[dohboi]

http://thehill.com/policy/energy-enviro ... l-industry

Sanders socks it to the man!

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Saturday called for Republicans to abandon the corrupting influence of the Koch brothers and other wealthy energy magnates.

“This is a party that rejects science and refuses to understand that climate change is real,” he said of GOP during the annual Blue Jamboree in North Charleston, S.C.

“I understand if you stand up to the Koch brothers and the fossil fuel industry, that you’ll lose your campaign contributions,” the 2016 Democratic presidential candidate added.

“[Climate change] is already causing devastating problems all over this world.

To hell with the fossil fuel industry.

Worry more about your children and your grandchildren than your campaign contributions.”

Sanders linked wealthy energy interests with overall corporate power, arguing that Wall Street must improve society.

“When Wall Street went broke, they came begging to Congress for help. Now it’s Wall Street’s turn to bail out the middle class of this country," he said.

“While people are working so hard, what is going on all is that almost all of the income and wealth that is being created is going to the top 1 percent,” Sanders continued. "That is not what America is about."

The Koch brothers’ vast donor network spent $129 million during the 2014 election cycle, according to an IRS filing released Tuesday.

That amount is more than five times the $22.3 million David and Charles Koch spent in 2013, the IRS filing said.

The siblings’ political network has previously committed $889 million towards conservative and libertarian principles during the 2016 presidential election.

Charles Koch has suggested about $250 million of that amount is for defeating Democrats during next year’s White House and Congressional races.

[careinke]

http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/261019-sanders-to-hell-with-the-fossil-fuel-industry

Charles Koch has suggested about $250 million of that amount is for defeating Democrats during next year’s White House and Congressional races.

See they are not all bad.

[Cog]

Warren Buffet owns oil trains. Who does he donate to?

[clif]

Warren Buffet owns BNSF.

Not oil trains .... Goc

[careinke]

Warren Buffet owns BNSF.

Not oil trains .... Goc

BNSF trains also carry coal.

[onlooker]

A lone voice in the wilderness. Well it is better than no voice.

[Apneaman]

Research Confirms ExxonMobil, Koch-funded Climate Denial Echo Chamber Polluted Mainstream Media

"A new study published today in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science (PNAS) shows that the climate denial echo chamber organizations funded by ExxonMobil and Koch family foundations produced misinformation that effectively polluted mainstream media coverage of climate science and polarized the climate policy debate."


http://www.desmogblog.com/2015/11/23/re ... ream-media

[Newfie]

At one time only land owners could vote.

Then, through various reform movements, voting rights were greatly expanded.

Now only very wealthy folks can afford to buy the influence of whomever got elected. The vote no longer matter, the reelection campaign chest donor rules.

[Cog]

At one time only land owners could vote.

Then, through various reform movements, voting rights were greatly expanded.

Now only very wealthy folks can afford to buy the influence of whomever got elected. The vote no longer matter, the reelection campaign chest donor rules.

Sometimes. Jeb Bush has a huge war chest super-pac but he polls at 5%. Trump on the other hand has spent relatively little. This is an unusual election, I will grant you.

[ROCKMAN]

I assume you meant to say BNSF trains "also" carry coal as well as oil. "BNSF oil train derails in rural Illinois; two cars aflame". LOL. It appears BNSF trains are one of the major carriers moving Bakken and oil sands production to east coast refineries.

And Bernie almost had it right: what he should have said was "To hell with the US fossil fuel consumers". After all they are by far the largest DIRECT producers of the GHG that's driving climate change." For instance probably ever person contributing to his campaign is part of the PRIMARY collective slowly "destroying the planet". Well, on second thought, he might not want to go after the bulk of his campaign contributors. LOL

[Ibon]

And Bernie almost had it right: what he should have said was "To hell with the US fossil fuel consumers". After all they are by far the largest DIRECT producers of the GHG that's driving climate change." For instance probably ever person contributing to his campaign is part of the PRIMARY collective slowly "destroying the planet". Well, on second thought, he might not want to go after the bulk of his campaign contributors. LOL

It's an awesome thought imagining that speach!!!

[dohboi]

Thank heavens that the poor, oppressed ff industry, damsel in distress that she is, has a shining white knight to come to her defense whenever she is threatened by evil socialists like Bernie!

Yes, people trying to get to their underpaid jobs are surely the arch-villains in this melodrama!

They insist all the time that their means of transportation be supplied only by earth destroying ffs, and they pour hundreds of millions of dollars (that they don't actually have) into influencing congress to keep us all addicted to the black stuff, and to perpetrate lies about CC science...

What a jokester this guy has become. Rather desperate and pathetic, at this point.

[ROCKMAN]

dohboi - "They insist all the time that their means of transportation be supplied only by earth destroying ffs..." So true. I'm sure there are virtually no Bernie supporters that wouldn't abandon him in a heartbeat if he promised to put ExxonMobil et al out of business if he's elected. As you say: they need that ff to carry on their lives. What politician would ever get elected if he promised to end fossil fuel consumption?

[dohboi]

Wow, deaf to irony, too. Sad, really.

[ROCKMAN]

Wow, deaf to reality, too. Sad, really.

[Newfie]

I think the point is that HUMANS are to blame. You, me, them.

Going around blaming this group or that really doesn't adequately address the root problem. It just scapegoats someone else.

But you and I have been around this bush before.

[dohboi]

Riiight, Newf. The Koch bro's and Exxon execs, who make billions on our continued addiction to oil and who spend hundreds of millions making sure we stay that way, have exactly the same (or, according to their great champion, LESS) culpability as the poor working class shmo just trying to keep bread on the table and a roof over the head.

Cool aide drinkers, unite!!

[Cog]

You mean us poor working shmos would rather walk everywhere, live in huts, and give up Central Air and major league baseball? I never knew that.

[kanon]

I think the point is that HUMANS are to blame. You, me, them.

Going around blaming this group or that really doesn't adequately address the root problem. It just scapegoats someone else.

But you and I have been around this bush before.

I hope you will finally get it right. The "shared blame" meme is a real cop-out. The 99% are free to do as they are told. Do you criticize them for failing to join a rebellion? A person who is relentlessly propagandized and manipulated, and generally kept very near to total desperation, is to be held equally responsible for the policies of society and corporations? Whatever description of the oligarchy you prefer, they have failed to meet their responsibility to the environment. They are happy to claim the privileges of royalty, but they are quite selective about their responsibilities. I think you should learn something from that.

Perhaps if we refuse to share the blame with the oligarchs we will be morally obligated to reject the social plantation they keep us in. Then we would have to create our society on our own, like some other groups who refuse to be assimilated. So there may be a good reason to share the blame, but a person who is validly blamed should be able to correct the problem.

[Lore]

Blame at this juncture has nothing to do with the solution. Like it or not, for better or worse, we are in the twilight of using fossil fuels like we were. It will be an expensive luxury for use where there are no alternatives.

The enablers of the FF industry and for business as usual will fold in the onslaught of upcoming events.