For all of the wonderful plans for zero emissions, the Kyoto Accords, Paris Climate Conference and politicians hot air fail to address the reality of how you put the ideals into practice. The end result may very well be a serious threat to the economies of the world as demand for energy simply outstrips the ability of “renewalables”. Where are the real plans, budgets and ideas of how to implement the goals? This article points out some of the very real challenges. https://www.wsj.com/articles/bidens-not-so-clean-energy-transition-11620752282?mod=opinion_lead_pos5

Thanks in large part to the vaccine, we are once again planning a healthy travel schedule.  While we did visit Southern Utah and Las Vegas (driving down the Vegas Strip at 60 mph was a once in a lifetime treat), our recent visit to Williamsburg VA. was our first “real” trip in over a year.  Why Williamsburg?  My favorite wife had never seen that part of the U.S. and there is plenty to see for a history buff such as myself.  We visited an area known as the Virginia Historical Triangle, consisting of Williamsburg, Jamestown and York Town, places which were key to the formation of our nation.  This area is small and easily reached as going from point to point often means driving for 30-45 minutes.  Going further (120 miles) one can find the Fredericksburg battlefield and Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson.  The driving is easy but make sure you have a GPS as you will want to get off the Interstate and onto some of the beautiful back roads (many of them remind me of driving in central rural France), so let’s look at some of the sights.

“At the same time, National Socialism also maee itself felt on the level of everyday life by rewarding those who employed National Socialist language and ritualistic behavior in the conduct of their daily affairs and by requiring that activities be conducted in such contexts. While true believers had no trouble meeting these requirments, those who were not (and those who were skeptical) were necessarily driven on the path to various degrees of inner corruption by constantly having to behave in the required manner in order to protect and promote their intrests. The more they internalized such behavior, the less it mattered in a practical sense whether they believed what they were saying and doing. Their political correctness required “correct” political behavior.” (Allianz and the German Insurance Business, 1933-45 by Gerald D. Feldman, pp 107) It was the same under Stalin, Mao, etc. and today we see it in the United States. As Ronald Reagan said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.”

Since it was created, the Federal Department of Education has received over $1,000,000,000 (trillion) in funding with no noticable improvement in our children’s reading or math scores. It is a study in failure. But, there is more; The DOE uses an accounting system for student loans that would lead to fraud charges and jail time if used in the private system. They seriously underestimate future payments and thus the value of their loan holdings with insufficient reserves. This article is a study in massive government systemic failure that will be paid for by every taxpayer. https://www.wsj.com/articles/is-the-u-s-student-loan-program-in-a-deep-hole-one-banker-thinks-so-11619707091?page=1

In 1848, much of Europe was swept by revolution; in France, Hungary, Poland, Italy and elsewhere, people rebelled against the system set up by the Congress of Vienna after the defeat of Napoleon.  Institutions seems to be moribund; police surveillance was everywhere, and the governments were insistent on maintaining the status quo. This excellent novel, often regarded as the finest to come out of Hungary, tells the story of that time and centers on twin aristocratic brothers from the wealthy Dukay family.

“France is an extremely fertile country: You plant functionaries and taxes grown”. Looks like the US is not alone in this.

If you are interested in critical race theory or are not up to date on how it is doing, feel free to go to the following link for as the latest and greatest activities. https://www.city-journal.org/christopher-rufo-on-woke-education

After conquering most of North America, the United States was filled with success and energy.  The expansion of the economic power of the United States was viewed with awe by the Europeans and dynamic politicians, such as Theodore Roosevelt, while Henry Cabot Lodge believed that it was the destiny of the United States to carry on into what is now called the “third world” to bring Christianity, modernity and progress to the inhabitants of those regions.  Our soul was pure (unlike the Europeans who only sought to exploit those foreign lands) and we were sure that we would be welcomed with open arms as saviors. At least that was the theory.

Our crack climate Czar, John Kerry recently met with China’s Vice Premier, Han Zheng who welcomed the U.S. back into that hugely successful (?) Paris climate agreement. In his remarks, the Vice Premier said, “China welcomes the U.S. return to the Paris agreement and expects the U.S. side to uphold the agreement.”. I bet he does! China does not have to reduce emissions until at least 2030 (as they are a poor “developing” nation) and is in the process of expanding their coal-fired capacity by 300% over the prior year. They have enough coal power in development to supply all of Germany. Meanwhile, the carbon emissions of the U.S. in 2019 were the lowest since 1992 and their lowest per capita since 1950? Why? In large part due to the drilling for natural gas and our energy from shale. But, of course, the new Administration is trying to limit natural gas production. You can certainly say one thing for our trade negotiators; they do not appear to be the sharpest knives in the drawer. (Figures from WSJ, 4/20/21, pp A16)