I'm interested that you appear not to consider our President as an annoying person, Anneke! But thanks for the kind words about the post, it was something of a daunting topic to tackle and I'm happy that it seems to have spoken to people. And I promise to have more lighthearted annoying people encounters coming soon....
This is very interesting and relevant. I’m just reading Sally Carson - The crooked cross - about Germany in the early thirties and written at the time.
So well said. I truly believe that America is a sleeping giant and while it has taken far longer than it should to wake us up, we will and we will come together and fight back.
The country is forever changed and there is no going back, but we will learn. And hopefully other countries won’t make similar mistakes.
Thank you for everything you’re doing. It does make a difference. Sending so much hope and love your way. xx
Thank you, Marianne it must be strange and eerie to be watching this from afar. I love the image of a sleeping giant and we can only hope that the giant wakes up before too long. Love and hope back atcha ...
Well said, and a great call out to All-American Story, a wonderful organization that gives empowerment and a voice to first and second generation immigrants. Afterall, the majority of us are descendants of immigrants and that is what makes living in Los Angeles such a rich and rewarding experience.
Thank you, Sheila. I used to wonder how, not politicians, but ordinary German people could have let the Nazis take over, and I think that one thing we are learning from this current situation in America is how profoundly essential it is not to let the bad stuff become normal, no matter how relentlessly it happens. Have you seen a German film from a couple of years ago called The Zone of Interest? About a nice, happy, prosperous family who live a riotously happy life next door to Auschwitz? It. Is. Chilling. As you say, good luck to us all.
I did see The Zone of Interest, and it was chilling. The family lived a life separated from what was happening right next to them, and chose not to look or question: the black smoke from the industrial chimney, the prisoners' clothes they picked through, the sounds and voices from the other side of the substantial wall… The danger is to feel comfortable in one's safety, hunker down in the bubble, and to assume that bad things only happen to bad people. You're right, we have to find ways to find out what is happening, and to protest.
The fuel prices are the fault of your own local politicians and its going to get worse because more refineries are going to shut and you'll have to import more specially blended fuel from Eastern Asia.
(BTW regular petrol prices here in Japan are ~$4/gal, which is about three quarters of what I paid last week when I refilled my rentacar at LAX). To the extent that President Trump has done anything he's helped increase the supply of local oil by overriding the state and allowing Sable oil to produce oil from its wells just off the California coast.
I believe much the same applies to the prices of electricity and gas, which my San Diego friends tell me are also sky-rocketing.
Given the choice, I’d vote for clean air, which at least gave me a view of the San Gabriel mountains from the 101 rather than a smog-filled LA basin… although tbf, if you really want to cut the air with a knife (and fork), I can recommend Carson and Wilmington on a hot summer’s day.
There’s also reasons why off-shore drilling was banned. Santa Barbara beaches look so much better when they’re not covered in thick deposits of oil from yet another leak…
Of course non of which has anything to do with the price of electricity or gas - the latter is drilled for just off the coast…
Guys, I am loving these comments! We could argue about the content - and either of you, next time you're in LA, do message me and let's meet for coffee - but it's precisely these sorts of arguments that don't happen in America these days, because we're all so busy trying to protect ourselves from sheer destruction that we don't have the space to argue as we used about different ways to make the world better. I notice, and think it's significant, that neither of you lives in America currently, and thank you both for reminding me of the way we used to be able to argue with each other.
Well I'm not going to touch other parts of your post because I disagree more strongly, however I think we could probably agree on a ton of things too, especially if we discussed it in person. Anyway, if I can figure out schedules lets do lunch (or coffee). Probably be back in the area end of September/early October
You have had clean air in LA for decades. The solution to the smog was mostly catalytic converters and tailpipe emissions checks to make sure they worked.
There's no reason to ban offshore drilling that isn't a bansturbatory greeny NIMBY excuse. I don't want oil covered beaches either but the fix for that is ensuring the drillers are liable for clean up and are insured to afford it. Not drilling for oil locally is simple outsourcing your pollution to some other country and also burning more hydrocarbons to transport the oil to California.
The same applies to regulating refineries out of the state. These refineries have been there for decades, the initial investment has been paid back and then some. No business would decide to close such an established site if they could make money from it. They can't and that is 100% due to the California regulatory environment.
Same again goes for the nukes. You have one plant. There are zero plans to build more and former plants like San Onofre are being gradually dismantled instead of refurbished (yes I know San Onofre has issues, I'm sure they are fixable)
Such a beautiful articulation of many of my own thoughts and feelings. Thank you, Gabrielle. And for mentioning All-American Story as well.
I do miss your usual funny encounter with an annoying person though!
I'm interested that you appear not to consider our President as an annoying person, Anneke! But thanks for the kind words about the post, it was something of a daunting topic to tackle and I'm happy that it seems to have spoken to people. And I promise to have more lighthearted annoying people encounters coming soon....
Annoying is way too mild for the orange felon . . and I think you did an amazing job of tackling this overwhelming subject.
Thank you, Anneke!
The best IC among many good essays.
Thank you, cousin Hendon!
This is very interesting and relevant. I’m just reading Sally Carson - The crooked cross - about Germany in the early thirties and written at the time.
A terrific book and full of foreboding for those living in MAGA America.
Thanks, Patti - I must read that book ... when I'm feeling strong enough!
So well said. I truly believe that America is a sleeping giant and while it has taken far longer than it should to wake us up, we will and we will come together and fight back.
The country is forever changed and there is no going back, but we will learn. And hopefully other countries won’t make similar mistakes.
Thank you for everything you’re doing. It does make a difference. Sending so much hope and love your way. xx
Thank you, Marianne it must be strange and eerie to be watching this from afar. I love the image of a sleeping giant and we can only hope that the giant wakes up before too long. Love and hope back atcha ...
That's it, exactly. Thank you.
Mary
Thank you, Mary!
You give me hope, when I really have very little. I thank you for this
Thank you, Candi, I think not giving up is the best we can all do now.
Well said, and a great call out to All-American Story, a wonderful organization that gives empowerment and a voice to first and second generation immigrants. Afterall, the majority of us are descendants of immigrants and that is what makes living in Los Angeles such a rich and rewarding experience.
Thank you, Karen!
Thanks for this, G. Very nicely put. I do wonder often how it is for you. Good luck to you (and to us all in a way…).
Thank you, Sheila. I used to wonder how, not politicians, but ordinary German people could have let the Nazis take over, and I think that one thing we are learning from this current situation in America is how profoundly essential it is not to let the bad stuff become normal, no matter how relentlessly it happens. Have you seen a German film from a couple of years ago called The Zone of Interest? About a nice, happy, prosperous family who live a riotously happy life next door to Auschwitz? It. Is. Chilling. As you say, good luck to us all.
I did see The Zone of Interest, and it was chilling. The family lived a life separated from what was happening right next to them, and chose not to look or question: the black smoke from the industrial chimney, the prisoners' clothes they picked through, the sounds and voices from the other side of the substantial wall… The danger is to feel comfortable in one's safety, hunker down in the bubble, and to assume that bad things only happen to bad people. You're right, we have to find ways to find out what is happening, and to protest.
Blimey Gabrielle! I feel your exasperation and will pray for crocuses too. X
Thank you, SFB! Please pray on and pray hard ...
The fuel prices are the fault of your own local politicians and its going to get worse because more refineries are going to shut and you'll have to import more specially blended fuel from Eastern Asia.
(BTW regular petrol prices here in Japan are ~$4/gal, which is about three quarters of what I paid last week when I refilled my rentacar at LAX). To the extent that President Trump has done anything he's helped increase the supply of local oil by overriding the state and allowing Sable oil to produce oil from its wells just off the California coast.
I believe much the same applies to the prices of electricity and gas, which my San Diego friends tell me are also sky-rocketing.
Given the choice, I’d vote for clean air, which at least gave me a view of the San Gabriel mountains from the 101 rather than a smog-filled LA basin… although tbf, if you really want to cut the air with a knife (and fork), I can recommend Carson and Wilmington on a hot summer’s day.
There’s also reasons why off-shore drilling was banned. Santa Barbara beaches look so much better when they’re not covered in thick deposits of oil from yet another leak…
Of course non of which has anything to do with the price of electricity or gas - the latter is drilled for just off the coast…
Guys, I am loving these comments! We could argue about the content - and either of you, next time you're in LA, do message me and let's meet for coffee - but it's precisely these sorts of arguments that don't happen in America these days, because we're all so busy trying to protect ourselves from sheer destruction that we don't have the space to argue as we used about different ways to make the world better. I notice, and think it's significant, that neither of you lives in America currently, and thank you both for reminding me of the way we used to be able to argue with each other.
Well I'm not going to touch other parts of your post because I disagree more strongly, however I think we could probably agree on a ton of things too, especially if we discussed it in person. Anyway, if I can figure out schedules lets do lunch (or coffee). Probably be back in the area end of September/early October
Sounds like a plan, Francis, we live in Mar Vista, not far from LAX, so it should be doable. Let's message closer to the time.
You have had clean air in LA for decades. The solution to the smog was mostly catalytic converters and tailpipe emissions checks to make sure they worked.
There's no reason to ban offshore drilling that isn't a bansturbatory greeny NIMBY excuse. I don't want oil covered beaches either but the fix for that is ensuring the drillers are liable for clean up and are insured to afford it. Not drilling for oil locally is simple outsourcing your pollution to some other country and also burning more hydrocarbons to transport the oil to California.
The same applies to regulating refineries out of the state. These refineries have been there for decades, the initial investment has been paid back and then some. No business would decide to close such an established site if they could make money from it. They can't and that is 100% due to the California regulatory environment.
Same again goes for the nukes. You have one plant. There are zero plans to build more and former plants like San Onofre are being gradually dismantled instead of refurbished (yes I know San Onofre has issues, I'm sure they are fixable)
200% spot on!
Thank you, Ruth, I'm glad you agree!
Well said, my friend.
Thank you, Joni!