Weathering the storms

It's been a time of natural disasters, hurricanes devastating the South and the Caribbean, with Florida next, and some 80 wildfires in the West, including the largest one ever in Los Angeles history, which I witnessed. And I just got word while writing this blog that a magnitude 8 hit Mexico.

While it may be too early to be sure, these hurricane and wildfire disasters appear to be at least exacerbated by climate change. Climate scientists are certain we're undergoing human-caused climate change. That is clear to any rational person. What is not clear is the paths to be taken to combat climate change. While the solutions proposed are usually on a governmental or national level, I will explore in these pages how consumers - you and me - should react.

Besides natural disasters, we have looming a possible war with North Korea. Let's hope that diplomacy works. There has been an increase in bomb shelter sales, a dismal development. I recall seeing my high school gym basement, which I will be visiting as part of a reunion,

used as a nuclear war bomb shelter filled with drums of water and crackers.

Another disturbing article I read was Rick Perlstein's in The Washington Spectator about "Project REDMAP," a plan that successfully redrew maps to favor Republicans in legislatures. "This isn’t democracy, where the party with the most votes is supposed to win," writes Perlstein. 'This,' a state legislator in Wisconsin explains, 'is an episode of The Sopranos.' ” Also disturbing is the Republican support to repeal the 17th Amendment to the Constitution, which enhanced representative democracy by changing to the direct election of Senators. https://washingtonspectator.org/perlstein-dark-money/

I'll be back in a week or so with my next blog. In the meantime, do support any of the many ways to donate to help disaster victims.

- Bob