Reply to: Poor, poor strikers go shopping

[DodgyAgent]

Monbiot has been writing for over two decades, and has occasionally written some naive and foolish things, however, from your linked article Monbiot said, in 2007



And your link 'proving' hypocrisy was to a 2003 article, so your timeline is screwed. In fact he went on a speaking tour in Canada to erm, to campaign against climate change which seems to be the only time he has broken his self-imposed ban.

And that proposal is known as Tradable Energy Quotas (TEQ). It is nothing to do with social engineering, rather one possible response to the twin challenges of Peak Oil and Climate Change. You may find it a hoot, however it was given serious study by an all-party Parliamentary Committee, who concluded



It won't happen. My prediction is that neither this scheme, nor the alternative fast tracks to a low-carbon economy that the science tells us are needed will be adopted, partially due to the impact the noise from the denial machine has had on public perceptions. I also fear that with hindsight we will come to regret this inactivity.

Why doesnt Monbiot show some leadership by example and simply "not travel" by aircraft at all thus showing the world that we can do without the need for air travel?

[BlasterBates]

It won't happen. My prediction is that neither this scheme, nor the alternative fast tracks to a low-carbon economy that the science tells us are needed will be adopted, partially due to the impact the noise from the denial machine has had on public perceptions. I also fear that with hindsight we will come to regret this inactivity.

Quite right it won't happen, the alarmists have lost the debate, everyone has seen through the junk science.

[EternalOptimist]

I also fear that with hindsight we will come to regret this ...

Aye, I fear for the future. These ungodly 'flying contraptions' are the spawn of the devil. They will fall from the sky onto our childrens heads and destroy us all.
If God had meant us to fly he would have given us wings

pj's great grandad 1910

[pjclarke]

Monbiot has been writing for over two decades, and has occasionally written some naive and foolish things, however, from your linked article Monbiot said, in 2007

The only reason for which I will fly is to campaign on climate change.

And your link 'proving' hypocrisy was to a 2003 article, so your timeline is screwed. In fact he went on a speaking tour in Canada to erm, to campaign against climate change which seems to be the only time he has broken his self-imposed ban.

And that proposal is known as Tradable Energy Quotas (TEQ). It is nothing to do with social engineering, rather one possible response to the twin challenges of Peak Oil and Climate Change. You may find it a hoot, however it was given serious study by an all-party Parliamentary Committee, who concluded

TEQs could be the game-changer, both allowing national leaders to promise substantial reductions in fossil-fuel dependency with confidence that they will actually happen, and emboldening them to throw down the powerful challenge: “we are acting, so must you”.

It is now intensely urgent that nations should have an instrument, available and proven, which is capable of both reducing carbon emissions and rationing scarce fuel. The system capable of delivering that is TEQs.

It won't happen. My prediction is that neither this scheme, nor the alternative fast tracks to a low-carbon economy that the science tells us are needed will be adopted, partially due to the impact the noise from the denial machine has had on public perceptions. I also fear that with hindsight we will come to regret this inactivity.

[DodgyAgent]

Taking Clarkson's 'jokes' seriously is a category error, he is primarily an entertainer, he's always been a buffoon and this latest 'outrage' just happens to come when he has a new DVD out in time for Xmas.

He's an odd contradiction tho - the Top Gear brand and franchise that gives him a platform has been built up by the licence-payer funded BBC, you'd think - oh never mind.

But he and the Top Gear boys are not exactly apolitical, nor honest, in their crafting of entertainment for the readership of 'Nuts' ....



Top Dollar



The Anti-Social Bastards in Our Midst

I thought we had got rid of all these humorless self righteous socialists. The one thing I like about Clarkson is that he rips these people apart.

[GreenLabel]

Yeah, he attracts a lot of abuse like that, very few of the abusers choose to engage with his arguments, though......

Please. The guy's only borderline sane. Witness his guilt-ridden hand-wringing over the purchase of his Renault, or his hissing rage against aviation, only to admit that he indeed still takes flights to promote his books. From the "hissing rage" link:

...your luxury is depriving other people of their necessities

Okay, so somehow my flight to Portugal is denying some kid in Angola a glass of clean drinking water. Whatever you say, man. Monbiot's probably farming a bumper crop of stomach ulcers with his pointless, impotent angst and guilt.

George in 2007:

I hope that the recession now being forecast by some economists materialises. I recognise that recession causes hardship. Like everyone I am aware that it would cause some people to lose their jobs and homes.

Does that include your job at the Guardian, George?

The Moonbat's plan to restructure society is a hoot:

Every citizen is given a free annual quota of carbon dioxide. He or she spends it by buying gas and electricity, petrol and train and plane tickets. If they run out, they must buy the rest from someone who has used less than his or her quota.

[Ruprect]

What if I told you insane was working fifty hours a week in some office for fifty years at the end of which they tell you to piss off; ending up in some retirement village hoping to die before suffering the indignity of trying to make it to the toilet on time? Wouldn't you consider that to be insane?

You're back!

[AtW]

Striking while negotiations are taking place is insane.

What if I told you insane was working fifty hours a week in some office for fifty years at the end of which they tell you to piss off; ending up in some retirement village hoping to die before suffering the indignity of trying to make it to the toilet on time? Wouldn't you consider that to be insane?

[Freamon]

Taking Clarkson's 'jokes' seriously is a category error, he is primarily an entertainer, he's always been a buffoon and this latest 'outrage' just happens to come when he has a new DVD out in time for Xmas.

He's an odd contradiction tho - the Top Gear brand and franchise that gives him a platform has been built up by the licence-payer funded BBC, you'd think - oh never mind.

But he and the Top Gear boys are not exactly apolitical, nor honest, in their crafting of entertainment for the readership of 'Nuts' ....



Top Dollar



The Anti-Social Bastards in Our Midst

Clarkson and his followers are just reacting and providing a counterpoint to the often lunatic behaviour of the extreme left. It's not particularly surprising.

Sensible people don't tend to be anywhere near either Clarkson or Mobiot on the political spectrum, rather they'll be quite a lot closer to the middle.

[pjclarke]

Yeah, he attracts a lot of abuse like that, very few of the abusers choose to engage with his arguments, though......

[GreenLabel]

Taking Clarkson's 'jokes' seriously is a category error, he is primarily an entertainer, he's always been a buffoon and this latest 'outrage' just happens to come when he has a new DVD out in time for Xmas.

He's an odd contradiction tho - the Top Gear brand and franchise that gives him a platform has been built up by the licence-payer funded BBC, you'd think - oh never mind.

But he and the Top Gear boys are not exactly apolitical, nor honest, in their crafting of entertainment for the readership of 'Nuts' ....

Top Dollar

The Anti-Social Bastards in Our Midst

George Monbiot really is a toxic bore - I can see why you would feel an attraction to his material.

[BlasterBates]

Clarkson is an unsecured creditor of the bankrupt insurance firm AIG. IIRC he lost most of his savings when they defaulted in 2008.

There is actually a parallel, I think everyone lost something in the last crash, stocks went way down. The same thing will happen if the public sector costs aren´t reigned in and we end up like Greece. In fact it´ll be far worse. Pension liabilities are far higher than the banking losses.

[RobertRice]

The main thing lacking in credibility is the Telegraph. Oh and your sincerity.

All hope abandon ye who enter here.

[Freamon]

A proper strike should involve some kind of protest to stir up public feeling and make the government think. Instead the strikers have gone shopping making the strike totally lack any credibility.

The main thing lacking in credibility is the Telegraph. Oh and your sincerity.

[RobertRice]

Good for them! It is very good of them to go shopping thereby contributing to the economy. If Mervyn King has his way the Bankers won't be doing their usual share of shopping next year!

A proper strike should involve some kind of protest to stir up public feeling and make the government think. Instead the strikers have gone shopping making the strike totally lack any credibility.