Ruth Marcus: The Bathroom Wars For Transgenders Are Totes Serious, You Guys

No, no, no. No giggling. So says The Washington Post’s Ruth Marcus

Beyond the bathroom wars for transgender rights

The White House now offers a gender-neutral restroom, for use by men, women and anyone whose gender is less than certain. If this news tempts you to giggle — please refrain.

See? I told you. No giggling. Of course, you’re probably not giggling in the first place. If you’re a Democrat, you’re probably all for transgendered bathrooms and people going into a bathroom after they pick their sex (as long as men aren’t going into the bathroom your daughter uses at school. This is for Other People). If you’re a Republican, you’re wondering what in the hell is wrong with people and shaking your head.

Certainly, the bathroom wars are a bizarrely outsize aspect of a serious subject, which is ensuring full rights for transgender Americans. Bring up the issue, and it fast deteriorates into a debate, equal parts frivolous and overheated, over what might ensue if a male transitioning to female uses the ladies’ room. (Answer: The transgender individual goes into a stall and closes the door. No big deal.)

Tell me: what’s the difference between a man walking into the ladies room and going in to the stall, which would cause security/the police to be called, and a man claiming he identifies as a women going in?

The White House restroom policy is that anyone can use the facility that fits his or her needs. It added the gender-neutral option, in the Old Executive Office Building, to accommodate anyone who might not feel comfortable — or who might worry that others feel uncomfortable — in a single-sex restroom.

In other words, a special bathroom for the what, .0001 percent of the population which is need of a mental health evaluation?

This move is a minor part of a belated revolution in the way the federal government, and society as a whole, treats the issue of transgender rights. Just a few years ago, it was such an edgy outpost of the broader issue of gay rights that it was at risk of being sacrificed to the larger cause.

A revolution, you guys!

Anyhow, Marcus continues on and on and on about The Serious Importance Of People Confused About Their Dangly and Hidden Bits, leading to

“This president has been the best president in history on trans issues and nobody is in second place,” said Mara Keisling of the National Center for Transgender Equality. “Until this administration, no one even took us into account. It’s not like they were off trying to hurt us or anything — it’s that they didn’t consider us at all.”

Well, at least he’s good at something, considering the shaky state of the economy, poor international relations, the world burning, etc.

If you think that being transgender is creepy, or perverted, or fixable by conversion therapy, these developments probably do not impress you. If, however, you believe that some people are simply born into the wrong bodies — if you trust medical experts who believe that gender dysphoria is a real phenomenon — you probably think these are welcome developments.

If you believe society is pushing this more and more for ….. well, no actual reason, other than it being fashionable, and you have a big problem with males using women’s bathrooms and changing rooms, well, you’re a big meanie or something. Because the Bathroom Wars are like Super Important. Strange how in one breath liberals say that government shouldn’t “be in our bedrooms” and in the next breath want all sorts of government rules, regulations, and laws.

Crossed at Right Wing News.

Read: Ruth Marcus: The Bathroom Wars For Transgenders Are Totes Serious, You Guys »

Warmists Confesses He’s A Climahypocrite, And He’s A-OK With That

I’ve been seeing a low level push recently whereby Warmists are finding excuses to by hypocrites, and finding acceptance for being hypocrites. Here’s Peterson Tucsano at the Huffington Post

I Confess: I Am a Climate Change Hypocrite

Anyone engaged in climate action runs into pushback from people not ready or willing to hear about our carbon pollution crisis. Climate action detractors love to accuse climate action figures of hypocrisy. “Here you are blabbing about climate change while using fossil fuels all the time.” Those trying to interrupt the conversation level this charge against individuals and whole institutions. “You fight global warming by flying all over the world. How much CO2 did you people spew just to attend that climate summit?” We hear the message loud and clear–we have no authority to talk about climate change and carbon pollution because we are nothing but hypocrites.

The reality is I am a hypocrite. My life is completely infused with greenhouse gases and fossil fuel pollution. No matter how I try to untether myself from the system–abstaining from air travel in North America and buying carbon offset when I visit family in South Africa, changing all the lightbulbs in our house and hang drying clothes in the attic, walking or biking instead of driving–still I am responsible for over 13 tons of carbon pollution every year simply because I live in the USA. According to the World Bank, the average American is responsible for 17.6 tons of carbon pollution each year, while the world average per person is 5 tons. Why is this?

Then we get to

And even if I did my utmost to purge my life of products, hobbies, and activities that depend on fossil fuels, it would be absolutely futile in making a difference in reducing global rates of greenhouse gas emissions. It would not even a drop in the bucket; it would be a molecule of H2O in the Atlantic Ocean. Too little, too late.

But, what if all Warmists practiced what they preached? Ever thought of that?

And why should I the individual consumer make all the hard choices? Sure I am responsible for my actions, but I have virtually no control over the fossil fuel lifestyle that runs my little town and my country.

You can see where this is going, right?

Perhaps that is why I stand behind ideas put forward by groups like Citizens Climate Lobby advocating for a Carbon Fee and Dividend. Place a fee on carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases and suddenly we will see unbelievable ingenuity, creativity, and resourcefulness on the part of consumers–especially governments, corporations, and agriculture, the biggest consumers of fossil fuels. Instead of using that money collected to subsidize wind and solar, give it to households to help with the rising costs of fossil fuels and products dependent on them, and see a new energy market enlivened by market demand for cheaper cleaner energy supplies. As the price rises on greenhouse gases, governments, corporations, and agribusinesses will turn away from dirty energy sources and opt for cheaper cleaner ones, not because the citizens and consumers demand it from them, but because it is too expensive to do otherwise.

That’s right, government intervention on Everyone, regardless of whether they believe.

I am tired of being a hypocrite, of profiting from destructive greenhouse gases, but our current pollution crisis is bigger than what you or I do in our homes because we cannot do enough. We need to get out of our houses, organize, and apply sustained pressure on government to change the system.

There’s a solution: don’t be. But, in Warmist World, everyone must be Forced To Comply.

Now when someone tries to deflect a serious discussion about the climate crisis we face by accusing me of hypocrisy, I reply, “Yes, I confess, I am a hypocrite. Despite my best efforts, my country and my town and its businesses are enabling me to remain one, so that is why I want to talk to you about much bigger solutions to address pollution and climate change than those I can adopt all by myself.”

See how this dovetails in nicely with the overall Progressive goals of bigger and bigger government with more and more power over our lives, while increasing taxation, cost of living, and dependency on Government?

Read: Warmists Confesses He’s A Climahypocrite, And He’s A-OK With That »

If All You See…

…is a great field full of nature that should have some wind turbines, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is The Lonely Conservative, with a post on a coming net neutrality Internet tax.

Read: If All You See… »

Crazy Warmist Blames Tornado On Hotcoldwetdry

You just knew there would be at least one

Because tornadoes, including big ones, never happened before fossil fueles. He even doubles down

A cult. The Cult of Climastrology.

Read: Crazy Warmist Blames Tornado On Hotcoldwetdry »

Dashcam Video Of South Carolina Shooting Released

It doesn’t help the case of Officer Michael Slager, who has been fired from the force, in the least

(WISTV)The State Law Enforcement Division has released a copy of the dash cam footage from North Charleston police officer Michael Slager’s patrol car in the moments before he fatally wounded Walter Scott. (you can see the video at the link)

In the video, Slager pulled over Scott and asked to see his license and registration. Scott tells the officer he is missing some paperwork, saying the car is not his but he plans to buy it and the current owner has all of the documents. Right after Scott pulls over, you can also hear Slager tell him his third brake light was out.

Once Slager returns to his car to check Scott’s license, Scott gets out of his vehicle and Slager tells him to get back inside. Scott gets back into his car, then suddenly gets back out and takes off on foot.

You can’t see Slager, but through his microphone you can hear him as he runs after Scott.

There was a warrant out for Scott for unpaid child support. This in no way necessitated the use of force by Slager, especially in light of the video taken by a citizen of the actual incident. It was unjustifiable. He was not a violent felon, he was not carrying a weapon, he was not a danger to society. Let him go. You know where he lives, you have his car.

Slager has been accused of excessive force previously. A big question is, does this have anything to do with racism? Or just give the appearance of racism, due to the fact that the white officer is going to have lots of interactions with Blacks because of where he is patrolling? I certainly cannot say for sure, and nor can anyone else who does not know the officer. One thing that stuck out to me, though, is how easily he dropped what appears to be a Tazer next to the body, without really attempting to check the body for life. It’s like something out of an old cop movie, with the dirty cop ready to drop a “throw down”, ie, a handgun, to frame the perp and protect themselves from charges.

Let’s remember, though, that the vast majority of police officers are good people, and not paint the entire community for the actions of one or a few.

Read: Dashcam Video Of South Carolina Shooting Released »

Hillary To Announce Sunday?

That’s what sources are saying. But don’t expect her to do anything live in front of an audience

(NY Daily News) The long wait’s almost over — Hillary Clinton’s official campaign announcement is expected Sunday, a source close to the campaign told the Daily News.

The former secretary of state is likely to throw her hat in the ring via video and social media as she kicks off her long-expected second shot at the White House.

She’s then expected to begin her campaign with a series of smaller events in early-voting states including Iowa and New Hampshire — though it remains to be seen how low-key the high-profile candidate will be able to keep her trip.

Also

(UK Guardian) Hillary Clinton is planning to officially launch her US presidential campaign on Sunday while en route to Iowa, a source familiar with the campaign has confirmed to the Guardian.

The former secretary of state is scheduled to declare her second run for president on Twitter at noon eastern time on Sunday, the source told the Guardian, followed by a video and email announcement, then a series of conference calls mapping out a blitzkrieg tour beginning in Iowa and looking ahead to more early primary states.

Is this an attempt to woo the young voters, doing all this on social media rather than the traditional announcement? Or, simply a way to avoid putting herself in public? The LA Times has a long discussion of where to announce, and how fraught with danger the location would be. She’s seemingly avoiding that by doing it on video, but that begs the question: if it is long, will people listen beyond a few minutes? Someone simply speaking on a video tends to get tedious, versus the excitement of a live presentation in front of an audience.

One also has to wonder if the media will subject Hillary Clinton to the same tough questioning that we’ve seen associated with the announcements by Ted Cruz and Rand Paul.

Crossed at Right Wing News.

Read: Hillary To Announce Sunday? »

If All You See…

…is a place that is a hive of Bad Food which causes climate change, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is Don Surber, who notes that some Warmists are going anti-vaccine.

Read: If All You See… »

“One Simple Thing You Can Do Today to Stop Global Climate Change”

Who guesses “give up using fossil fuels”? Bzzzzt. Wrong. From the minds of Ken Berlin at Ecowatch and Al Gore’s Climate (un)Reality Project

One Simple Thing You Can Do Today to Stop Global Climate Change

……

It is critical that we hold our leaders of all political parties and at all levels accountable for taking action to combat the largest threat the world has ever faced. We have the solutions to solve the climate crisis and the international community is beginning to take action—now it is a question of mobilizing individuals, organizations and leaders here in the U.S. to take urgent action.

The good news is that community leaders across the U.S. are already taking up the cause and implementing solutions. At The Climate Reality Project, we seek to find those individuals and equip them with the knowledge, tools and drive to communicate effectively and activate their communities on what can be done to solve the climate crisis.

It is for this reason that we’re bringing our highly effective international Climate Reality Leadership Corps program back to the U.S.—our 28th training will take place May 5-7 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

So, nothing about giving up meat, fossil fuels, buying local, hand washing clothes, 2 minute showers, etc. and so on, you know the drill. No, instead, they want you to register to learn to spread awareness, taking fossil fueled travel to one of three places, the aforementioned Cedar Rapids, as well as Toronto and Miami.

Read: “One Simple Thing You Can Do Today to Stop Global Climate Change” »

New Warmist Talking Point: Industry, Not Your Activities, Is Causing “Climate Change”

What is this all about? Diminishing the notion that Warmists should practice what they preach

Dear Humans, Industry, Not Your Activities, Is Causing Climate Change

Scientists and climate policy wonks usually say global warming is caused by “human activities.” This shorthand obscures an important point: that while we humans are certainly responsible for climate change on some level, just a few of us, particularly in industry and government, are a lot more responsible than the rest of us.

After all, I like humans. I like activities, too. And it’s industry practices and government policies that largely determine how much heat-trapping emissions our human activities produce. (snip)

When we focus on the “human activities” that are causing climate change, we sound like we’re laying climate blame on things like using a washer and dryer, driving, flipping a light switch and other day-to-day things many humans in the developed world take for granted and that many humans in the developing world would very much like to do, too.

This is all about blame-shifting, so Cult Of Climastrology members can continue to assail certain industries without feeling guilty about their own personal refusal to go carbon neutral while continuing to take fossil fueled vehicles.

As it stands, our best individual attempts at limiting the carbon footprint of our human activities can only go so far — and many steps are much harder than they should be, even in the developed world:

  • I can buy the most fuel-efficient car, but if the gas I’m using to fill it up was extracted from tar sands, my carbon footprint will be larger than it would be otherwise.
  • If my utility company buys a lot of coal because government policies subsidize it, LED lightbulbs, an electric car, and turning the light switch off when I leave a room can only get me so far.
  • I can put solar panels on my roof — if my state and local government don’t throw up unnecessary barriers at the behest of energy companies.
  • I can studiously make deforestation-free purchases, but only if companies tell me how they make their products.

Given these constraints, we need to be clearer about what is really causing climate change. “Human activities” are great. Climate change is caused by industrial activities. And those activities are incentivized by government policy, which industry goes out of its way to influence.

Yup, blame shifting. Aaron Huertas, the writer, even goes on to try the old smoking comparison, saying that it was mostly the fault of the tobacco companies, not those who actually use the product (it’s obviously not that black and white, considering the chemicals they sneaked in, but you get the point). This is providing an out for those CoC members who, again, drive fossil fueled vehicles and have big carbon footprints.

Solving a problem as big as climate change isn’t an activity individual humans can decide to do on their own. We need government to create better ground rules for energy production that account for the climate risks we face. That means we need companies to stop misrepresenting the science. They also need to stop trying to tilt the rules in favor of business models that neglect scientific realities.

Interesting: The Government must Do Something, in other words, more Big Government control. All while allowing Warmists to continue to be hypocrites and forcing their beliefs on Other People.

Crossed at Right Wing News.

Read: New Warmist Talking Point: Industry, Not Your Activities, Is Causing “Climate Change” »

Poll: Majority Say Government Is The Problem, Taxes Too High

Progressives think that Government, particularly the Central Government, is the answer, as well as increasing taxation (of course, they typically mean increase taxes on That Guy, not themselves). The majority of Americans say otherwise

(Fox News) A record number of American voters think they pay too much in taxes. In addition, they think government is more often the source of America’s troubles — not the means of fixing them.

The latest Fox News poll shows by a 67-18 percent margin, voters agree that the assessment by Ronald Reagan of the nation’s woes in 1981 applies today as well: That government is not the solution to our problems — government is the problem.

The portion seeing government “as the problem” is up 14 points from 53 percent in 2008.

Government could be used for good. Unfortunately, it is incompetent, irresponsible with the People’s money, and too concerned with their own power. And covering their own butts. And responding to certain constituencies/interest groups over others. Etc.

Even 51 percent of Democrats describe the government as the problem. Larger majorities of independents (70 percent) and Republicans (83 percent) agree.

The question is phrased “Which of the following comes closer to your view?” with the two main answers being

  • Government is usually the solution to the problem
  • Government is usually the problem

along with “mixed/depends” and “don’t know”.

Overall, 63 percent say their tax bill is too high. That’s up from the previous high of 54 percent in both 2012 and 2005.

Thirty-four percent think their taxes are “about right,” while just 2 percent say they pay too little.

It gets more fun

Those most likely to say their taxes are too high include: those part of the Tea Party movement (75 percent), self-identified “very” conservatives (73 percent) and Northeasterners (72 percent).

Thirty-seven percent of Democrats think the taxes they pay are “about right,” down from 51 percent who said the same in 2012.

So, those in the Northeast, who tend to be Democrat voters, think taxes are too high, to go with just 37% thinking that taxes are “about right”. Huh. Of course, this does still go to the notion amongst Democrats that Someone Else should be forced to pay, never themselves.

There’s actually quite a bit more in this poll, including on Obamacare, where we find that people think the country is

  • better off under Ocare – 33%
  • worse off – 42%
  • no difference – 22%

and

  • more expensive for family – 77%
  • less expensive – 22%
  • no change – 11%

I thought the longer we had it the more we’d love it?

Read: Poll: Majority Say Government Is The Problem, Taxes Too High »

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