the Centrist

Education is the single most effective way in which to change society. Therefore, education must be based on TRUTH. If it is based on anything other than demonstrable, repeatable, scientific truth, backed by double blind studies when applicable, it can lead to disastrous consequences for any society. And that is the problem with today’s society ruled by Political Correctness and emotion, rather than logic.
This can be demonstrated in a number of ways, but no more easily than the carbons emissions conclusion with global warming. There is a very significant group of scientists that theorize global warming is caused by carbon emissions replete in human activities. They point to the burning of fossil fuels as the main culprit. But the problem resides with the reaction to these scientists. Both educators and world organizations have taken these scientists at their word, rather than have asked for scientific proof. All evidence, including Academy Award winning film, “Inconvenient Truth” by Nobel Peace Prize Winner and former Vice President Al Gore, is at best circumstantial and hypothetical, at worst bad science. It is neither proven, nor provable.
Moreover, there is a growing group of qualified scientists who feel that the global warming scare is just that, a scare. They point to the scientific evidence that the earth has gone through climate changes repeatedly and cyclically. They call attention to the dust bowl in the thirties, hurricanes of epic proportions in the fifties, etc. Their claim for these cyclical events is not carbon emission, but the sun. They reason that global cyclical climate change can be tied directly to events on the sun, i.e. sun storms, etc. What is perplexing to me is that nobody will even give these scientists the light of day simply because it is the Politically Incorrect thing to do. Yet, if this group of scientists is correct, we have changed our society and ruined our economy for the sake of Political Correctness.
In response to the global scare, this nation has taken unprecedented actions first by following the Brazilian model to produce alcohol. America has taken the majority of its corn harvest and dedicated it to this alternative fuel. The law of unintended consequence has proven devastating, as the price of corn has skyrocketed. Corn is the staple for America’s food chain, and the increased acreage for its demand has also squeezed out other important grains such as soy beans, wheat, etc. causing an unprecedented rise in food prices.
One might learn from hindsight and ask: if the alcohol model worked in Brazil, why hasn’t it worked in the United States? In the first place, food staples, such as corn, are not the source of Brazilian alcohol, the more efficient sugar and switch grass are. What is more, where did this increase in agricultural acreage come from, if not the destruction of the rain forests? Is America willing to do away with subsidies and or clear forests for agricultural use?

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Logic demands that any nation would never manipulate its food supply over such a frivolous goal of an alcohol mix based on a mere theory and circumstantial evidence, but it has. The goal of this nation should be to press toward alternative fuels, but at a sane pace, utilizing coal, nuclear, and wind while simultaneously taking diesel power plants off line. The production of an alternative and replenishable fuel source such as hydrogen must be our long term goal, but we need a bridge to those sources. Logic would demand that bridge be known sources of energy, while simultaneously utilizing this nation’s vast resource of untapped oil. That plan, along with managing the forests to prevent huge carbon deposits from forest fires, would both save the economy and the environment. In former times logic would demand such a solution, but in this topsy turvy society fueled by emotion rather than reason, logic is no longer able to demand.

Gardening tips:
Last year I tried a new rose at both our Waterport and Davenport homes. The rose is called a ‘Knockout Rose’. Since the weather patterns are vastly different in Florida and Western New York, I figured if this rose could survive both we have a winner. Well, it came through with flying colors at both locations. But a word to the wise, this is not for the rose lovers of traditional T’s, English, and or floribundas. This rose, in my opinion, falls more into the category of a landscape rose. It is hardy, disease resistant, every blooming, with beautiful purple green foliage. The colors are pink or red, and simply stated, I highly recommend it!