Pastor Ed tells half-truths
I read a recent column by William “Ed” Nicholson’s with the headline “California lawmakers OK absurd legislation.”
A half-truth is the same as a lie. Ed gleaned some pleasure in reducing the anti-pollution law SB1383 down to stopping “cow farts” as the pastor quipped. In reality the law is quite extensive. SB 1383 reduces the emissions of super pollutants (also know as short-lived climate pollutants) and promotes renewable gas by requiring a 50 percent reduction in black carbon and 40 percent reduction in methane and hydro fluorocarbon.
Sources of these super pollutants include petroleum-based transportation fuels, agriculture, waste disposal and synthetic gases used in refrigeration, air conditioning and aerosol products not methane from cattle. The good pastor’s portrayal of the law could be construed as a lie, or simply a half truth.
Like so many conservatives in this country, he feels free to bend the truth to meet his needs. To say that “if or when liberal jurists dominate the Supreme Court of the United States, this California state ruling will likely become the law of the land.” And well it should Ed. You are not unlike the idiot congressman that threw the snowball inside the capitol to make his point of the denial of climate change.
I guess if you portray climate change as “cow farts” or snowballs, it is easier to disclaim the science be hind it. Ed had to know that the law SB1383 entailed much more serious science, but that would not fit Ed’s preconceived prejudice or his desire to discredit any liberal thinking contrary to his right-wing single issue hatred of any liberal thinking. Ed dismisses any attempt to clean up our air or water as the removal of any doubts he has on the mental capacity of Democratic politicians. This line of thinking is exactly what has caused led in our water and the poisoning of our children by uncaring big business.
I don’t mind the fact that he allows his religion to blind him to the facts, but I do mind a supposed man of the cloth telling half-truths or lying just to get his views heard. If you can make your point by telling the whole truth, and not shaping the truth to meet your needs, I will listen. But like so many of pastor Ed’s commentaries, his opinions are based in what he can see through his religious blinders, not on the facts presented to him.
Keith Barnhart is a resident of Smithfield.