I am utterly speechless, probably for the first time in my life

[mrsadm]

I am not a frequent poster at DU, but I read here all the time. This is my second post this week!

Please tell me oh wise Democrats, how could this possibly happen? My world is crumbling, when the rich are getting so much richer, that our society wants to cut the weather agency? We are now ruled by an anti-science government. It goes against everything I believe, that more study in science leads to better things for our world. From this morning's Washington Post:

"White House proposes steep budget cut to leading climate science agency....

The Trump administration is seeking to slash the budget of one of the government’s premier climate science agencies by 17 percent, delivering steep cuts to research funding and satellite programs, according to a four-page budget memo obtained by The Washington Post.

The proposed cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration would also eliminate funding for a variety of smaller programs, including external research, coastal management, estuary reserves and “coastal resilience,” which seeks to bolster the ability of coastal areas to withstand major storms and rising seas."

(sorry I tried to post a link but it did not work)

[Sherman A1]

1. What I find particularly disturbing and completely illogical

within their own narrative is 1). NOAA is one of the uniformed services of the United States (hence it is similar to say the Coast Guard in some respects) 2). That Weather and Climate information is essential to both National Security and Commerce. I appreciate that they may not want to believe in the Science of Climate Change and may deny it's current and potential affects on our society and the world, but why would you want to hurt National Security and Business?

Why would you want to not study climate change or at least the potential for it's affects on the transportation industry or insurance industry for example?

[wishstar]

5. ExxonMobil and Koch Industries have spent a Billion dollars funding climate change denial

Sheer greed and power grabbing is all that motivates these obscenely wealthy billionaires who want to shut down science and research involving climate change. Even those in the oil industry who admit reality of climate change are spreading narrative that climate change is normal and not problematic and not caused by fuel burning, so further research or regulations are unnecessary. In fact they anticipate financial gain from melting of icecaps that will enable more energy extraction.

On our vulnerable coastlines, greedy developers and property owners fear lost revenue and lower profits if science influences predictions of rising sea levels that will steer public opinion away from supporting and investing in further development of coastlines.

[raccoon]

6. And the melting permafrost affects a lot of things. nt

[ananda]

11. Think methane ..

.. and lots of it.

That's when warming and climate chaos start turning
into an extinction event.

[Tanuki]

32. That will probably make it easier for them to extract fossil fuels.

The public be damned. Anything for a buck.

[certainot]

27. thinking americans have to stop ignoring rw radio - biggest political mistake

in history

at a cheap $1000/hr x 15hrs/day x 1200 stations, rw talk radio is worth 4.68 BIL$/ year or 390MIL$ /month FREE for coordinated global warming denial, pro republican wall st think tank propaganda, free market deregulation bullshit, swiftboating, and the hate and fear used to get people to vote republican.

that is the primary reason billionaires and corps have been able to short circuit normal democratic feedback mechanisms that would have us responding to this problem decades ago.

until the prog orgs and dem party start challenging rw radio and individuals stop ignoring it there can be no fact based national discussion about anything that isn't polluted by the rw shit. that's why we have trump. right now our local and national blowhards are saying iranian valery jarrett has moved into the obama home to help him run a shadow govt to sabotage trump and do a coup and liberals have no clue and will be surprised when rw nuts start attacking the obamas.

and the amazing thing is we even let 88 major universities support 257 limbaugh stations!

so for the better part of 30 years at least 88 universities broadcasting sports on 257 major talk radio stations have been helping the stations bring in advertisers so the kochs and putins and tillersons can do global warming (and public education-hate) basically for free.

all americans have to do to end this is to start getting these universities to start looking for apolitical alternatives

[mrsadm]

33. I agree with you on that!

Everything that comes out of my brother-in-law's mouth sounds like he's parroting right wing radio.

[Amaryllis]

34. They have no ability to see any ripple effect; cause and effect, repurcussions, etc.; only the

immediate now. Either that or they want to destroy so as to bring on the rapture sooner. Armageddon.

[smirkymonkey]

3. This is insanity.

The sooner the orange ape is impeached, the better. It will take the wind out of their sails. One by one we will take them down.

[2naSalit]

28. They are heading for

a massive perpwalk... or so it is starting to appear as one. This goes into governorship level as well, there may well be half the governing entity of this nation complicit or in league with at some level, this incredible coup.

[babylonsister]

4. Here's your link; unfathomable, isn't it.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/03/03/white-house-proposes-steep-budget-cut-to-leading-climate-science-agency/?utm_term=.88e7dd10e3a5

[northoftheborder]

7. I think I've already died and gone to hell.

[littlemissmartypants]

8. Isn't it a NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE?

The stupid has eaten a hole through the carpet to China.

Thanks for sharing this mrsadm.

[sarge43]

10. The Pentagon sure thinks it is.

If you like the oil wars, you're going to love the water wars. War is always about resources.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

21. The military sees climate change as a security threat

"Military Leaders Urge Trump to See Climate as a Security Threat" -- Scientific American

It may well end up in the paper shredder, but a bipartisan group of defense experts and former military leaders sent Donald Trump’s transition team a briefing book urging the president-elect to consider climate change as a grave threat to national security.

The Center for Climate & Security in its briefing book argues that climate change presents a risk to U.S. national security and international security, and that the United States should advance a comprehensive policy for addressing the risk. The recommendations, released earlier this year, were developed by the Climate and Security Advisory Group, a voluntary, nonpartisan group of 43 U.S.-based senior military, national security, homeland security and intelligence experts, including the former commanders of the U.S. Pacific and Central commands.

The briefing book argues that climate change presents a significant and direct risk to U.S. military readiness, operations and strategy, and military leaders say it should transcend politics. It goes beyond protecting military bases from sea-level rise, the military advisers say. They urge Trump to order the Pentagon to game out catastrophic climate scenarios, track trends in climate impacts and collaborate with civilian communities. Stresses from climate change can increase the likelihood of international or civil conflict, state failure, mass migration and instability in strategically significant areas around the world, the defense experts argue.

Trump hasn’t weighed in on climate change as a national security threat, although he has called climate change a “hoax” perpetrated by the Chinese.

[sarge43]

24. Thanks for posting this. Goes in the keeper file. n/t

[littlemissmartypants]

29. Thank you! eom

[FailureToCommunicate]

9. Sad but true. Real scientists (like John Holdren) have left the building.

All we can do is give them sanctuary so they can continue seeking truth. It all feels so post apocalyptic.

[grantcart]

12. Donald Trump also proposed a ban on Muslims entering into the country

Then he proposed a ban on Muslims from 7 countries.

Then it was reported that he was going to ban all people from 7 countries.

Then 6 countries and it was coming out Tuesday.

Then Thursday

Donald Trump proposing one thing and Donald Trump getting something passed is two different things.

Any Congress that passes his proposals is going to get thrown out in 19 months.

[Botany]

13. add in to your list

gutting protections for streams and wetlands
gutting protections for the great lakes
allowing coal companies to dump their wastes into streams
stopping air pollution controls and mileage requirements for cars
protection for native pollinators
stopping programs to keep invasive carp from the great lakes

[Equinox Moon]

14. Bernie warned us about the billionaire class ruling the US and the world.

These are people cut from bizarre-world with no regard or reverence for life.

[ewagner]

15. Corporate revenge

Pure and simple...

The climate deniers have their champion in the White House and a Congress to enable him so they will seek their revenge on scientist as quickly and brutally as they can.

I'm sick to my stomach...I have relatives and friends working for NOAA.

but as soon as Trump was elected I knew some form of this revenge was going to happen. I guess I was just hoping I was wrong.

[Marthe48]

19. Revenge?

That is what it feels like, but revenge for what? What the hell has happened to corporations that the CEOs and money sourcers have to take revenge?

It is so twisted that the power behind reversing science and environmental programs respond from the primitive reptilian portion of their brains.

I think the rich and powerful need to be pulled out of their ivory towers and protective cocoon of clean air, bottled water, and exclusive private resorts.

[ewagner]

30. Revenge in the sense

...that they have had to comply with good, sound environmental regulations which they have despised...and now, they can get even with the "bureaucrats" who made them...revenge in that sense

[logosoco]

16. There is also a House bill that just says to eliminate the EPA entirely!

I keep picturing the earth, hanging there in the universe, with a big hand punching it over and over.

Trump keeps referring to the "regulations" that need to be cut. They aren't regulations, they are PROTECTIONS. It's right there in the agency name!

There is going to be marches all over the country on Earth Day. March for Science. That says much about the administration we are living under. We need a MARCH for science???

It is also sad to think, with all of these cuts, many good people doing great work for the whole world will be out of a job!

[leftofcool]

17. Oh come on!

You know that Obama's wiretapping of Trump is more important that climate change, poor folks and health care. Yes, this is sarcasm.

[yallerdawg]

18. I kinda follow the insane logic we have here.

In order to raise the defense budget 10%, it is being offset by a 25% cut to EPA, among other significant decreases to other departments!

Anyone who understands simple math knows a 25% cut is bigger than a 10% increase. Now, go back to sleep!

[packman]

20. Looking in the couch cushions for $ to build that wall

The Trump people could only squeeze a few millions out of the budget for his infamous wall and now are trimming this and that to scare up more monies.

[secondwind]

23. AND TO SPEND ON THE MILITARY... UGH

[secondwind]

22. ESTUARY RESERVES?? WTF??!!??

[Firestorm49]

25. Good luck to us all.

The minority of voters have won an election, and as a result, the majority will now have to witness the wrath of an unrestricted Republican Party, whose priorities have always been Party, money, and power. This has always been the case, it's just that now, that poison will be unrestricted. Their utter disregard for safe water, air, and fairness for all will have its effect on our children and grandchildren for their lifetime.
The time has come for all of those who are fearful of the future of our country to quit whining and start acting. I am not advocating violence, rather, organizing in our communities to elect intelligent and responsible people to begin leading, not destroying our nation.
Right now, we have a very daunting uphill fight - a fight against gerrymandered rigged elections, a fight to reform a dysfunctional Democratic Party, and a long term fight for our freedom, safety, and prosperity of our nation. With all of the cards now being played, it should be one hell of a fight.
Get to work and start doing something. Have you noticed how many seniors are out there protesting? Have you noticed how few younger people are protesting? These are the most perilous times we have ever lived through. Do something while you still can- before your right to object relinquishes you to a gulag.

[MarvinGardens]

26. Wow, deep cuts to NOAA.

I wish the WaPo headline said "NOAA" instead of "climate science agency". Cons will read the latter and be happy, but even many of them know that NOAA does a lot more than study climate change. National Weather Service, anyone? National Hurricane Center?

And even among climate change deniers/skeptics, many do not deny that the climate is warming, but instead argue that the warming is part of a natural cycle. In that case, it still makes sense to study its impacts and prepare for them.