Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
Fri May 23, 2014, 05:26 PM May 2014

House bans the military from acknowledging climate science, national security be damned

Source: Salon

A budget amendment forbids the Pentagon fromspending to study or prepare for the impacts of climate change

LINDSAY ABRAMS

The notoriously anti-science House Science Committee has hit a new low, voting on Thursday to approve a spending bill amendment that “would prohibit defense spending on climate change research and the social cost of carbon analysis.” Translated: The Pentagon is being ordered to ignore climate science.

Specifically, the amendment, which was introduced by Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va., forbids the Department of Defense from in any way utilizing the findings and recommendations of the National Climate Assessment or the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s fifth assessment on climate change, two landmark, comprehensive reports reflecting the work of hundreds of the world’s top climate scientists and experts — or, as McKinley referred to it, “ideology.” In so doing, it renders all that knowledge and understanding effectively irrelevant to national defense.

This is a problem, because understanding and preparing for climate change is an important thing the Department of Defense needs to be able to do, in order to, you know, defend us. Their words: “DOD expects climate change to challenge its ability to fulfill its mission in the future.” Natural disaster response, increased conflict tied to drought and food and water security and other “non-traditional” security challenges are all things the military’s been actively working to address. In its 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review, as a recent example, the Pentagon identified the impacts of climate change as “threat multipliers” that “may increase the frequency, scale, and complexity of future missions.” It’s even looking for ways to reduce its own carbon footprint, by cutting back on energy use and switching to renewables.

Not necessary, according to McKinley. “Climate change alarmists contend that man-made CO2 is the cause of climate change,” he explained on the floor. “Most people may not realize that 96 percent of all the CO2 emissions occur naturally.” The bill passed Friday, and is now on its way to the Senate, where, for all of our sakes, it will hopefully die.

###

Read more: http://www.salon.com/2014/05/23/house_bans_the_military_from_acknowledging_climate_science_national_security_be_damned/

23 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
House bans the military from acknowledging climate science, national security be damned (Original Post) DonViejo May 2014 OP
We absolutely need to get these idiots out of government. We need to vote in November. jwirr May 2014 #1
When you're head is stuck in the sand... awoke_in_2003 May 2014 #2
Stupid GOP think they are better fighters than the Army & smarter than scientists. Bernardo de La Paz May 2014 #3
"We look for things that make us go!" --- love it! LongTomH May 2014 #14
The GOP will do anything to Turbineguy May 2014 #4
The only saving grace for now is..... Swede Atlanta May 2014 #5
Morons??? Morons???? These people are idiots studying to be morong, and..... LongTomH May 2014 #15
+100 nt okaawhatever May 2014 #20
while it's true that these idiots must be removed from office... mike_c May 2014 #6
exactly. elleng May 2014 #21
Introduced by a republican from a coal state, of course. arcane1 May 2014 #7
Aw, you beat me to it. Lionel Mandrake May 2014 #9
Some things cannot be repeated enough arcane1 May 2014 #10
"amendment ... introduced by Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va." Lionel Mandrake May 2014 #8
Pray harder. blkmusclmachine May 2014 #11
This shit is real in case anyone hasn't noticed. Another vital reason to get neanderthals out of Cha May 2014 #12
The house gops are voting on some stupid shit Iliyah May 2014 #13
A new apex of stupidity has been reached, national media will ignore this idiocy also. Fred Sanders May 2014 #16
The stupid Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin May 2014 #17
Just another day I'm ashamed of America. mountain grammy May 2014 #18
Criminal neglect..I wish we could impeach them. n/t Jefferson23 May 2014 #19
Can you imagine doing this for say - North Korea? ThoughtCriminal May 2014 #22
Just more proof that we are not unitied and that we actually are a collection of red and blue states Exposethefrauds May 2014 #23

Bernardo de La Paz

(49,013 posts)
3. Stupid GOP think they are better fighters than the Army & smarter than scientists.
Fri May 23, 2014, 05:45 PM
May 2014

The GOP is the problem. The more people see it put in these kinds of terms ("think they are better ...&quot the more can be convinced the GOP is bad for the country.

 

Swede Atlanta

(3,596 posts)
5. The only saving grace for now is.....
Fri May 23, 2014, 06:01 PM
May 2014

The Senate will never agree to such language and, at least until 2017, BO would veto any such language and there are insufficient votes in both houses to override a veto.

But this is what we are up against. If for any reason the Republicans take back the Senate in 2014 and hold onto it and the House in 2016 and a Republican is elected President, we are totally screwed.

Under Bush there was an abundance of lunacy within the Executive and Legislative branches but it wasn't on steroids. Yes I hated (hate) the Patriot Act, the use of torture, invasion of Iraq, etc. but what we are dealing with now are people who should be certified as "morons".

They are attempting to rob anyone who has an opinion different than theirs of any voice or power. I don't recall which of the breadbasket states that recently passed a law that made it illegal for any city, county, etc. to pass any laws regarding the minimum wage. That would be decided by the state legislature. I can't believe these people believe in "local" control.

What of Arizona I think it was that passed a law that any gun collected in gun buy-back programs had to be re-sold on the market (i.e. they could not be destroyed).

We are a country that is half filled with nut cases.

LongTomH

(8,636 posts)
15. Morons??? Morons???? These people are idiots studying to be morong, and.....
Fri May 23, 2014, 08:02 PM
May 2014

Last edited Sat May 24, 2014, 09:06 AM - Edit history (1)

......flunking the course!!!!

mike_c

(36,281 posts)
6. while it's true that these idiots must be removed from office...
Fri May 23, 2014, 06:06 PM
May 2014

...there is little hope for that because of the general anti-science and anti-intellectualism of the American public, who repeatedly vote for these sorts of yahoos. This is what an under-educated electorate gets us-- dimwits with an pro-stupid agenda to promote.

 

arcane1

(38,613 posts)
7. Introduced by a republican from a coal state, of course.
Fri May 23, 2014, 06:13 PM
May 2014

I hope everyone is aware of the cold, hard fact that Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va doesn't love his children, or anyone else's.

Lionel Mandrake

(4,076 posts)
8. "amendment ... introduced by Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va."
Fri May 23, 2014, 06:16 PM
May 2014

There may be another explanation besides stupidity. A lot of coal is mined in West Virginia. Maybe Rep. McKinley doesn't want the DoD to "reduce its own carbon footprint".

Of course it's possible he's both evil and stupid, like "W".

Cha

(297,355 posts)
12. This shit is real in case anyone hasn't noticed. Another vital reason to get neanderthals out of
Fri May 23, 2014, 06:33 PM
May 2014

Congress.

Iliyah

(25,111 posts)
13. The house gops are voting on some stupid shit
Fri May 23, 2014, 07:26 PM
May 2014

Where's the job's bill? Unemployment, immigration? Oh - B E N G H A Z I

Fred Sanders

(23,946 posts)
16. A new apex of stupidity has been reached, national media will ignore this idiocy also.
Fri May 23, 2014, 08:42 PM
May 2014

The citizens must not know what is going in with the former Republican Party, which is no more.

 

Exposethefrauds

(531 posts)
23. Just more proof that we are not unitied and that we actually are a collection of red and blue states
Sat May 24, 2014, 05:22 AM
May 2014

with blue states being pro science and education and red states being anti science and anti education.

We, the intelligent, need collectively to tell the ignorant to STFU they are being stupid instead of pandering to them and treating the BS they spew as having any creditability at all.



Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»House bans the military f...