Vengeance is not a noble pursuit, but an evil that feeds back on its practitioners.
The State That Kills Its Killers Is No Better Than They Were
Capital punishment is not about justice. It’s about vengeance.
Two weeks ago, the government of the United States of America went on a vengeance spree.
The federal government executed three of our own citizens in the span of just a few days after 17 years without a single “state-ordered legal homicide” by the federal government. Officials carried out the three death penalty sentences at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Ind.
New York Times copy editor suffers exclamation-point-induced heart attack.
Speech Dubbed “First #SOTU of the Tweetstorm Age”
President Donald J. Trump gave the shortest State of the Union address in the history of the United States last night to a joint session of Congress and nearly a dozen Americans watching on live television.
Pundits have dubbed it “The First #SOTU of the Tweetstorm Age.”
Prior to the address, Trump’s staff released the text to the media:
Brad Magnuson, chair of the N.D. Dem-NPL Renewable Energy Caucus, says so-called “road-use fees” aimed at EVs and hybrids are punitive & unfair. A bill that would impose one is currently in the N.D. Legislature.
IV Words Guest Post – Brad Magnuson
Today the North Dakota Senate voted on a second reading of SB 2061, “A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 39-04 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to a road use fee for electric and hybrid vehicles; and to provide for a legislative management study.”
The bill passed the Senate with a seven-vote margin and now goes to the House.
If it becomes law, SB 2061 will impose a $110 annual “road-use fee” on electric vehicles (EVs) and $50 for hybrids. That’s an improvement from the version of the bill IV Words featured a couple of weeks ago, “Backwards Bill Would Deter People from Purchasing Electric Vehicles.” That bill would have imposed a $248 fee for EVs and $71 for hybrids.”
Brad Magnuson, chair of the N.D. Dem-NPL Renewable Energy Caucus, offers his take on “a bad bill,” even in its current form.
Five years after Casselton’s near miss with exploding oil cars, the North Dakota Industrial Commission is loosening rules for testing Bakken crude set to ship by rail. What do YOU think?
Industrial Commission Actions Come on 5th Anniversary of Casselton Explosions
Five years after railroad cars carrying Bakken crude oil derailed and exploded near Casselton, N.D., the N.D. Industrial Commission is weakening rules for conditioning oil destined for railroad transport.
The irony is so thick it cuts like Jack the Ripper’s blade through London fog.
But this ain’t London, folks.
It’s our own backyards.
Too Close to “An Ink Spot”
Rory Peterson, who runs the Hardware Hank in Casselton, was spot on when he commented recently to The Forum News Service about the explosions five years ago.
The Trump administration tried to pitch “clean fossil fuels” during a global climate change convention this week. The world is laughing at the USA. Again.
Other Nations Laughing – Literally – But Not in Good Humor
The world is laughing at us. Maybe not all of us, the people, but definitely at Donald Trump’s USA, especially when it comes to climate change.
If you doubt it, listen to the laughter at his surrogate during this final week of COP24, where he told people the Trump administration believes “clean” fossil fuels will play a significant role in the world’s energy future.
Listen from 1:31 to about 2:11 to hear the lead-up and literal laughter.
COP24 is more formally known as the 24th Session of the of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The convention of nations, convened in Katowice, Poland, comes on the heels of two science-based global warming and climate change reports on the already devastating impacts and dire projections for the future.
Despite that, the Trump administration chose to use the occasion to talk about coal and oil.
