John Cory, writing in Reader Supported News, certainly showed he knows how to write a lead, even when beginning with a question.
In a recent article, Barbra Streisand asked: Where Is The Fourth Estate When You Need Them?
Well Ms. Streisand, they ran away from home and joined the ugly circus of pundit shows and cable news, with big floppy shoes and red rubber-ball noses and lots of money in the trunks of their clown cars.
No guesswork needed to know that this column was going to be highly critical of news as we have come to know it. A good read with more than a little provocative wordsmithing. Definitely worth a read.
Here are a few other items I flagged in the past few days.
There’s a report from the National Association of Home Builders that houses are more affordable today than at any time in the past two decades.
HOI (National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index) data released today indicated that 75.9 percent of all new and existing homes sold in the fourth quarter were affordable to families earning the national median income of $64,200, the highest percentage recorded in the 20-year history of the index.
But that affordability thing doesn’t extend to Honolulu, which ranked 224 in affordability out of the 225 cities surveyed.
According to the survey, only 34.3% of Honolulu homes would be within reach of the average family.
Finally, the Guardian (UK) reported on leaked documents exposing corporate funding of anti-science activities aimed at undermining scientific warnings about climate change and global warming.
According to a statement by the Union of Concerned Scientists:
Internal documents reportedly from a free-market group were published online this week. If they are genuine, the documents reveal that some of the nation’s largest fossil fuel interests are funding attacks to discredit climate science, including in public schools.
The Heartland Institute disputes the authenticity of one document, but elements discussed in that document are covered in the others, too. The documents show that the Chicago-based group derives its funding from several sources and enjoys substantial support from the Charles G. Koch Foundation and Murray Energy Company. These groups represent the largest private oil and coal interests in the United States, respectively.
Meanwhile, the documents refer often to an anonymous donor who has offered major support for the group’s efforts to undermine climate science, including a plan to challenge the teaching of climate science in public schools.
In any case, enjoy your holiday!
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Heartland has a web page of “legislative advisors” here: http://heartland.org/policy-documents/heartland-institutes-board-legislative-advisors
From Hawaii they list Barbara Marumoto, Guy P. Ontai, David A. Pendleton, Sam Slom, and Mark Takai. I hope these legislators have the courage to either distance themselves from this propoganda machine, or recuse themselves from any policymaking bearing on education.
I am surprised to see Rep. Marumoto affiliated with a climate-denial group. Isn’t she usually a good vote on environmental bills?
It is hard to tell what Sam Slom actually believes. He has become such a caricature of the jaded, cynical rightwing operative.
Both Marumoto and Takai are probably facing tough re-election campaigns this fall, due to redistricting. They should be pressed on their views on climate change and their ties to the Heartland Institute.
Kolea, who would be Takai’s potential opponent? His old district abutted Blake Oshiro’s; I was under the impression that his residence in Newtown would become part of a district that included much of the area represented until recently by Oshiro, IOW, one with no incumbent.
You are correct. BUt we need to update the analysis to factor in Heather Giugni’s appointment to fill Blake’s old seat.
I’m not sure exactly where Heather lvies, but it is likely it will be in the same new district as K. Mark. Nor do I have any idea if she is likely to run for the office in August. Heck, I doubt SHE has a firm idea on the matter herself.
Maybe this little exchange will elicit info from someone in the know?