Indy Richard 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Feb 19, 2023
In 1979 Jimmy Carter installed solar panels on the White House roof. In the 80s' Ronald Reagan removed them.
Carter wanted renewables to generate 20% of U.S. energy needs by 2000. When Reagan was elected he scrapped the policy, eliminating tax breaks for renewable technologies in favour of oil and gas. Today the US produces just 7% of its energy from renewables, the majority from hydroelectric schemes.
A massive wasted opportunity which we and future generations will pay for.
#climatechange
Show threadZelmo ZiggyFeb 19, 2023
@IndyRichard Carter’s heart was in the right place, but he was an ineffectual president.
Show threadIndy Richard 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Feb 20, 2023
@ZZiggy Am not American so am not best placed to comment.Maybe you are correct.
I just thought that this idea of the solar panels was a proxy which gives shape to the consequences of the decisions made by business and politicians and how bigger ideas such as neoliberalism and capitalism are seen. I sometimes wonder if many imagine such ideas cannot be challenged. Is this one reason why the world is in such a mess?
Show threadZelmo ZiggyFeb 20, 2023
@IndyRichard He was right about solar panels, but he was unable to lead Americans to follow his example. Maybe it was an impossible task.
Show threadIndy Richard 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Feb 20, 2023
@ZZiggy Left wing politicians are seen as a threat. Has anyone stopped to ask themselves why this is the case and who this perceived threat might be towards?
Show threadZelmo ZiggyFeb 22, 2023
@IndyRichard A lot of Americans are convinced that progressive programs will take money from them and give it to someone else, so the perceived threat is to themselves.
Show threadIndy Richard 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Feb 23, 2023
@ZZiggy How those with vast wealth must chuckle that ordinary people believe such a version of events.
Show threadZelmo ZiggyFeb 23, 2023
@IndyRichard https://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/12/opinion/the-triumph-of-hope-over-self-interest.html
Opinion | The Triumph Of Hope Over Self-Interest

David Brooks Op-Ed article on reasons why middle-class voters back Republicans whose tax cuts benefit rich instead of candidates who want to redistribute more wealth down to people like themselves; holds people vote their aspirations, that income resentment is not strong emotion in much of America and that many Americans admire rich; drawing (M)

The New York Times
Show threadIndy Richard 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Feb 24, 2023
@ZZiggy Sorry doesn't let me read that as there is a paywall.
Show threadZelmo Ziggy
@IndyRichard See if this works. https://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/12/opinion/the-triumph-of-hope-over-self-interest.html?unlocked_article_code=tsuYY4lLpnlbY5RdyMcAUMoJNkr7YSmj5AQN58QDAq6XIsFVyPvqFHuE5j-G9zBmlOP3j8tA297quhRPIO3_myWukU2WQ_BhE-PfpcYE98vhdeOlFMc2zzIVne52vV_GFKrAjnP43ZFCoTLjGk7ch6PSpPeN_kHf4OBYql1FrmIh-mVkRxhFTjFC5a7IIsq43KlWhNM0V7IDiANs_FwT2Ll7F8QKxwPHbErAQy0aZA2aT7dpF_T4oUuGSYitestA3DscaheJq3atKFmO-pZ0UNDVLGr9Iqvaro82m84fz2OLgehPofsTPTsAms6U-AEM5XiyGYqFUyp-IkGgXf1s5pB3J4SpXez0XfShoMd1&smid=url-share
Opinion | The Triumph Of Hope Over Self-Interest

David Brooks Op-Ed article on reasons why middle-class voters back Republicans whose tax cuts benefit rich instead of candidates who want to redistribute more wealth down to people like themselves; holds people vote their aspirations, that income resentment is not strong emotion in much of America and that many Americans admire rich; drawing (M)

The New York Times
Feb 26, 2023 at 7:16amWeb
Show threadIndy Richard 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Feb 26, 2023
@ZZiggy Many thanks for finding that for me. Slightly sad to me that 19% of Americans imagine they are in the1% of the wealthiest people. Reminds me of a survey asking about driving skills and almost everyone who took part imagines they a better than average driver.