Saving Democracy Every time I think it’s possible for Donald Trump to win a 2nd term, I cringe. I’m no proponent of authoritarianism or repressive government. I am also not keen on Donald Trump’s competition, Nikki Haley or Ron DeSantis. They’re Trump in different packaging! I’m for saving our Democracy and that’s why I’m … More AmericaSpeaksTheVoiceOfJoyce. Ep. 209: “3rd Party”
In this season of miracles, it’s sad to see people dying and people having hatred in their hearts. I was disappointed when emergency aid for Israel and the Ukraine was voted down, primarily by the GOP. it’s also distressing that the filibuster is in place, necessitating a super majority to pass foreign aid & voting … More AmericaSpeaksTheVoiceOfJoyce. Ep. 208: “Wars & US”
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/dec/09/raising-interest-rates-inflation-central-banks-recession Well-directed fiscal policies and other, more finely tuned measures have a better chance of taming today’s inflation than do blunt, potentially counterproductive monetary policies. The appropriate response to high food prices, for example, is to reverse a decades-old agricultural price-support policy that pays farmers not to produce, when they should be encouraged to produce … More TheVoiceOfJoyce Wise words from Economist Joseph Stiglitz . Don’t raise interest rates to curb inflation. If interest rates increase, the poor and middle class will suffer. There is no need for a protracted Recession, instead lower prices with the tools we have and help the poor and middle class, too. Examples listed: encourage farmers to produce more and stop the don’t plant policies that raise prices, price increases attributed to monopoly power can be controlled with anti trust enforcement, raise wages and benefits, add child care allowances and allow sensible immigration policies.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/04/hope-climate-chaos-renewables-science For years, major nations like the US have blocked such funding, fearing unlimited liability. But there is movement, with Denmark this month becoming the first national government to commit loss and damage funds. There is also movement in funding green energy transformations in specific countries, with European nations providing $8.5bn to South Africa. New … More TheVoiceOfJoyce After reading this article, I want leave the best World we can develop, for my loved ones, entering the 21stC. What do you want? Solar power and EV are selling faster. Hydrogen, solar , wind are being utilized and need increased utilization. There’s a cost associated with Hydro Flouro Carbons, Carbon & Methane Emissions. The Fossil Fuel Companies must share the cost of the destruction of our Planet. Decrease in and subsidies and windfall taxes are proposed. If Fossil Fuel Companies are not part of the solution, they should get out of the way of new innovators who can mitigate climate warming. Every .1 Degree Celsius saved means another person survives. We can reverse Climate warming with hard Corporate work. The savings on Carbon and methane emissions leaks, is a start. New seeds and plants for biofuels is a start. If we can resolve quantum information, we should be able to engineer, quickly, new ways to power our World. Since , I’m personally not a nihilist, I opt for an awesome future with new products. Did I mention concrete and steel can be manufactured with green technologies! Why aren’t they widely employed? Our world needs to look at everyone’s best ideas and adapt them for our use! Cooperation & collaboration are needed to survive!
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/02/climate-crisis-guardian-investigating-pledge-decades-1890 But the moment that really catapulted the climate on to front pages came in 1988, when Nasa climatologist James Hansen warned the US Congress that the greenhouse effect was causing global warming. At the time, experts were predicting that the Earth could warm by 1-2C by 2030, a warning that now looks prescient. The … More TheVoiceOfJoyce The Guardian and The Observer have been reporting Climate anomalies since the 1890’s. We’ve been warned and articles have appeared in Newspapers and Journals, both predicting our present condition and providing solutions. Solar power for developing countries was a known solution a 100 yrs ago. What happened? Political decisions that were pragmatic were shelved for “ just in time” solutions. After what we’re experiencing in America, we have choices to make for our collective survival. Read the data, look out your windows in devastated regions, what do you see? If our environment no longer supports our way of life, who is willing to say, let’s change our policies? The Corporate pacifists, of Hitler, became patriots, when they realized they could make more money profiting from War. Today is no different. The Fossil Fuel Industry can make more money investing in new technologies, now. If they can’t see that reality, why not remove their subsidies and compensate new innovators?
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/02/ranchers-struggle-survive-megadrought-us-south-west Many ranchers – some of whose families have been herding cattle in the south-west for more than a century – are asking whether their grandchildren will be able to continue the tradition. About 25,000 cattle ranches are located in the American south-west. But as drought conditions worsen across the region, two-thirds of ranchers are … More TheVoiceOfJoyce Ranching in the Southwest is a way of life and the 1200 year drought has impacted ranchers negatively. If fires don’t destroy their land, the silt accumulation will. Their cattle can’t adapt to the new shrubbery, feed becomes expensive. Ranchers are permanently subsidized, yet we haven’t weaned ourselves off Fossil Fuels? Fossil Fuels are heavily subsidized, too? We’re at the point where we can’t have it all. Our life and livelihoods have changed. Whether we live in the cities or rural communities, Americans are daily facing life changing decisions. In the Southwest, there are decisions to be made. Yes, there may be good years for Ranchers, but the nature of Climate warming is to warm more. The facts and the science are indisputable, unless we start incorporating renewables into our electric grid, we’ll deplete all our water . What’s the point of subsidizing industries that are not sustainable? How many industries have become unsustainable?
http://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/23/technology/midterm-elections-misinformation.html Voter fraud is rare, but that falsehood about the 2020 election has become a central campaign issue for dozens of candidates around the country, causing misinformation and toxic content about the issue to spread widely online. “Stolen election” was mentioned 325,589 times on Twitter from June 19 to July 19, a number that has … More TheVoiceOfJoyce No need to fear going to the Polls and checking your ballot. Go with friends and vote. Know your polling place in advance. Make sure you’re registered to vote, take ID, water and snacks. Be prepared, in some states, to be watched. Don’t be intimidated. This year’s midterm is very important. Who is elected, determines, if the lies of Donald Trump are perpetuated and repressive State Laws prevail. There’s lots of money at stake. Millions are being made on Social Media Platforms perpetuating lies. Millions are made in State government’s, by concentrating power in the hands of a few, who don’t want to change their way of life. Why else would Governors, like Ron deSantis surround himself with 40 Billionaires, dedicated to curtailing the Rights of We, the People. Social Media Platforms reward lies and misinformation, read reliable newspapers, look around you, see for yourself, can your life and the lives of your children be better? If the answer is , yes, VoteRon DeSantis and , others like him ,out of office. Get rid of their grip on your onceFree society and vote for change. Why do you think they’re invested in misinformation and lies about the 2020 election and so much more? The truth, they get the money to control your way of life, what you learn and how much you earn, your education, your healthcare, your housing and so much more! Do you want DeSantis making these decisions for you and your family, or do you want a say, in how you live. If you want input into Government and your way of life, vote for change and remain active in Politics. #Politics effects US!
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/sep/26/leading-economies-sliding-into-recession-as-ukraine-war-cuts-growth-finds-oecd The world’s leading economies are sliding into recession as the global energy and inflation crises sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine cut growth by more than previously forecast, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). A dependency on expensive gas for heavy industry and home heating will plunge Germany, Italy and … More TheVoiceOfJoyce Europe, dependent on Russian oil, will be plunged into recession. China is suffering from a real estate ponzu scheme and Zero Covid policy, crippling its economic output. America, we have short term problems brought on by Corporate Greed. Corporations here are monopolies without competition. They charge whatever they can, while keeping labor wages low. It’s a win win for a few. In the 80’s Volcker raised interest rate to curb inflation and it wasn’t until America was plunged into Recession, that the government raised taxes to get us out of the Recession. Both the US and UK should take a policy lesson from the 1980’s, start taxing Corporations now. Go to 28% and close loopholes. Then, it won’t matter if labor get a long deserved increase in pay and benefits. Labor needs these increases to survive. Americans need Corporations and the top 1% to pay their fair share. A 2% tax on the top 1% assets would add billions to the IRS. A 28% tax on Corporations should be the first step towards taxing Corporations. Their free ride, is making it impossible for too many Americans to survive. Raising interest rates is one tool in the Federal toolbox. Another tool is raising Corporate taxes. Then fund the IRS to collect the tax. I always thought, this country needed to put 1000’s of auditors to work and collect the trillions in tax evasion. America should not be inadvertently plunged into Recession. The poor and the middle class need a social safety net. We can have it “all”.
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/sep/08/rural-virginia-pivots-from-coal-solar-green-jobs Wise county is a picturesque Appalachian community bordering eastern Kentucky where for decades coal dominated the economy – and almost every aspect of life. It’s home to the self-proclaimed cleanest coal plant in America, a sprawling polluting and economically unviable mountain ridge plant currently scheduled to keep operating until 2045. The population has declined … More AmericaSpeaks TheVoiceOfJoyce Southern Appalachia is embracing solar technology and lithium battery technologies. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), there are apprentice ship programs for young people, paying $17/ hr installing roof top Solar Panels. Meanwhile, kids in 9-12 th grade are being offered vocational courses in welding, nursing, plumbing and cybersecurity. The Junior Colleges are enthusiastically embracing these new technologies to educate the Community for new jobs in construction and manufacturing. The laws are evolving in these States to accept renewable energy. It’s clean, can provide 1.5 million jobs and it’s a healthier sustainable lifestyle with benefits.