N. Carolina lawmakers reject sea level rise predictions

[maddezmom]

Source: Reuters

Wed Jul 4, 2012 1:59am IST

* Vote by Republican majority backed by real estate developers

* Panel of scientists projected big rise based on seven studies

* Democrats say vote makes state an object of ridicule

* Governor could veto measure, inviting legislative override

By Wade Rawlins

RALEIGH, N.C., July 3 (Reuters) - Lawmakers in North Carolina, which has a long Atlantic Ocean coastline and vast areas of low-lying land, voted on Tuesday to ignore studies predicting a rapid rise in sea level due to climate change and postpone planning for the consequences.

Opponents of the measure said it was a case of legislators "putting our heads in the sand" to avoid acknowledging the possible effects of global warming.

Backed by real estate developers, the Republican-led General Assembly passed a law requiring that projected rates of sea level rise be calculated on historical trends and not include accelerated rates of increase.

North Carolina is among the state's most vulnerable to sea level rise with its long coastline and thousands of square miles of low-lying land. A 2012 study by the U.S. Geological Survey says sea levels along the Atlantic Coast from North Carolina to Massachusetts are rising three to four times faster than the global average. Global sea level rise has been projected to rise two to three feet (61 to 91 centimetres) by the end of the 21st century, but in hot spots, the increase may be greater.

more: http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/07/03/environment-usa-northcarolina-idINL2E8I3DW320120703

Read more: http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/07/03/environment-usa-northcarolina-idINL2E8I3DW320120703

---

asshats

[Woody Woodpecker]

1. Ok. Is there a way to invest in stupidity?

It WILL go up. No question about it.

What should I invest in? Seriously...

[dtom67]

5. is it possible?

Maybe you could "short" NC companies that are based on the coast?


I think they should make all who voted to ignore the science live on the beach with no flood insurance.

[Voice for Peace]

38. +1 !!!! seriously, if more politicians had to live with the fruits of their own policies

those policies would change very quickly.

They are looking at the short term profitability and by the
time the sea rises the profiteers will be inland.

They can legislate this all they want but what are they
going to do, put Mother Nature in jail? Build a dike?

Hopefully people will be smart enough not to buy property
or invest with these real estate crooks.

Though there are probably rich people who will
buy land even if it may be gone in a few years,
just to have the ocean views. If I were rich, I might
do that, and also build a good strong houseboat.

[bloomington-lib]

21. Buy land inland. They'll all need to move at some point.

[Evasporque]

52. HOw many of those GOP legislators are selling Cape Hatteras, Emerald Isle... properties....??

Incredulous morons....

Wanna buy some swampland...errrr I mean a beach front vacation home...?

[The Blue Flower]

2. Latest nominees for the Darwin Awards

I say they should all build on the beach.

[Journeyman]

3. Wise decision. . .

[maddezmom]

14. exactly n/t

[Duval]

10. I really like that idea!

[lunatica]

53. I'd like to give you a gif for that

LOL!

[mysuzuki2]

6. I am reminded of the story of King Cnut commanding the tide to stop.

The North Carolina legislators are likely to end up with wet feet too.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

22. The idiocy in NC lends itself to excellent letters to the editor.

Your post reminded me of this one:

Science by decree

What fun those Republican legislators in the state House are providing us. I always thought that they wanted to take us back to the 19th century. Now I realize that their dream is to take us even further back, to the 11th century and the heady days of Cnut (or Canute), King of the English, who failed to hold back the waves by royal decree. Today, of course, they're so much more powerful: All they have to do is to pass legislation to prevent the ocean level from rising.

What’s next in store? Take the matter of pi, the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. It’s approximately 3.14159, but that’s such an inconvenient number. Why not pass legislation making it 3.2, which is what the Indiana House of Representatives did in the late 19th century (the measure died in the Senate)? Better yet, make it equal to 3, for which there’s even biblical precedent (see 1 Kings 7:23).

Of course, such legislation would have as much effect on the value of pi as that other on rising ocean levels. The more thoughtful of our Republican legislators might do well to consider the observation of the great Victorian biologist, Thomas Henry Huxley: “The tragedies of science are the slaying of beautiful hypotheses by ugly facts.”

David E. Crean, Ph.D.
Greenville

http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/06/17/2139452/david-e-crean-science-by-decree.html

[Voice for Peace]

39. "like"

good piece, thanks

(I hope DU will one day have a "like" button for individual posts)

[Ezlivin]

7. I envision a gorgeous gated community exclusively for Republicans

Right on the shoreline for walks on your own private bit of sand.

I encourage them to build huge, huge developments right on the water. There need to be plenty of expensive homes with guest cottages, tennis courts, manicured gardens and covered swimming pools.

They need to think really big, Disney big.

That'll employ lots of people for the years it takes to build it.

Then the sheep Republicans can be led to the slaughter encouraged to enjoy the good life.

[Warpy]

12. Only if the gates are sturdy enough to prevent their escape

but the bars wide enough to let the kids squeeze through. There's hope for the kids.

[dtom67]

8. Just to make sure...

God is pulling his hair out right about now , wondering just what the fuck is going on in NC .

[Duval]

9. asshats is too KIND.

[maddezmom]

15. sorry, I try to censor myself when posting an OP in LBN

[Warpy]

11. Idiot Republicans think they have a CHOICE about this

and if they just stop talking about it, it's not going to happen.

This is why we need to get them out of office!

[iamthebandfanman]

13. Wonder if insurance companies will feel the same way?

Id imagine theyd love to charge crazy rates to people in that area because of the study

[Chef Eric]

16. Andy Griffith, an NC native, is already spinning in his grave. nt

[FiveGoodMen]

17. A few years from now...

1) Take these guys out to the beach at low tide.

2) Secure their feet to a point that is four feet below the present-day (2012) high tide

3) Wait

[NRaleighLiberal]

18. Waving at you all from a State that is having a run on ignorant, embarrassing actions!

There are no words for any of this stuff....the Wake school board under Maggiata and Tedescho.....the Amendment one vote outcome.....the fracking decision (veto overturned due to pushing the wrong button)....and now denial of the new reality.

(back out to hide in my tomato patch!)

[freshwest]

30. Well, at least you don't have this nitwit speaking for you:

Mississippi Gov. Barbour, a Former Dirty-Energy Lobbyist, Compares Being Drenched in Oil to Being Dipped in Chocolate



http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2011/06/05/236763/barbour-oil-chocolate/?mobile=nc

[Dalai_1]

37. Waving with you! We are the gift that keeps on giving

....it's just too dang hot to move ,though!

[Brigid]

19. This reminds me of a story:

Centuries ago, there was a locust plaugue (in North Africa, I think). The local bishop threatened the locusts with excommunication if they did not depart immediately. The locusts were not much impressed, just as the rising floodwaters will not be much impressed by NC lawmakers' refusal to acknowledge their existence.

[alfredo]

20. They are gripped with fear when they close their eyes because

the world ceases to exist. It comes back when they open them, but there is still fear that the earth won't return when they open their eyes. They live in constant terror because they have to blink. They believe their nightly prayers is the only thing that ensures the world will return in the morning.

When they look into the mirror, they can see their eyelids, but they are unable to relate them to the darkness they experience when they blink or sleep. They never see their eyes closed.

[etherealtruth]

23. A vote to "deny" scientific findings

... good move

[WorseBeforeBetter]

25. Another banner day in North Carolina!

Denial of sea level rise on the coast, fracking in the Piedmont... wonder what our esteemed legislators have planned to deny and/or destroy in the mountains?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

26. Just in, NC sets the value of Pi at 3.2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Pi_Bill

"If God wanted us to fly he would have given us wings!"

[CoffeeCat]

27. I'm printing this article...

...so when the shit hits the fan, and several businesses near the NC coastline--want government help when
their restaurants and hotels are submerged--we can tell them that the elected officials in NC made this happen.

We are a very dumb species.

Please. If there is a mothership that put us here, I really wish it would return and rescue those of us who don't
want to live with idiotic tool bags anymore.

Sheeeesh.

[fascisthunter]

28. which makes their local gov responsible so folks can sue, right?

Mothafuckers!

[Kalidurga]

29. This is great

I didn't know we could make climate change not happen by rejecting the projections that it is happening. Could we get them to ban heat waves now. I am roasting in MN because my window A/C is just not equipped to cool very much when temps get above 90.

[polichick]

31. They've covered their eyes and ears...

...and shoved their heads right up their asses - well done, Republidiots!

[BootinUp]

32. Shouldn't the words: "Stick Heads in the Ground" be there somewhere?

[AC_Mem]

33. Idiots

It is amazing that people can completely turn away from proven facts in favor of their fantasy.

Shine on,
Annette

[TheCowsCameHome]

34. When they see Ocrakoke from glass-bottomed boats, they'll believe it.

What a bunch of stooges. Really.

[Rhiannon12866]

35. Of course they do...

[TreasonousBastard]

36. The tides didn't listen to Canute, either, but...

Canute was trying to prove science, and not that he's an asshole.

[The Jungle 1]

40. Science

There is something very wrong when a society stops believing science.
We need to call them on it. We need to do it is a big way. ?

[BootinUp]

42. Absolutely. nt

[jade3000]

43. Yep, it's bizarre and sad

First, that vote is ridiculous. But more generally it's really weird to me that so many republicans are so skeptical/hostile with respect to science. I mean how is the science a partisan issue.

[dembotoz]

41. We now have proof--Norah was a Democrat

[KatChatter]

45. We need to applaud NC for their now legal denial of science!

I look at what they and I am sure soon to follow other red states will do too as a gift, a big old gift with a nice big bow on top.

I now consider this a big science experiment Darwin/Science/Fact vs Intentional Ignorance.


So when the seas rise and takes out everything, I will sit back, smile and say.."I told you so!"

We need to stop pandering to the ignorant, they either get on board or they need to be left behind.

The homo sapiens did not coddle the neanderthals when they were doing stupid things and dying off, they let them go.

We liberals and progressives are always trying to teach the pubs about science, evolution, Darwin, facts, the very things they deny exists or happens.

So I say lets see who is really right, let them proceed on their road of denial and ignorance and when the inevitable happens and mother nature takes them out because they did not evolve, we can sit back, smile and say "I told you so, we tried to teach you but you refused, now you are getting a cold hard lesson in science and evolution."

[RickFromMN]

46. As a practical matter, what should the FEMA response be when the water rises?

Should there even be a FEMA response?

The Republicans like to speak of individual responsibility.

[tanyev]

49. They're all about individual responsibility...unless they themselves need help.

[Nihil]

47. Hmmm ...

> Democrats say vote makes state an object of ridicule

... and then proceed to top it ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=158765

It is getting difficult to avoid broad-brush attacks when people from both (nominal)
sides of the aisle are being so downright stupid ...

[Derechos]

48. It is just astounding the level of greed...

The developers don't care if their buildings are eventually damaged or destroyed by rising sea levels. They will make money now and let their customers suffer the consequences. This seems to be the new normal for our capitalistic society, from Wall Street to I guess now the beach, I got mine so suck it if you pay the consequences down the road.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

50. Texas GOP platform opposes the “teaching of Higher Order Thinking Skills”

Texas GOP platform opposes the “teaching of Higher Order Thinking Skills”

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002901160#post7

[nanabugg]

51. No FEMA help from flooding.....that's the answer. nt

[dtom67]

54. flooding now?