Disaster Relief For States That Ignore Climate Change - Is It Right?

[PaulX2]

Tell me why my tax dollars should go to help people who live in states who's right wing governments do all they can to make sure nothing is done in their state to offset climate pollution.

I'm talking about you Florida.

And South Carolina.

You can't even mention climate change in government documents in Florida.

And I am supposed to help them when the disasters they make worse happen? When the Gulf gets hotter, and hotter, and hotter.

Tell me why I should pay extra to pay for folks that pay zero, and live in a fantasy world?

https://www.salon.com/2017/09/18/floridas-largest-power-company-made-installing-solar-panels-much-harder/

"Florida’s largest power company made installing solar panels much harder"

I am being screwed by the irresponsible.

It's not right.

I just watched Marco Rubio say on CNN installing solar panels is unrealistic. They don't want to "destroy their economy".

Go to hell Rubio. Zero dollars for your state until they join THE REST OF THE PLANET AND BEGIN DOING SOMETHING.

https://miami.cbslocal.com/2018/08/16/gov-scott-killed-high-speed-rail-project-later-invested-in-all-aboard-florida/

"Gov. Scott Killed High-Speed Rail Project, Later Invested In All Aboard Florida"

Zero money to Florida until they begin to act.

Sounds Fair To Me.

[demmiblue]

1. Yes, it is most certainly the right thing to do. n/t

[mercuryblues]

2. because we are human beings

We are as strong as the weakest of us. When we start pouring salt in their wounds, we guarantee our country's demise.

[MichMan]

3. Maybe that's something that the 2020 candidates can campaign on in Floida

I'm sure that voters they will understand it's ultimately for their own good.

[treestar]

4. I guess because not every single person there

voted red, though the majority did.

But the point can be made while helping them - or ask them maybe you don't need the help, since you claim the government is terrible at it?

[KentuckyWoman]

5. So basically

I got mine. Fuck you.

No thanks.

[violetpastille]

29. +1

[Solly Mack]

6. Ignorance kills too many people without my being an accomplice. So, yes, help them.

That's what is fair - kindness and decency.

Not helping them would not change their minds and schadenfreude ceases to be schadenfreude when lives are on the line.

I huff and puff out of anger too but, I also huff and puff loading trucks with water for those who need it.

One releases tension and the other keeps me human.

Stay human, my friend.

[Hortensis]

7. That's what Republicans ask. Why should our tax dollars

go to feed people who don't feed themselves, provide shelter for people who don't do it for themselves, get jobs for people who don't get jobs for themselves, etc.

And they mean it. And there's even some validity to it.

Today's climate deniers are every bit as stupid and self victimized as any ex-lumberjack, coal miner, or factory worker who first refused to go to trade school on his own and then refused to be sent to trade school for retraining at taxpayer expense.

But we're liberals, and therefore much wiser, not just kinder and more generous, so we know there's a huge synergy to all this; that safety nets to keep people from falling into complete destitution and other programs to keep them in good health and help get them back to work aren't just what advanced societies do but play a critical function in making advanced, prosperous societies what they are.

[at140]

33. Don't worry, all climate deniers will perish when the next

ice age returns. During the last ice age the entire Midwest was covered by several miles high ice glaciers.

[malaise]

8. Check FLP's links to ReTHUGs and their contribution to the lil

water boy

[area51]

9. You do realize that decent non-Trumpettes live in red states, too, right? n/t

[PaulX2]

12. Yep

[SCantiGOP]

24. Thank god you are not an elected official

no text, just amazement at your cruel and ridiculous position.

[PaulX2]

10. The Sunshine State Burns Coal For Power

Am I the only one that has a problem with this?

I say cut them off until they act.

It's my planet too.

Tell you what. Help them now but zero help next time if they do nothing.

Rubio said it is hopeless. Then let them pay then. It's their coal ruining my planet. Burning my land. Flooding my home.

F their climate change denying asses.

Zero money from me to climate change denier states.

Period.

[Hekate]

37. There must be a Libertarian site somewhere. Have you tried them? The Democratic Party is not...

...the flip side of the GOP -- we are something else, and if you are so uncomfortable with that, well, I can't help you.

[Captain Stern]

11. Yeah. It's right.

I'm guessing (hoping) you don't realize how your post sounds.

"Tell me why my tax dollars should go to help people who......"

"Tell me why I should pay extra to pay for folks that pay zero,..."

I am being screwed by the irresponsible.


States don't ignore anything, or recognize anything. Because they're just states. It's the people in them that do the ignoring, or recognizing, or understanding, or whatever. Florida and South Carolina have a lot of citizens that don't ignore climate change, and they don't vote republican.

And, all that aside.....I think disaster relief is always right. Regardless of whether or not the people that it's helping share my opinions, or even reside in my country.

[Kaleva]

13. Progressives help out others. One doesn't need to be a progressive to be a member here.

[PaulX2]

14. Watching Rubio On CNN Made My Blood Boil

Your state burns coal opposes solar and wants me to pay.

Not until you do something.

[demmiblue]

17. How many times are you going to kick your own thread?

DU wants nothing to do with this crap (well, except a few... sadly).

[SCantiGOP]

25. agree

This OP should get a Trash and an Ignore.

[sarcasmo]

15. Inland migration.

[Garrett78]

16. Because humanity.

[ProudLib72]

18. I'm much more concerned that my taxes are going to fund his golf trips

It's too easy to say "Well it's a red state, so fuck them". Yes, at times that is exactly what I think, but then I realize there were plenty of good people who were affected. We have to put partisanship aside when it comes to natural disasters.

[defacto7]

19. Because we're not like them.

We're humans first, institutions last.

[PaulX2]

20. Every Year My Home Area Burns And We Reward Coal Burning Scum States With Our $$$ No More

Carlton Complex Fire

http://www.pacificbio.org/initiatives/fire/Carlton-Complex-Fire-Assessment-2014.pdf


Gilber Crescent Mountain Fire

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6093/


Twisp River Fire

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/please-we-need-help-report-describes-deadly-twisp-firefight/

Welcome to the Methow Valley. Every year the fires get worse, and worse, and worse. My home. If it ins't wildfires, it is floods, or hurricanes. And then you have Florida where it is almost impossible to even install solar panels to do something, because of their government.

No More Rewarding Climate Change Denying States Who Refuse To Do Anything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think to get "aid" you have to prove you have voted for addressing climate change somehow. How about that?

I know I am in the minority, but how many here watch their beloved home burn year, after year, after year and watch a political party hindering all action to address climate change. Republicans own Florida. As long as they ignore climate change they should not get one penny from responsible HUMANS.

[sarisataka]

28. If you keep building

In a known fire area why should we waste tax money on you?

Climate change may affect the severity of the fires but they have been around much longer than that. If you choose to keep returning to a high risk area you should have to get insurance to pay for all of your needs, including paying for firefighting services. My tax dollars should only go towards containing the fire, not to protecting your house that you should build somewhere else

[PaulX2]

32. You Are Absolutely Right

It's called being responsible.

Let the coal gas and gasoline users pay for the damage their carbon use causes.

Sound fair to me.

Pay for 100% sequestration. Burning coal would be 10 times as expensive as building windmills and solar farms.

But that would be like reality....

[sarisataka]

38. Totally missed the point

unintentionally I'm sure

[Tommy_Carcetti]

21. I live in Florida, believe in climate change, so that's going to be a big fat NO.

Collective punishment is sorta immoral, m’kay?

[PaulX2]

23. So How Do We Do This Tom? I Know You Don't Like Scott And The Right Wingers In Control

But the coal burners shouldn't expect us to help them every time their carbon use kicks their (and my) asses. I use very little fossil fuel. I drive an electric car, and have made my home more efficient.

I think we should include the cost of carbon sequestration into every ounce of carbon fuel. Plant trees, or something else.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

26. How do we do this? Easy.

Focus party resources into electing/re-electing people like Gillum and Nelson and helping build up candidates.

Denying people in need because of something Rick Scott believes is shameful and disgusting.

Also, you know Florida is a heavily purple state that voted for Obama twice? And Trump barely squeaked through? And remember 2000, right?

Unfortunately gerrymandering at the legislative levels has stacked the deck in favor of Republicans. But the notion Florida is far right as a whole is a myth.

[irisblue]

22. Because the people in Fla & SC are our fellow Americian citizens.

We all go together into the future. Even if we drag the assholes behind us.

[panader0]

27. So where do you live?

[Turin_C3PO]

30. Yes.

It’s always right to help people.

[pwb]

31. A few tax paying states support the many tax taker states.

It has something to do with The United States thing.

[Hekate]

34. Yes. What do you take us for?

[mcar]

35. Screw that!

I live in Florida, as do many, many other Democrats. We work very hard to turn our state blue and don't deserve this kind of hate.

So those of us who are fighting for better in our states should just die, then?

BTW, California has increasingly worse wildfires. Should we ignore them even though it's a blue state (psst, there are Republicans in California)? Even though the state has acted, it still gets hit hard.

Global climate change doesn't just pick red states.

[PaulX2]

39. I Had 2 Places In Florida Myself Till Recently - I Just Want To Move The Ball Forward Somehow

If Floridians know their disaster checks wouldn't come because they have Republicans in charge fighting climate change action, it may not be so blue. Something has to be done.

Doing nothing and burning coal like it doesn't matter isn't the answer either my friend.

I think adding the cost of sequestration to the price of coal (and gas and gasoline) is the first step.

The conversation is not being had and that is what is pissing me off.

I watched 4 hurricanes last summer and heard the term climate change mentioned once.

This year it is finally being talked about thank god.

Last year the gulf was 5 to 10 degrees warmer than normal.

[mcar]

41. How about we vote for Democrats so the policies can change?

How about the purists actually vote for what's best for the country instead of voting 3Rd party because the Dem candidate "doesn't excite" them?

You do realize this anti climate change crap is happening because Republicans are in charge, right? Rubio could have been defeated in 2016 and FL could have gone blue if people voted!

Doing nothing and burning coal like it doesn't matter isn't the answer either my friend.

Who suggested doing nothing? Where did I say that burning coal like it doesn't matter is the answer, my friend?

The answer is to vote them out.

Look at the devastation in Mexico Beach and tell me those people should just suck it up because they have an R governor so too bad, so sad.

[DrDan]

36. so you want to punish ALL the people because of the politicians . . . got it

You do know there are lot of people in these states that believe as we do.

Seems pretty cold-hearted to me.

[PaulX2]

40. No - Give Them Aid And An Ultimatum Right Now - Crap They Aren't Getting Proper Aid Right Now

Address climate change at the state level 100% or no money next time/disaster.

Like it?

Make the right wing droolers do something or else.....

[DrDan]

45. you want to give an ultimatum to those working hard to change the politics of these states

as I said previously - cold-hearted

there will be another disaster . . . and it will come before climate-change legislation . . . and I stand with providing aid to those affected.

Leave the bluster to the other side.

[tazkcmo]

42. Yes. N/T

[bitterross]

43. "Is it right" and "should we" are two different questions. I say we shouldn't.

It is the right thing to do but that's not reason enough for me anymore.

Tell me there are good people in the state. I believe you. Did these good people do anything to ensure they and their families are protected? I'd make the case that they have not. That not enough of them have gotten off their asses and voted and made sure others vote.

I'm tired of making excuses for the good people in bad states. Either you get off your fucking ass and get out the vote so the GOP, who is vastly outnumbered by people who favor Democratic policies, gets voted out of office or you suffer the consequences.

Until enough of them start feeling the pain and enough of them make an active effort to get the GOP out of office - then fuck 'em.

[Kaleva]

44. I'm thankful I don't live in your dark world.

Kind of feel sad for you. But there's always hope! Hang around here long enough and maybe some fundamental progressive values might rub off on you.

[Turbineguy]

46. That's the problem

if you start your country's name with the word "United".

You have to include self-destructive idiots. I'm thinking the Founding Fathers didn't foresee that. Their values were based on self-interest. They planned for a guy like Nixon to get elected, they didn't plan for a guy like Trump to get elected. They didn't foresee Fox News and the Russians believed that the Germans put the Moon up there the light the way at night.

[nolabear]

47. Because they're Americans. They're human beings.

There are scores of innocents among them and I’d never let a child or disabled or old person or even someone who, for whatever reason isn’t involved suffer.

But I wouldn’t let the red voter, Trump loving, GOP voters suffer either. Because I don’t believe in cruelty. And to ask for a purity test for the basics of survival is utterly wrong.

[blogslut]

48. Because selfish tribalism is wrong and counterproductive to democracy.

Dude. Rethink your priorities.