Rory M.'s Comments

Good Science, Bad Politics by Dan E.

Dec 24, 2009 | recommended: 5 | comments: 11

in reply to a comment by Gary (aka: William Pinn) J.

Rory M. Dec 28, 2009, 9:03am EST

You have missed the point. The data that has been called into question by the revelation of the East Anglia e-mail kerfuffle comprises a single set of data, not the entirety of the research done around the globe on the topic. Many other sets of data produced by other scientists through independent observation is unsullied by the East Anglia events.

Allowing the reports of the skullduggery at East Anglia to influence your review of all conclusions put forward by all climatological studies on the matter is not scientific but emotional.

Flaherty Says Russia, China May Buy Canada Dollars by Walker Bennett, SF Author

Dec 27, 2009 | recommended: 2 | comments: 5

Rory M. Dec 27, 2009, 5:57pm EST

The decline of American economic power in the world, now well under way and inevitable due to the levels of public and private debt the country carries, will lead to a lot of re-allocation of resources in many ways. Investments, currency reserves and a lot of other fiscal decisions will have to be revisited not only by China and Russia but all other nations, protecting themselves from the American downward financial spiral. A common world currency will likely be an eventual outcome of it all, but not very soon.

CNN poll: majority still oppose health reform. Let's speculate why. by Chris W.

Dec 27, 2009 | recommended: 3 | comments: 33

in reply to a comment by Rory M.

Rory M. Dec 27, 2009, 5:43pm EST

Sweden, like Canada and the USA, did have forced sterilization programs that were abolished more than 40 years ago. What this has to do with current infant mortality statistics is well beyond me.

CNN poll: majority still oppose health reform. Let's speculate why. by Chris W.

Dec 27, 2009 | recommended: 3 | comments: 33

in reply to a comment by Rory M.

Rory M. Dec 27, 2009, 5:37pm EST

Not sure what you mean by "involuntary sterilization program", despite the obvious inference the phrase provides. If, as it seems, you are inferring that Sweden aborts pregnancies of genetically compromised fetuses (feti?) without consent of the parents? If so, then I think you would have to document your knowledge of this program before I would agree that such a thing exists at all. Sounds like propaganda to me.

CNN poll: majority still oppose health reform. Let's speculate why. by Chris W.

Dec 27, 2009 | recommended: 3 | comments: 33

in reply to a comment by Chuck L.

Rory M. Dec 27, 2009, 2:13pm EST

The Republican party and its supporters (and those who have gone so far right that they have left the Republicans even) depend on the oft repeated lie to subplant the truth in most discussions.

It is their modus operandi.

Good Science, Bad Politics by Dan E.

Dec 24, 2009 | recommended: 5 | comments: 11

in reply to a comment by Gary (aka: William Pinn) J.

Rory M. Dec 27, 2009, 1:37pm EST

He knows it is true because he is actually a climatologist who has studied the matter first hand, seen the data or himself and cannot be distracted by a tempest in a teapot involving the corruption of a single set of numbers.

CNN poll: majority still oppose health reform. Let's speculate why. by Chris W.

Dec 27, 2009 | recommended: 3 | comments: 33

Rory M. Dec 27, 2009, 12:26pm EST

Ninety-nine percent of people expressing their opinion on the matter of American health care reform are basing that opinion on commentary regarding the proposed legislation(s), not on actual knowledge of the details of that legislation. I include myself in that demographic.

Those who prefer to read conservative commentary will fear the downgrading of their current coverage, the interference of politicians and bureaucrats in their health care decisions, out of control government spending and higher taxation, death panels, taxpayer funded free abortion on demand and socialism/communism.

Those who prefer to read centrist commentary (there is no mainstream leftist commentary in the USA) will believe that health care reform is essential to not only the health of the nation and its citizens but also to the economy, that reform is difficult to enact because of competing political forces and the current proposed legislation, while flawed, may be the best that can be achieved at this time.

The facts are, however, that American health care lags behind the rest of the wealthy, industrialized world. You die younger (more than 3 years younger than Canadians on average, 4 years younger than Japanese) and you lose more of your babies to infant mortality (an extra 1 child in every thousand compared to Canada, about 3.5 children in every thousand compared to Sweden --almost 15,000 babies a year) all while paying much more per capita than do any of these other countries --- as high as double the per capita costs in other countries.

Americans are not, on average, dumber than every one else. They are not typically incompetent, in general. They excel in many areas when compared with the rest of the world. So why is it that Americans have screwed up their health care outcomes so thoroughly?

And why are certain political leaders and commentators resisting changes so fiercely when the system is so obviously dysfunctional? Whose interests are they representing?

BOOKS by Robert - just a simple man - B.

Dec 27, 2009 | recommended: 12 | comments: 36

Rory M. Dec 27, 2009, 10:34am EST

Very Poddarian.

BOOKS by Robert - just a simple man - B.

Dec 27, 2009 | recommended: 12 | comments: 36

in reply to a comment by Robert - just a simple man - B.

Rory M. Dec 27, 2009, 10:33am EST

Get writing.

Can The Health Care Bill Be Stopped At The State Level? by Rob Port

Dec 22, 2009 | recommended: 5 | comments: 47

in reply to a comment by Rory M.

Rory M. Dec 25, 2009, 2:56pm EST

Wrong again, Carol! I am a Canadian. I live in Canada. I want nothing from you whatsoever. We figured this all out 40 years ago. I am a little perplexed that Americans, such a clever people over all, are unable to figure it out yet.

Can The Health Care Bill Be Stopped At The State Level? by Rob Port

Dec 22, 2009 | recommended: 5 | comments: 47

in reply to a comment by Rory M.

Rory M. Dec 25, 2009, 10:27am EST

Joy, you say you have no insurance yet can see a doctor anytime without delay. Who pays for it?

In the USA there exists the best medical service in the world, this is true. But it is accessible only to those with money or excellent coverage. Those without either cannot access those services as easily or as readily as you describe. Many people in the USA have no coverage and often go without care for a long time because they cannot afford it.

You say: "Had she lived HERE in America, she'd probably be alive today." I know for a fact this is not necessarily true. My nephew, an American born citizen, lived in Florida. He died in 2007 at age 33 of skin cancer. His cancer was too far advanced by the time he was able to get disability and insurance coverage for them to do anything about it but manage his pain and provide palliative care.

HE DIED BECAUSE HEALTH CARE IN THE USA IS A "FOR PROFIT" ENTERPRISE AND HE COULD NOT AFFORD TO ACCESS IT.

So don't tell me it doesn't happen, because I know for a fact it does.

Can The Health Care Bill Be Stopped At The State Level? by Rob Port

Dec 22, 2009 | recommended: 5 | comments: 47

in reply to a comment by Rory M.

Rory M. Dec 24, 2009, 4:16pm EST

Your anecdotal evidence of you personal tragedy, while poignant and truly sad, does not really make any statement about the overall problem of illegal immigrants and their impact on health care or any other aspect of public policy.

I'm sure that Ted Kennedy was unaware of your personal loss, so characterizing him as "refusing" to help you get justice is inaccurate. Taking impersonal political policies as a personal slight is an emotional reaction that is likely only to increase your suffering by making everyone a direct player in your own drama, even if they were in fact not involved.

The actions of the Haitian immigrant, and your societies failure to either keep him out or punish him in accordance with law is a horrible reality, but not really germaine to the conversation.

Can The Health Care Bill Be Stopped At The State Level? by Rob Port

Dec 22, 2009 | recommended: 5 | comments: 47

in reply to a comment by Rory M.

Rory M. Dec 24, 2009, 4:08pm EST

Actually, Sue, neither comment made much sense to me. Your analogy of a building is somewhat convoluted, it seems to me. I do believe the constitution of the USA is older than any of the state constitutions, so they are based on it not vice versa.

Obviously stored cars don't require insurance to protect other travellers on the road from damage as they are not going to inflict any. You are extending my analogy beyond its reasonable extension.

Meanwhile in the USA: Preacher Jealous of a Real and Successful Entertainer by Goddamn Atheist

Dec 24, 2009 | comments: 6

in reply to a comment by Rory M.

Rory M. Dec 24, 2009, 12:00pm EST

I absolutely respect your right to be an atheist and respect your opinion on the subject (that there is no God). I do suspect that for many, however, what does not work for them is the version of religion that is mostly on public display, which to my mind is a juvenile and largely disingenuous version.

I would also say that my choice to embrace a faith is not based on my enjoyment of it or anything of that nature, but a matter of the convictions I have arrived at about what I think is the truth about the nature of the universe and reality. I have heard people say things like why wouldn't an atheist choose to believe just to hedge their bets, in case they are wrong, but that is idiocy to me. You either believe or you do not, faking it is of no help. (I also doubt God will base any judgement he makes on our "souls" on whether or not we believed in Him, but rather on how we treated others, how we behaved and on the contents of those "souls".)

Separation of church and state is, indeed, a great principle which America first espoused politically to the world, and it helped to make America the great nation it has been. Conversely, America seems to be the one place, outside the Muslim world, where church and state lines are blurring the most at the same time as America seems to be losing its pre-eminence and importance in the world.

During the Bush years I found America to be developing more and more along the lines not of the communists states but of the fascist states of the 1930s. I am hopeful that you have turned your back on that path now.

Can The Health Care Bill Be Stopped At The State Level? by Rob Port

Dec 22, 2009 | recommended: 5 | comments: 47

in reply to a comment by Rory M.

Rory M. Dec 24, 2009, 9:50am EST

Illegals are the great bogeyman of American political discourse these days. They are used as an excuse for everything. They are thrown into every discussion with "facts" that support whatever side is using them to their advantage.

They are the ultimate straw man.

Can The Health Care Bill Be Stopped At The State Level? by Rob Port

Dec 22, 2009 | recommended: 5 | comments: 47

in reply to a comment by Rory M.

Rory M. Dec 24, 2009, 9:45am EST

Well, I must admit that I am bewildered by Americans attitude towards what they will accept from their state government but not from their federal government. Both governments are elected by popular support. Both governments provide various services throug taxation, pass laws in a legislature, have an executive branch and a judiciary. Both governments are accountable to the constitution, which is a living (meaning changeable or amendable) document.

Why is it Americans think that the federal government is trying to control their lives or limit their freedoms if they do something that would be perfectly acceptable from the State government?

Not making auto insurance a mandatory condition of driving on public highways is uncivilized.

Meanwhile in the USA: Preacher Jealous of a Real and Successful Entertainer by Goddamn Atheist

Dec 24, 2009 | comments: 6

Rory M. Dec 24, 2009, 9:14am EST

It is a shame that the propensity to speak out against shameless self-aggrandization and the promulgation of hatred by those espousing faith in a loving God is almost exclusively limited to atheists. Thank God for atheists with the courage to speak out against rampant religious hypocrisy (and, yes, I am aware of the irony in the phrase "thank God for atheists").

As a man of faith I believe that the quasi-religious who promote an ideology I consider anaethema to the teachings of God as expressed in the sacred texts of all the world's religion do far more harm to religion in society than do the irreligious.

More power to you.

Good Science, Bad Politics by Dan E.

Dec 24, 2009 | recommended: 5 | comments: 11

Rory M. Dec 24, 2009, 8:56am EST

One of the clearest expressions of educated, informed and impartial thought on the subject I have ever read. (And I have been reading about climate change since the mid 1970s.)

DC area, declared under EMERGENCY situation, due to up to 24'',inches of snow- it's non-stop-now. LMH by L. H.

Dec 19, 2009 | recommended: 9 | comments: 52

in reply to a comment by Col. George W.

Rory M. Dec 23, 2009, 10:59pm EST

Except that the leaked e-mails pertain to only one of many sources of climate data on which the theory of human induced global warming. They provide evidence of rigging to present the most alarming view of that data, but even if they revealed a far more extensive duplicity they do it would still only amount to the discrediting of a single source amongst, literally, hundreds.

Can The Health Care Bill Be Stopped At The State Level? by Rob Port

Dec 22, 2009 | recommended: 5 | comments: 47

in reply to a comment by Marilyn M.

Rory M. Dec 23, 2009, 3:52pm EST

The majority haven't wanted their soldiers in Iraq for about the last four years, but there they are.