The Writer’s Section had some fun yesterday. Warm, sure, that is the Piedmont in muggy summer. Nature’s warm, moist embrace. Was there a case of beer evident in the discussion? Like the Texas legislators stowed away on their private plane to flee injustice in the Lone Star State?   

In point of fact, there was a similar case of beverage on the edge of the Loading Dock. But some powerful thinking was produced, like the Texans who fled to Washington to exercise their right to filibuster in their home state by talking to people here in Washington who wish to abolish the filibuster in the U.S. Senate.   

We know. It is complicated trying to keep it straight until you remember it doesn’t have to make sense. It is about situational power, consistency not required.   But that is the case everywhere, and not always with the help of a potable beverage. DeMille has kids, one of whom is moving to Southern California for personal reasons. Getting ready included some stuff that did not used to be necessary. The Writer’s Section all have lived in SoCal for reasons of military assignment, and without exception enjoyed the experience. The beauty and lovely climate made it a special place to be with friends and family and celebrate the California experience.  

Times change, apparently a little more methodically than the climate. The Texas legislators were drinking “Miller Light” on their flight to freedom. The Writer’s Section relied on the Eight Point IPA beverage produced by the Devil’s Backbone brewery in Roseland. It is a robust brew that incentivizes bold thought. It being Sunday yesterday, thoughts were effusive and smeared with a certain sunlit spirituality.   

“So,” asked Loma. “Who liked the effort to clean up the Cuyahoga River back in President Nixon’s time?” Everyone raised a gnarled hand, except one.   “You mean the river in Cleveland that used to catch fire?” growled Rocket.   “Yes. The reason the Environmental Protection Agency was founded. To clean the environment.” Loma was pretty sure about that and reached for another 8 Point, clean and refreshing from the ice bucket.

  “They did a pretty good job. I haven’t heard of any flaming estuaries in quite a while.”  

“They enforced Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act. Good work. That is one of the reasons America is pretty clean now. In fact, the Agency reported that from 2005 to 2018, total American CO2 emissions were cut by 12%.”   “Except global emissions, mostly from China and India, went up 24%. The Chinese are building a new coal-fired generation plant every day,” said DeMille with a grin. Another bottle of 8 Point performed a lazy arc across the circle and landed with a refreshing crackle in the trash bin. “And I think it is useful to remember you are sitting on a chair manufactured in Wuhan.”   “Like something else.” There was a general sigh around the circle and the Chairman lit up a Lucky in the designated place it was still permitted. “And they still haven’t proved there is any direct relation of the miniscule amount of CO2 in the atmosphere driving global climate change, which it does.”  

“What? CO2? Since when? Don’t they make a new erroneous prediction about the end of the world every few years?”   “No, the climate changes all the time and it always has. But the consensus says it is CO2 that drives it. You have to believe in consensus Science. Everyone says so.”  

“The Scientific consensus used to be that the sun revolved around the Earth.”   “Hand me a beer,” said DeMille. Being our only nuclear-trained officer, he normally has a fairly good grasp of physics. He popped the cap on his fresh bottle and smiled. “California is an excellent field study on how this all works. They are mandating a change to electric-powered vehicles while simultaneously shifting the load of the power from conventional sources to sun and wind. It will solve the world’s problems.”  

“The rest of the world doesn’t seem to care very much if they are still building coal-fired plants.”    “They promise to get with the program in twenty or thirty years, once they have established reliable networks to provide electricity to all their citizens who need it.”  

“That would mean the world will have ended a couple times by then by the consensus. But what about California? They are using coal-fired energy to build electric cars that they are prohibited from charging when the sun goes down, or the wind doesn’t blow. That seems sort of crazy.”  

“Nope. It is the consensus. And everyone voted for it.” Loma scowled as he reached for another refreshing beverage.   “Well, the machines say they voted for it, anyway. Once we get California regulations jammed down our throats all across the country we will all be fine.”   “Doesn’t California have to import electricity from places that still produce it when people need it?”   “Hand me a beer,” said DeMille.  

Copyright 2021 Vic Socotra
www,vicsocotra.com