Of Windmills, Lightbulbs, Toilets and Straws
Updated: Oct 23, 2020
Exhibiting his extraordinarily high level of intelligence, President Trump is telling Americans they don't need to use #lowflowtoilets, give up #plasticstraws, or use #energyefficientlightbulbs to help preserve the environment.
As this Washington Post article points out, Trump is using that claim to contrast with Democrats' tough warning that we all must step up to help combat climate change before it's too late. Apparently it will be a big part of his 2020 reelection campaign, if he gets there.
But it's all wacko.
This past weekend, Trump gave a speech to a pro-Trump youth group in which he said:
"We’ll have an economy based on wind. I never understood wind. You know, I know windmills very much. I’ve studied it better than anybody. I know it’s very expensive. They’re made in China and Germany mostly — very few made here, almost none. But they’re manufactured tremendous — if you’re into this — tremendous fumes. Gases are spewing into the atmosphere. You know we have a world, right? So the world is tiny compared to the universe. So tremendous, tremendous amount of fumes and everything. You talk about the carbon footprint — fumes are spewing into the air. Right? Spewing. Whether it’s in China, Germany, it’s going into the air. It’s our air, their air, everything — right? So they make these things and then they put them up."
He also said this: “I’ve seen the most beautiful fields, farms, fields — most gorgeous things you’ve ever seen, and then you have these ugly things going up. And you know what they don’t tell you about windmills? After 10 years, they look like hell.”
What? Making #windturbines gives off fumes? He's studied windmills "better than anybody?"
Trump doesn't study anything. He doesn't even read. And if he thinks making wind turbines causes pollution, what about fossil fuel plants and coal burning power plants and the plants that manufacture diesel powered vehicles and gasoline-powered cars and those vehicles themselves?
The Lightbulb Controversy
Last Friday the U.S. Department of Energy announced that incandescent and halogen light bulbs would remain on the market instead of being phased out on Jan. 1. That's interesting because the DOE's website still explains how the "new" lightbulbs can actually save you money and reduce energy consumption.
However, "If you like your lightbulbs, you can keep your lightbulbs!" said the White House Twitter account on Saturday. "The Obama Admin tried to limit Americans to buying more expensive LED bulbs for their homes--but thanks to President @realDonaldTrump, go ahead and decorate your house with whatever lights you want."
Cool! Only problem is that according to consumer group estimates, that lightbulb decision will boost energy costs $14 billion a year and generate 38 million tons of carbon dioxide annually.
Not cool.
And, according to this article, "15 Actionable Ways to Save Energy at School," switching to LED in America's schools can save tons of money for taxpayers on energy costs, money that could be used to, let's say, pay teachers a decent salary.
Poo-Pooing Toilets
Now we come to the toilets, one of Trump's latest rants.
“We’re looking very strongly at sinks and showers … people are #flushingtoilets 10, 15 times, as opposed to once … you can’t wash your hands so little water comes out … you have many states where they have so much water, it comes down — it’s called rain.”
So on that basis of expert analysis, he asked the #EnvironmentalProtectionAgency to flush out the facts on that issue.
For Sale!
Then, there are the straws. Many environmental groups, supported by numerous Democrats and Democratic organizations, are leading a widespread effort to #banplasticstraws because they do not degrade and they cause damage to wildlife, especially aquatic life.
What did Trump do about that? Started selling Trump plastic straws, that's what.
So now, #Trumpers who cherish their freedom and their ability to pollute and blindly ignore the warnings of climate change, can rest easy. Their hero has come to the rescue and they can continue their nasty ways.
