In Between Times 7-27-2023
Our 100 day donation drive!, Political duopoly, Debt BFFs, Nuclear fusion to be reality soon
When two parties aren’t enough
It is odd that in a country of nearly 340 million people that we, in 2023, still have only 2 viable political parties. There are dozens of reasons for this, each reason debated ad infinitum in college political science departments and nearly everywhere else where politics is discussed. Sure our government is set up to create this kind of dualism, versus some other forms of democratic government. Sure people stick to old brands. Sure this, and sure that. But fundamentally, when one takes a step back and looks at it, it is kind of crazy that the USA is a political duopoly.
After all, the world is not just Coke or Pepsi. Some of us like ginger ale - or margaritas.
(From Allsides)
The challenge for No Labels, like the third party movements that have preceded them, is that while there is deep unhappiness with the two parties, there is no agreement whatsoever on what the alternative should look like. Every frustrated voter envisions a party and candidate whose ideological makeup and policy goals mirror their own. But when a flesh-and-blood politician emerges with tangible issue positions, it’s impossible to satisfy the wide range of often contradictory demands that dissatisfied liberals, conservatives, and various types of centrists all desire. As those political dreams are inevitably dashed, most of the restless voters return to their own parties. And the challengers to the Dem/Rep duopoly wither away.
But the even greater obstacle for those would-be disruptors is a basic misunderstanding of why a voter would choose to leave the two major parties in the first place.
Click here for the article.
What is the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum on Capitol Hill? (The BFF)
Best friends forever? Likely not. But a group of Republicans and Democrats in The House have come together to focus attention on a deeply important issue that has not received the thoughtful attention it should, the national debt.
In other times, when the national debt was significantly lower there was more attention given to it. Your editor once spoke at length to the (now former) Comptroller of the United States who was raising red flags around the debt over a decade ago. He was and is deeply concerned. But because the wheels have not come off the fiscal wagon to date many people think the national debt isn’t really a problem. In fact there are whole schools of economic thought that argue this. This is folly and at least some people on both sides of the aisle recognize this. The national debt is potentially an existential problem under the right (wrong) conditions.
We encourage our readers who want to understand the national debt more fully, and who are not familiar with the concept, to learn about what a reserve currency is. It is core to understanding the risk.
(From Politico)
Who’s steering the so-called-BFF? The steering committee includes:
Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.)
Ed Case (D-Hawaii)
Ron Estes (R-Kan.)
Jared Golden (D-Maine)
Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.)
Bill Johnson (R-Ohio)
Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif)
Blake Moore (R-Utah)
…Points of agreement: The group released their guiding principles as they endeavor to make changes to the budget process:
"Debt costs threaten our collective future."
"Durable solutions need bipartisan support."
"Members should focus on putting forward solutions and not tearing each other down."
Click here for the article.
Robert Oppenheimer in 1965 on if the bomb was necessary
In light of the recent film we felt that this interview would provide particular insight for our readers. A remarkable historical document.
The UK plans to have a nuclear fusion plant by 2040
Fusion is one of the great dreams of humanity, endless energy with no waste, no carbon emissions. If it becomes reality it could usher in a revolution in almost every sense, technologically, economically, socially.
And there is the very real possibility that fusion could indeed become reality within the lifetime of many of the people reading this letter today.
(From The Independent)
Government scientists at the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) are working on plans to deliver clean power through the world’s first compact fusion reactor by 2040.
Nuclear fusion has been heralded as the “holy grail” of renewables although the technology to deliver it remains in its infancy and needs further development…
…Ministers set up the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (Step) programme to accelerate research in the area.
Click here for the article.
What are the top 10 selling EVs in the USA?
It used to be just Tesla, essentially. But that is no longer the case. Though not reflected in the numbers below, anecdotally we are seeing a many more Hyundai Ioniq's and Mustang Mach Es (which is now cheaper than a Tesla Model 3) on the road. Granted you editor lives in an EV friendly town, but the jump in EV usage is more than noticeable pretty much anywhere these days.
We watch these trends closely because like it or not the USA is a car country and will likely remain so given it’s vast geography.
We definitely sense a shift away from the boutique “green” vibe that was initially attached to EVs which is absolutely a positive thing. For EVs to work, people need to want to buy them not just because they are EVs but because they are the best cars for the money. They could soon be that.
But as we have long noted in this space, EVs have real issues both on a manufacturing front (a lot of energy goes into building them) and on a human rights front.
Congress shows bipartisan concern over electric vehicle testing in China
NYT: A Climate hawk's issues with electric vehicles
Making renewable, infinitely recyclable plastics using bacteria
This new kind of plastic is non-petroleum based and can be broken down to constituent particles and then rebuilt infinitely. This makes for a truly circular product, as opposed to current widely used plastics that often can’t be recycled effectively. Right now only about 10% of plastic is recycled worldwide. If bacteria based plastics could be easily disposed of and then easily used again, plastic suddenly becomes much more sustainable. And the world still needs plastic.
(From Clean Technica)
Unlike traditional plastics, PDK can be repeatedly deconstructed into pristine building blocks and formed into new products with no loss in quality. PDKs initially used building blocks derived from petrochemicals, but those ingredients can be redesigned and produced with microbes instead. Now, after four years of effort, collaborators have manipulated E. coli to turn sugars from plants into some of the starting materials – a molecule known as triacetic acid lactone, or bioTAL – and produced a PDK with roughly 80% bio-content.
“We’ve demonstrated that the pathway to 100% bio-content in recyclable plastics is feasible,” said Jeremy Demarteau, a project scientist on the team contributing to biopolymer development. “You’ll see that from us in the future.”
Click here for the article.
August 5 - August 12
Film screening of The Abortion Talks
Location: Online
YOU’RE INVITED TO COMMON GROUND COMMITTEE’S SPECIAL ONLINE AND COMPLIMENTARY SCREENING OF DOCUMENTARY FILM, THE ABORTION TALKS.
ABOUT THE ABORTION TALKS:
In the aftermath of John Salvi’s murder spree at two Brookline clinics, leaders from opposing sides of the abortion debate met together in secret talks. None of the participants would change their minds, but the dialogues changed their lives.
Sign up for film access between August 5th and 12th. You’ll receive a link to watch the film after registration.