 1) excessively high temperatures, 2) more heavy downpours, an 3) increase in wildfires, 4) more severe droughts, 5) permafrost thawing, 6) ocean acidification, and 7) sea-level rise — are already affecting communities, natural resources, ecosystems, economies, and public health across the Nation.” [Numbers added]
On this, Mr. Obama plans to build his legacy. See http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/11/01/executive-order-preparing-united-states-impacts-climate-change
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ARTICLES:
For the numbered articles below please see this week’s TWTW at: www.sepp.org. The articles are at the end of the pdf.
1. SCOTUS Revisits EPA Regulation of CO2
By S. Fred Singer, American Thinker, Nov 5, 2013
http://www.americanthinker.com/2013/11/scotus_revisits_epa_regulation_of_co2.html
2. Al Gore Still Stranded,
By Charles Battig, American Thinker, Nov 2, 2013
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2013/11/al_gore_still_stranded.html
3. We Need an Independent Panel to Re-assess Climate Science & Policy
By Michael Kelly, Letter, Times, Via GWPF, Nov 7, 2013
http://www.thegwpf.org/michael-kelly-re-assess-climate-science/
4. Does Environmentalism Cause Amnesia?
Climate-change alarmists warn us about coming food shortages. They said the same in 1968.
By Brent Stephens, WSJ, Nov 4, 2013
[SEPP Comment: Amusing citation.]
5. Fracking, Poverty and the New Liberal Gentry
The energy bonanza has bypassed New York, where socialites and celebrities have come out in force to stop it.
By Fred Siegel, Op-Ed, WSJ, Nov 7, 2013
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NEWS YOU CAN USE:
Commentary: Is the Sun Rising?
Cosmic Rays and Climate – to be or not to be?
By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Nov 6, 2013
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/11/06/cosmic-rays-and-climate-to-be-or-not-to-be/
[SEPP Comment: A contrast in views.]
Challenging the Orthodoxy
Current Wisdom: Observations Now Inconsistent with Climate Model Predictions for 25 (going on 35) Years
By Paul Knappenberger and Patrick Michaels, CATO, Nov 5, 2013
Climate Change, Patterns of Evidence
By David Whitehouse, GWPF, Nov 8, 2013
http://www.thegwpf.org/climate-change-patterns-evidence/
[SEPP Comment: The orthodoxy is running out of claims – and excuses.]
Miller et al.’s “Unprecedented Recent Summer Warmth in Arctic Canada”: Bad assumptions, poor logic, and contrary to other evidence of Arctic temperatures.
By Don Easterbrook, WUWT, Nov 2, 2013
The journalist and the IPCC
By Anthony Sadar, Washington Examiner, Nov 3, 2013
http://washingtonexaminer.com/the-journalist-and-the-ipcc/article/2538385?custom_click=rss#null
Defending the Orthodoxy
Is It Too Late to Prepare for Climate Change
By Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, Nov 5, 2013
Die Welt: Scientists Not Really Sure Where Heat Has Gone…Rahmstorf Peeved By Skeptics’ Success
By P Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Nov 7, 2013
Rahmstorf adds that this has been “a success scored by the skeptics who are trying to seed doubt over global warming using arguments that aren’t really serious.”
[SEPP Comment: According to Rahmstorf: since I disagree with the conclusions based on observations of nature, the arguments cannot be serious.]
Is global heating hiding out in the oceans
By Staff Writers, New York NY (SPX), Nov 05, 2013
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Is_global_heating_hiding_out_in_the_oceans_999.html
Stop Subsidizing Climate Change
By Kevin Watkins, Project Syndicate, Nov 6, 2013
http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/kevin-watkins-on-the-world-s-worst-subsidies
[SEPP Comment: Not imposing a tax based on the artificial calculation of an illusionary political concept, the social cost of carbon dioxide, is not a subsidy,]
Greenhouse Gas Concentrations in Atmosphere Reach New Record
By Staff Writers, Press Release, WMO, Nov 6, 2013
http://www.wmo.int/pages/mediacentre/press_releases/pr_980_en.html
The World Meteorological Organization’s annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin shows that between 1990 and 2012 there was a 32% increase in radiative forcing – the warming effect on our climate – because of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other heat-trapping long-lived gases such as methane and nitrous oxide.
[SEPP Comment: Yet no surface warming for 16 years. Could there be something wrong with the WMO’s theory?]
Max Planck Institute Study Leaves Forcing Citizens To Sacrifice For The Future As The Only Option Left
By P Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Nov 5, 2013
Questioning the Orthodoxy
One religion is enough
The global warming activists are as misguided as they are alarmist
By John Howard, Spectator, Nov 5, 2013 [H/t Des Moore]
http://www.spectator.co.uk/australia/australia-features/9071781/one-religion-is-enough/
Chemistry’s climate of skepticism
By Judith Curry, Climate Etc. Nov 4, 2013 [H/t Anne and Lars Debeil]
http://judithcurry.com/2013/11/04/chemistrys-climate-of-skepticism/
Public Relations (Spin Doctors) Deliberately Deceived Public About Global Warming and Climate Change
By Tim Ball, WUWT, Nov 6, 2013
Speaking volumes
By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, Nov 7, 2013
http://bishophill.squarespace.com/blog/2013/11/7/speaking-volumes.html
Readers may recall the exchanges in the House of Commons yesterday, when an alleged failure of sceptics to come to speak to the Science and Technology Committee was said by Mark Walport to “speak volumes”. (It seems fairly clear that in fact I was the only sceptic invited, but that’s by the by).
Correlation Does Not Equal Causation and Causes Do Not Equal Effects
By Lee Gerhard, SPPI, Nov 5, 2013
Government science cannot be trusted to be unbiased and objective once it becomes part of the political process.
[SEPP Comment: Contrary to the paper, there have been replications to the 1896 experiment by Arrhenius, which also produced a strong logarithmic decrease on the influence of increasing CO2 on the greenhouse effect.]
German Media Openly Question Alarmist Science… FOCUS Magazine: “Scientists Fear New Little Ice Age”
By P Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Nov 4, 2013
Global warming ‘pause’ may last for 20 more years and Arctic sea ice has already started to recover
Study says warmer temperatures are largely due to natural 300-year cycles
Actual increase in last 17 years lower than almost every prediction
Scientists likened continuing pause to a Mexican wave in a stadium
By David Rose, Mail Online, UK, Nov 2, 2013 [H/t GWPF]
Global Warming Alarmists Are Overrun By The Facts
Editorial, IBD, Nov 5, 2013 [H/t Timothy Wise]
http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/110513-678061-no-global-warming-for-20-years.htm
IPCC Is This Century’s ‘Chicken Little’
By Andrew Burrell, The Australian, Via GWPF, Nov 4, 2013
http://www.thegwpf.org/ipcc-centurys-chicken-little/
The Church Of Climate Scientology: How Climate Science Became A Religion
By Alex Epstein, Forbes, Nov 7, 2013 [H/t NCTCS]
Social Benefits of Carbon
Plant Productivity: Growth Response to C02 When Coupled with Ozone
By Staff Writers, SPPI & CO2 Science, Nov 6, 2013
Full Report: http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/images/stories/papers/originals/plant_productivity.pdf
The harsh mistress
President Obama tries to tempt the sun to show a little love
Editorial, Washington Times, Nov 5, 2013
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/nov/5/editorial-the-harsh-mistress/
[SEPP Comment: Error in the editorial: the proposal for FY 2014 is $21.4 Billion, following the $22.2 Billion spent in 2013.]
Problems in the Orthodoxy
UN Admits Practically No Chance Of Meeting CO2 Emissions Target – Ignores 15-Year Temperature Stagnation –
By P. Gosslin, No Tricks Zone, Nov 6, 2013
Hopes for strong 2015 climate deal fade, as risks grow
By Alister Doyle and Nina Chestney, Planet Ark, Nov 7, 2013 [H/t GWPF]
http://planetark.org/wen/70295
Britain starts paying cash to help industry with EU CO2 costs
By Staff Writers, Planet Ark, Nov 8, 2013 [H/t GWPF]
http://planetark.org/wen/70303
Good news: Australians not partying in Poland, chopping committees at home instead, axing the tax.
By Jo Nova, Her Blog, Nov 9, 2013
IPCC Summary: The Real Story
Media outlets remain oblivious to the IPCC’s tainted-by-activism personnel.
By Donna Laframboise, NFC, Nov 4, 2013
http://nofrakkingconsensus.com/2013/11/04/ipcc-summary-the-real-story/
[SEPP Comment: Infected with greens.]
UN climate talks amid new warnings of dire warming
By Staff Writers, Paris (AFP), Nov 08, 2013
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/UN_climate_talks_amid_new_warnings_of_dire_warming_999.html
Seeking a Common Ground
Is Economics a Science?
By Robert Shiller, 2013 Nobel Laureate, Project Syndicate, Nov 6, 2013
http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/robert-j–shilleron-whether-he-is-a-scientist
[SEPP Comment: In a few years, we may be seeing similar articles on climate science.]
A subterranean war on science?
By Judith Curry, Climate Etc. Nov 6, 2013
http://judithcurry.com/2013/11/06/a-subterranean-war-on-science/
The Supraterranean War On Sanity: Scientists Versus Civilians
By William Briggs, His Blog, Nov 3, 2013
http://wmbriggs.com/blog/?p=9800
[SEPP Comment: See link immediately above.]
Mutually Assured Delusion (MAD
By Judith Curry, Climate Etc. Nov 5, 2013
Mutually Assured Delusion (MAD)
[SEPP Comment: Exploring group think.]
Practice-relevant climate adaptation science
By Judith Curry, Climate Etc. Nov 8, 2013
http://judithcurry.com/2013/11/08/practice-relevant-climate-adaptation-science/#more-13675
The path forward: adaptation, not alarmism
By Anthon Watts, WUWT, Nov 8, 2013
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/11/08/the-path-forward-adaptation-not-alarmism/
California Biologist’s New Book Shakes Climate Science Cartel
By Wayne Lusvardi, Master Resource, Nov 5, 2013
http://www.masterresource.org/2013/11/steele-book-climate-skepticism/#more-28308
“Despite media horror stories, many species have benefitted from recent climate change. Those species that are struggling have invariably been affected by issues other than climate change and require very different remedies. Controlling our carbon footprints will never address the most pressing issues of habitat loss and watershed degradation.”
Lowering Standards
National Geographic’s Needless Scaremongering
By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Nov 5, 2013
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/11/05/national-geographics-needless-scaremongering/
Natural Disasters, Armed Conflict, and Public Health
By Jennifer Leaning, and Debarati Guha-Sapir,,New England Journal of Medicine, Nov 13, 2013
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra1109877?query=TOC
Natural disasters, particularly floods and storms, will become more frequent and severe because of climate change.
[SEPP Comment: The climate litany of potential disasters is not suitable for protecting public health.]
Expanding the Orthodoxy
Obama’s Executive Order on Climate
By Alan Caruba, Warning Signs, Nov 6, 2013
http://factsnotfantasy.blogspot.com/2013/11/obamas-executive-order-on-climate.html
Obama grasps for climate legacy as second-term agenda crumbles
By Ben Geman, The Hill, Nov 8, 2013
UN Agenda 21 Will Rule The US Waves
By Dennis Ambler, SPPI, Apr 14, 2011
http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/originals/un_agenda_21_will_rule_us_waves.html
[SEPP Comment: Regardless of current changes, the objective of UN control remains the same.]
Pentagon pushes 680 green projects, despite money woes
By Cheryl K. Chumley, Washington Times, Nov 6, 2013
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/nov/6/defense-pushes-680-green-projects-despite-money-wo/
200 million people at risk from toxic pollution: environmentalists
By Staff Writers, Geneva (AFP), Nov 04, 2013
Hundreds of millions of people worldwide risk exposure to toxic pollution, environmental groups warned Monday, publishing a list of the world’s worst areas, including an African processing site for European electronics.
Utech named Obama’s top climate adviser
By Laura Barron-Lopez, The Hill, Nov 8, 2013
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/189720-utech-to-be-obamas-top-climate-adviser
Questioning European Green
The competitive impact of emissions reductions
By Martin Livermore, Scientific Alliance, Nov 8, 2013
[SEPP Comment: Is the Committee on Climate Change so isolated from what is happening in other countries, that it cannot realistically discuss the absurdity of UK’s carbon budgets?]
Waning Acceptance ….Survey Shows Germans No Longer Willing To Pay Higher Prices For Green Electricity
By P Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Nov 6, 2013
Cashing in on our misery: Britons forked out £1m to energy firms during megastorm
ENERGY firms netted a £1million windfall from the taxpayer as last week’s killer storm ripped across the country.
By Mathew Davis, Express, Nov 3, 2013
Is Shale the Answer to Europe’s Energy Problem?
By Walter Russell Meade. Via Meadia, Nov 2, 2013
http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/wrm/2013/11/02/is-shale-the-answer-to-europes-energy-problem/
In Britain, era of ‘green Conservative’ withers
By Anthony Faiola, Washington Post, Nov 1, 2013 [H/t GWPF]
Merkel Facing Power Dilemma as Coal Plants Open: Energy Markets
By Julia Mengewein, Bloomberg, Nov 4, 2013 [H/t GWPF]
Questioning Green Elsewhere
Razor taken to CSIRO
By Noel Towell, Mark Kenny, Bridie Smith, Sydney Morning Herald, Nov 8, 2013 [H/t GWPF]
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/razor-taken-to-csiro-20131107-2x4fu.html
The Externality Debate: Remember Subjectivity in Economic Science
By David Howden, Master Resource, Nov 8, 2013
http://www.masterresource.org/2013/11/externality-debate-economics/
Wood-burning power plants: Misguided climate change solution?
By Steve Gorham, Washington Times, Nov 8, 2013
Funding Issues
China asks rich nations to commit to $100bn climate fund
By Staff Writers, Brics Post, Nov 5, 2013 [H/t GWPF]
http://thebricspost.com/china-asks-rich-nations-to-commit-to-100bn-climate-fund/#.UnkqZ_mbOaq
Communicating Better to the Public – Exaggerate, or be Vague?
Churchill polar bear attack shamelessly used to advance global warming agenda
By Susan Crockford, Polar Bear Science, Nov 4, 2013
Green Tape Prevents Volunteers Rural Firefighters from Reducing Bushfire Risk
Press Release, Volunteer Firefighters Association, NCTCS, Nov 5, 2013
http://theclimatescepticsparty.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/green-tape-prevents-volunteers-rural.html
[SEPP Comment: Preventing the removal of fuel load increases risks.]
McAneney on Australian Bushfires
By Roger Pielke Jr, His Blog, Nov 5, 2013
http://rogerpielkejr.blogspot.com/2013/11/mcaneney-on-australian-bushfires.html
[SEPP Comment: See link immediately below.]
Climate change and bushfires – you’re missing the point!
By John McAneney, The Conversation, Oct 31, 2013
http://theconversation.com/climate-change-and-bushfires-youre-missing-the-point-19649
The report of 2013 United States wildfires is “greatly exaggerated”
Wildfires in 2013 are down 20% from 2012, and less than half the number and acreage burned than in 2006!
By James Rust, CFact, Nov 5, 2013
Wendy Bacon’s Warmist Wonderland
The UTS academic’s 222-page study of Australian newspapers’ treatment of climate change is far worse than silly. It is more than a bit sinister
By Tony Thomas, Quadrant, Nov 7, 2013
http://quadrant.org.au/opinion/doomed-planet/2013/11/wendy-bacons-warmist-wonderland/
Communicating Better to the Public – Make things up.
More False Claims from Lewandowsky
By Steve McIntyre, Climate Audit, Nov 7, 2013
http://climateaudit.org/2013/11/07/more-false-claims-from-lewandowsky/#more-18571
That Lewandowsky should make untrue statements will hardly occasion surprise among CA readers. However, drawing conclusions from a subpopulation of zero does take small population statistics to a new and shall-we-say unprecedented level.
Warming report sees violent, sicker, poorer future
By Seith Borenstein, AP, Nov 2, 2013 [H/t Clyde Spencer]
Pennsylvania State University climate scientist Michael Mann, who wasn’t part of the international study team, told the AP that the report’s summary confirms what researchers have known for a long time: “Climate change threatens our health, land, food and water security.”
Challenging “save the polar bear” propaganda
By Susan Crockford, Polar Bear Science, Nov 5, 2013
http://polarbearscience.com/2013/11/05/challenging-save-the-polar-bear-propaganda/#more-3516
Politicized Congressional Temperature Trends
By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Nov 8, 2013
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/11/06/politicized-congressional-temperature-trends/
Communicating Better to the Public – Go Personal.
Researcher helps sow climate-change doubt
Industry-funded Cambridge astrophysicist adds to partisan divide
By Christopher Rowland, Boston Globe, Nov 5, 2013
[SEPP Comment: See two links immediately below.]
Boston Globe: hit piece on Willie Soon
By Luboš Motl, Reference Frame, Nov 5, 2013
http://motls.blogspot.com/2013/11/boston-globe-hit-piece-on-willie-soon.html#more
The Boston Globe’s Failed Assassination Of Willie Soon
By William Briggs, His Blog, Nov 6, 2013
http://wmbriggs.com/blog/?p=9828
Models v. Observations
RSS Reaches Santer’s 17 Years
By Just the Facts, WUWT, Nov 4, 2013
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/11/04/rss-reaches-santers-17-years/
Measurement Issues
Rosenthal et al 2013
By Steve MicIntyre, Climate Audit, Nov 2, 2013
http://climateaudit.org/2013/11/02/rosenthal-et-al-2013/
While the calculations in this table seem peculiar – ranging from apparent arithmetic errors to questionable extrapolation from temperature change to ocean heat content, one should not presume that a corrected version of this table necessarily makes sense: the entire enterprise of attempting to compare changes in ocean heat content based on proxy data on Intermediate Water seems both ill-conceived and forced.
[SEPP Comment: Further issues with the study, published in Science, claiming to measure historic temperatures of the western Pacific.]
Ocean heat content around Indonesia shows Medieval Warm Period and 2C warmth in Holocene
By Jo Nova, Her Blog, Nov 4, 2013
[SEPP Comment: See link immediately above.]
NOAA Data Tampering Reaches A Tipping Point
By Steven Goddard, Real Science, Nov 3, 2013 [ICECAP]
http://stevengoddard.wordpress.com/2013/11/03/noaa-data-tampering-reaches-a-tipping-point/
[SEPP Comment: More manipulation of historic data.]
Study: ‘Climate change scientists must turn their attention to clean skies’
By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Nov 6, 2013
Australia is either Green genius or Kyoto-criminal depending on fires and forests: Tom Quirk
By Jo Nova, Her Blog, Nov 5, 2013
[SEPP Comment: Problems in accounting for CO2 emissions from natural sources.]
Changing Weather
One of most intense typhoons ever recorded hits Philippines
By Staff Writers, Manila (AFP),Nov 08, 2013
But Masters said it was premature to blame climate change for Haiyan.
“The historical record of typhoons and hurricanes is too short and of too low quality to say if climate change may have played a role,” he said.
[SEPP Comment: Reports after the storm state that it killed many, but it was not as intense as earlier headlines stated.]
Storminess and the Inefficient Atmospheric Heat Engine
By Roy Spencer, His Blog, Nov 6, 2013
http://www.drroyspencer.com/2013/11/storminess-and-the-inefficient-atmospheric-heat-engine/
Changing Climate
‘Let’s face it. The climate has never been more boring.’
By Robert G. Brown, WUWT, Nov 4, 2013
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/11/04/lets-face-it-the-climate-has-never-been-more-boring/
Changing Seas
Scientists Find That Sea Level Rise Is Much Slower Than Expected…No Human Fingerprint
By P Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Nov 5, 2013
Developers Dismiss Sea Level Rise Claims – Plan To Build 30 New Luxury Hotels In The Maldives – Nasheed’s Cash Machine
By P Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Nov 3, 2013
Changing Cryosphere – Land / Sea Ice
Global Sea Ice Area Seventh Highest On Record For The Date – Closing In On The All Time Record
By Steven Goddard, Real Science, Nov 6, 2013 [H/t GWPF]
Renowned Warmist Scientist Peter Lemke: Antarctic Sea Ice “More Extensive, Thicker, And More Densely Packed” Than In 1992!
By P Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Nov 8, 2013
Agriculture Issues & Fear of Famine
Boudreaux says no
By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, Nov 4, 2013
http://bishophill.squarespace.com/blog/2013/11/4/boudreaux-says-no.html
[SEPP Comment: Challenging the claim that global warming, now called climate change, will produce famine. A rapid cooling will, but governments would not know how to react to it.]
Review of Recent Scientific Articles by NIPCC
For a full list of articles see www.NIPCCreport.org
Sinking Islands: Fact or Fiction?
Reference: Biribo, N. and Woodroffe, C.D. 2013. Historical area and shoreline change of reef islands around Tarawa Atoll, Kiribati. Sustainability Science 8: 345-362.
http://nipccreport.org/articles/2013/nov/5nov2013a1.html
Neotropical Wet Forest Diversity: More Responsive to Temperature or CO2?
Reference: Royer, D.L. and Chernoff, B. 2013. Diversity in neotropical wet forests during the Cenozoic is linked more to atmospheric CO2 than temperature. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 280: 10.1098/rspb.2013.1024.
http://nipccreport.org/articles/2013/nov/5nov2013a2.html
Hot Times on the Kamchatka Peninsula
Reference: Nazarova, L., de Hoog, V., Hoff, U., Dirksen, O. and Diekmann, B. 2013. Late Holocene climate and environmental changes in Kamchatka inferred from the subfossil chironomid record. Quaternary Science Reviews 67: 81-92.
http://nipccreport.org/articles/2013/nov/5nov2013a3.html
Larval Development of Barnacles in a Future CO2-Enriched Ocean
Reference: Pansch, C., Schlegel, P. and Havenhand, J. 2013. Larval development of the barnacle Amphibalanus improvisus responds variably but robustly to near-future ocean acidification. ICES Journal of Marine Science 70: 805-811.
http://nipccreport.org/articles/2013/nov/6nov2013a2.html
[SEPP Comment: Comparing effects of different pH levels (7.6, 7.8, & 8.1) on non-calcifying larval stages of certain barnacles.]
Litigation Issues
States file brief against EPA rules
By Julian Hattem, The Hill, Nov 7, 2013
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/court-battles/189650-states-file-brief-against-epa-rules
[SEPP Comment: This is different than the litigation against the EPA for regulating CO2 emissions from power plants.]
The EPA Gets High on Greenhouse Gases
By Richard Epstein, Defining Ideas, Oct 21, 2013 [H/t Timothy Wise]
http://www.hoover.org/publications/defining-ideas/article/159836
Subsidies and Mandates Forever
Congress May Let Tax Credit for Wind Industry Expire
Free market groups applaud decision, wind lobby says it will slow down industry
By CJ Ciaramella, Washington Free Beacon, Nov 4, 2013
http://freebeacon.com/congress-may-let-tax-credit-for-wind-industry-expire/
Let the Wind PTC Die Down Immediately
By Nicolas Loris, Heritage, Oct 8, 2013
http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/10/wind-production-tax-credit-ptc-extension
Stagnating U.S. Wind (government addiction creates bubble symptoms)
By Lisa Linowes, Master Resource, Nov 4, 2013
http://www.masterresource.org/2013/11/stagnating-us-windpower/
EPA and other Regulators on the March
Submission to EPA hearing on ‘carbon pollution’ standards
By Terry Oldberg, WUWT, Nov 7, 2013
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/11/07/submission-to-epa-hearing-on-carbon-pollution-standards/
Another Big Green power player moves up in Obama’s Washington
By Ron Arnold, Washington Examiner, Oct 31, 2013 [H/t Timothy Wise]
Vitter presses EPA on ‘black box’ carbon cost estimate
By Ben Geman, The Hill, Nov 6, 2013
Greens cheer EPA wetlands proposal
By Julian Hattem, The Hill, Nov 6, 2013
[SEPP Comment: Expansion of regulatory control of privately owned properties.]
EU will ban vacuum cleaners…above 1,600 W since [starting] Sept 2014
By Luboš Motl, Reference Frame, Nov 4, 2013
http://motls.blogspot.com/2013/11/eu-will-ban-vacuum-cleaners.html#more
[SEPP Comment: Although power is not always directly related to effectiveness, it often is the case. Now consumers may be required to take twice the time to clean, but they will use less energy per minute. Bureaucratic thinking at its best.]
Mining Policy Designed to Benefit Our Own-Mighty Rare
By Marita Noon, Energy Tribune, Nov 5, 2013
[SEPP Comment: Rare earths are needed for many industrial applications, including magnets for wind turbines. Will the greens who promote wind power promote the mining of rare earths?
Energy Issues – Non-US
Enemies of the people
By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, Nov 4, 2013
http://bishophill.squarespace.com/blog/2013/11/4/enemies-of-the-people.html
[SEPP Comment: Opposing development of coal bed methane, which has been going on for years.]
Responses to Bazilian and Pielke on Global Energy Access
By Roger Pielke Jr, His Blog, Nov 7, 2013
http://rogerpielkejr.blogspot.com/2013/11/responses-to-bazilian-and-pielke-on.html
Energy Issues — US
White House revisits ‘social cost of carbon’
By Ben Geman, The Hill, Nov 4, 2013
Politically correct coal rally missed the target
By Tom Harris, Tauton Gazette, Nov 2, 2013
5 Charts That Explain the Great Energy Shift
The rise of fracking and the decline of coal
By Todd Woody, The Atlantic, Nov 4, 2013
[SEPP Comment: The article fails to discuss that competitive coal-fired power plants would have a dampening effect on natural gas prices.]
Washington’s Control of Energy
Scientists Blast Obama’s Global Warming Myth: You’re Basing Politics on Faulty Computer Models Rather than Science
By Suzanne Hamner, The Daily Sheeple, Nov 4, 2013 [H/t ICECAP]
Another Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
By Donn Dears, Power for USA, Nov 8, 2013
http://dddusmma.wordpress.com/2013/11/08/another-wolf-in-sheeps-clothing/
Let Markets Decide Natural Gas’ Role in Transportation
By: Gordon Tomb, Energy Tribune, Nov 6, 2013
The Crumbling Environmentalist Case Against the Keystone Pipeline
Data undermine concerns about carbon emissions, pipeline safety
By Lachlan Markay, Washington Free beacon, Nov 6, 2013 [H/t Timothy Wise]
http://freebeacon.com/the-crumbling-environmentalist-case-against-the-keystone-pipeline/
Keystone XL Pipeline: What Are the Core Issues?
By Marlo Lewis, Global Warming.org, Nov8, 2013
http://www.globalwarming.org/2013/11/08/keystone-xl-pipeline-what-are-the-core-issues/
Will Obama/Kerry Kick Keystone XL Oil Can Down The Road Past 2014 Elections?
By Larry Bell, Forbes, Nov 5, 2013
[SEPP Comment: Or beyond?]
Oil and Natural Gas – the Future or the Past?
Audacious wildcatters trigger fracking revolution
By Michael Barone, Washingotn Examiner, Nov 1, 2013
New Attack on Fracking
By Donn Dears, Power for USA, Nov 5, 2013
http://dddusmma.wordpress.com/2013/11/05/new-attack-on-fracking/
Could fracking boom peter out sooner than DOE expects?
The future of the U.S. fossil fuel industry rests largely on fracking, which has brought a surge in oil and gas production. Energy experts disagree, though, on how long this boom will last.
By Wendy Koch, USA Today, Nov 3, 2013
[SEPP Comment: Members of the Post Carbon Institute say so, therefore it must be true!]
What do we know about fracking
By Staff Writers, Boulder CO (SPX), Oct 29, 2013
http://www.oilgasdaily.com/reports/What_do_we_know_about_fracking_999.html
Return of King Coal?
IEA recognizes reality: Coal is the path out of poverty in Southeast Asia.
By Frank Clemente, Energy Facts Weekly, Nov 7, 2013
http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=29bc7d5d85828d574f86c157a&id=caeeafab99&e=
Oil Spills, Gas Leaks & Consequences
Trio of Texas universities win bid to launch offshore safety center
By Jennifer A. Dlouhy, Fuel Fix, Nov 7, 2013
Nuclear Energy and Fears
Nuclear essential for climate stability
By Staff Writers, WNN, Nov 4, 2013
http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/EE-Nuclear-essential-for-climate-stability-0411137.html
Greens dispute climate scientists on nuclear power
By Ben Geman, The Hill, Nov 5, 2013
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/189258-greens-dispute-climate-scientists-on-nuclear-power
IAEA Issues Expanded Report on Climate Change and Nuclear Power
Report Examines Broader Issues Relevant to Climate Change – Nuclear Energy Nexus
By Staff Writers, Press Release, Nov 7, 2013
http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/2013/climatechnagenp.html
Link to the Report: Climate Chang and Nuclear Power, 2013
By Staff Writers, IAEA, 2013
http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/Pub_Climate-Change-NP-2013_web.pdf
[SEPP Comment: May be the very wrong approach for nuclear energy.]
Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Solar and Wind
California Valley Solar Ranch: What for $1.24 Taxpayer Billion?
By Jerry Graf, Master Resource, Nov 7, 2013
http://www.masterresource.org/2013/11/california-valley-solar-ranch-boondoggle/#more-28346
NOAA shows that wind farms affect weather radar, and that affects their primary mission of forecasting and safety
By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Nov 7, 2013
Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Vehicles
Electric Car Is No. 1 Seller In Norway 2 Months In Row!! (Thanks To Subsidies Totaling Over $90,000 Per Car)
By P Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Nov 7, 2013
[SEPP Comment: Automobile imports into Norway are subject to massive import taxes from which electric vehicles are exempt.]
Electric Car Rentals Stalled in U.S. by Range Anxiety
By Ehren Goossens, Bloomberg, Oct 14, 2013 [H/t NCPA]
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-13/electric-car-rentals-stalled-in-u-s-by-range-anxiety.html
Carbon Schemes
Moniz: ‘Technology is ready’ for carbon capture
By Laura Barron-Lopez, The Hill, Nov 7, 2013
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/189654-moniz-techonology-is-ready-for-carbon-capture-at-plants
Carbon Capture: A Technology Assessment
By Peter Folger, CRS, Oct 21, 2013 [H/t Timothy Wise]
http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/217491.pdf
Will Technology Save the Coal Industry — Again?
By Amy Harder, National Journal, Oct 29, 2013 [H/t Toshio Fujita]
The coal industry was able to adopt the scrubber technology in the 1990s because the government worked with it, unlike today, [Senator] Manchin lamented.
Greenhouse Gas Standards for New Facilities Present Significant Technology Challenges
By Catrina Rorke, Sam Batkins, American Action Forum, Oct 18, 2013 [H/t NCPA]
DOE to Fund 18 Research Projects to Drive Down Costs of Carbon Capture
By Sonal Patel, Power News, Nov 7, 2013
Gas injection probably triggered small earthquakes near Snyder, Texas
By Staff Writers, Austin TX (SPX), Nov 06, 2013
California Dreaming
Imperial South Solar PV Plant Begins Commercial Operations
By Thomas Overton, Power News, Nov 5, 2013
Health, Energy, and Climate
New study shows Malaria has little to do with temperature or climate, but more with household size
By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Nov 7, 2013
Environmental Industry
First GMO rice to be launched in Philippines in 2016: researchers
By Staff Writers, Manila (AFP), Nov 05, 2013
[SEPP Comment: How many have preventable deaths and crippling illnesses has the environmental industry caused by creating delays based on its false claims?]
Joel Kotkin Vs. California’s Green Gentry
By Walter Russell Mead, Via Meadia, Nov 6, 2013
http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/wrm/2013/11/06/joel-kotkin-versus-californias-green-gentry/
Reducing Livability: How Sustainability Planning Threatens the American Dream
By Randal O’Toole, CATO, Oct 28, 2013
Other Scientific News
Multiple Missions Will Get China Moving On Mars
By Morris Jones for SpaceDaily.com, Sydney, Australia (SPX) Nov 06, 2013
http://www.marsdaily.com/reports/Multiple_Missions_Will_China_Moving_On_Mars_999.html
Mythbusting India’s Mars Mission
By Morris Jones for SpaceDaily.com, Sydney, Australia (SPX) Nov 06, 2013
http://www.marsdaily.com/reports/Mythbusting_Indias_Mars_Mission_999.html
U of M scientists solve major piece in the origin of biological complexity
By Staff Writers, Minneapolis MN (SPX), Nov 08, 2013
Other News that May Be of Interest
What Happens When Research Yields Unpopular Findings
By William Briggs, His Blog, Nov 5, 2013
http://wmbriggs.com/blog/?p=9825
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BELOW THE BOTTOM LINE:
Global warming led to dwarfism in mammals twice
By Staff Writers, Ann Arbor MI (SPX), Nov 06, 2013
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Global_warming_led_to_dwarfism_in_mammals_twice_999.html
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“Granted, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was formed to uncover the human influence on climate change (then called global warming).”
I’m a great fan of this site but I find this meme (“they changed it from Global Warming to Climate Change!”) rather childish. The IPCC was formed as the IPCC, not the IPGW. In 1988. Leave the revisionism to the other side
it says follow Matt on twitter at the bottom, so presume it’s a Matt McGrath piece:
11 Nov: BBC: Mood of ‘realism’ about future deal at climate talks
Russia has emerged as a potential problem for the process as they have tabled an amendment on decision-making at the COP.
The process works on the basis of consensus but the Russians believe their objections were overruled at the meeting in Doha last year.
“Decision-making in the UNFCCC process has suffered evident setbacks over the past few years,” the Russian delegation wrote in a statement.
It goes on to state that the voting system within the meeting needs to be addressed to rebuild confidence…
“This has been haunting the process even before the Russians brought it up,” said Norine Kennedy, who will be representing US business at the meeting.
“We’ve had a succession of COP cliff hangers and one or two countries always get rolled over in the effort to find consensus and last year that was Russia.
“The consensus question will have to be faced sooner or later and it’s better they do this now than in Paris,” she said…
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24857163
As much as possible.
On the terradaily site, on its article “new warnings of dire warming“, I opined that it was just re-warmings of dire warnings. Ehrlich is passé, peeps.
FEDERAL cabinet has ruled that Australia will not sign up to any new contributions, taxes or charges at this week’s global summit on climate change, in a significant toughening of its stance as it plans to move within days to repeal the carbon tax.
Cabinet ministers have decided to reject any measures of “socialism masquerading as environmentalism” after meeting last week to consider a submission on the position the government would take to the Warsaw conference.
A further document was produced after the meeting that outlines the government’s position.
The Australian has seen part of the document and it declares that, while Australia will remain “a good international citizen” and remains “committed to achieving the 5 per cent reduction” by 2020 of the 2000 levels of emissions, it will not sign up to any new agreement that involves spending money or levying taxes.
This rules out Australia playing any role in a wealth transfer from rich countries to developing nations to pay them to decrease their carbon emissions.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/policy/climate-tax-aid-and-fees-off-table-as-cabinet-toughens-stance/story-e6frg6xf-1226756955449#mm-premium
With regard to The Legacy that Obama wants to be remembered for all I can think of is this.
Something build on sand and of greed doesn’t really sound like anything I would want to be remembered for.
James Bull
‘ournalists who follow such things report that President Obama may focus on stopping climate change as his legacy for the second term as President’
King Canute reincarnated?
Journalists.
For a country that split violently from Great Britain during the reign of “Mad” King George III , the one who taxed sunlight and precipitated an architectural style in response, the EPA does seem to completely miss the irony of their antics. Keep it up EPA and you’ll have your own architectural style too. The all organic EPA Teepee with built in solar lighting with bicycle generator backup.
Nailing his colors to the mast of a sinking ship. That’ll be his legacy.
I see on the BBC web site that the global warming hiatus was caused by changing aerosol can propellants to save the ozone layer back in the 90’s.
I recently found a candidate for quote of the week. I was reading a wiki article on the film 2012 here and came across this quote from David Morrison of NASA. “I think when you lie on the internet and scare children to make a buck, that is ethically wrong.” Now he was talking about the marketing methods used by the film’s producers, but I think it applies equally well to some of his friends at NASA.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The COP19 has already begun, and it’s a showtime!!!
A Polish Minister of Environment Marcin Korolec, conducted an inauguration of the COP19 in the capital of Poland – Warsaw. Today, we also celebrate our Independence Day, and there will be 11 demonstrations in the city.
See the entire reports here:
http://energetyka.wnp.pl/szczyt-klimatyczny-cop19-w-warszawie-rozpoczety,210955_1_0_0.html
http://www.tvn24.pl/wiadomosci-z-kraju,3/polska-swietuje-swoja-niepodleglosc,370560.html
Speaking of “legacy”, the push is on again and UPC keeps coming up.
http://www.arabbankers.org/shared/custompage/custompage.jsp?_event=view&_id=445505_U127360__162862
Saudi power, renewable trade mission heads for America
http://www.arabnews.com/news/475486
Oil prices have been drifting lower because the supply is simply too big for commodity traders to control. We could have sub $2 gas if Dodd-Frank had ever been implemented. Just like -$2 gas during the credit freeze-up in 2008 when banks were forced to stop trading commodities. SpaghettiO has been complaining about the slow writing of the regulations by the commission. The POTUS nowadays has little power to influence commissions, the idea being to keep folks like Nixon from running things. So instead we have folks like Cheney running things with the promise of seven figure corporate board seats after retiring from government. Congress could step in but then, shhhh, we’re stuck with the folks wearing the tricorne hats.
204,000 new jobs in October, despite the Tea Party shutdown, plus 60k positive revisions to previous months. New unemployment claims dropped last week and are heading to levels of what there was prior to the sedition movement knocking a sizeable hole in the economy. 28k Federal civilian employees were drawing unemployment, down 50k. All this is adding to the pointless shutdown 24b tab btw. Fed employees will get back pay, hourly will get overtime pay to catch up and government contractors will probably demand compensation for the snafu.
GDP grew 2.8% 3rd quarter however 0.8 points are inventory buildup in anticipation of 4th quarter growth. If that growth isn’t realized it could cause a nasty pullback. Credit card companies are issuing holiday season high limit cards and major retailers are extending big credit for the first time since 2006. This could have a good effect on jobs. The QE 3 program of buying bank issued bonds as well as treasuries is encouraging this new consumer debt creation, inline with Bernanke’s mandate to reduce unemployment. QE has jump started the dead cat and now that it’s purring it can be removed step by step. Federal policies on trade, manufacturing, energy, monopoly control, etc. would work much better, except we can barely keep the tricorne hat crazy people from crashing civilization. So… we are stuck with bankers trying to keep our cat purring.
The system destabilization like the TEA Party instigated make it an easier target for exploitation than reform.
http://newsjunkiepost.com/2011/03/23/chaos-capitalism-turning-your-pain-into-their-profit/
Let’s hope that Obama doesn’t hear of the quotation ‘Virtue without terror is powerless’ by one M. Robespierre or he will set up a guillotine in front of the White House.
The stand up Climate Change Economist
France got their credit rating downgraded by Standard & Poors for failing to take action on the problem of long term debt. Thing is that they did resolve their fiscal problems. They raised taxes on the wealthy, that’s why they were downgraded by the billionaires that own S&P. Lest the peasants catch on that New Deal policies (gave us 50 years steady growth & small deficits) would work just fine now.
Obama is far, far below the likes of Canute. He staged the tide scene to disabuse the court syncophants of the illusion of human power over nature. That is the very last thing Obama wants.
Edit: He staged the tide scene to disabuse the court syncophants of the
illusionpretense of human power over nature.typo:
syncophantssycophants