Global Warming: Fact or Fiction, Take The Preventative Approach.

Regardless of whatever news there is concerning global warming, such as the news article Global Warming: 2011 Tied For The 10th Hottest Year On Record by Arther Max, the global warming debate continues on.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations states:

"Global warming is a global problem. To understand it, cope with it and try to keep it from getting worse, all the countries of the world need to work together. And when nations need to unite, they turn to the United Nations. The United Nations is playing a central role in clarifying the science of global warming and preparing a global plan of action to deal with it. Because UN organizations like FAO are neutral, their scientific and technical reports are trusted and they can negotiate agreements among countries with different political viewpoints and economic interests."

ref: WHAT DOES FAO DO? :: GLOBAL WARMING :: THE UNITED NATIONS AND GLOBAL WARMING

Dare I even suggest (I do not know if I should for fear of garnering the wrath of global warming deniers and conspiracists) that readers explore the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change website.

Hey, all I can say is: Better safe than sorry! We all, and I do mean ALL, should error on the side of caution and implement all precautionary measures that assist in stemming the tide of "man-made" global warming.

Why, WHY, would anyone even take the most remote chance of endangering our children, our grandchildren, and the future of human-kind?

A Chanukah Gift For You

To all the readers of Roland Hansen Commentary,

I am re-gifting this to you for Chanukah.

An extra special "Thank you" goes out to Rabbi Jason.

Rick Perry, candidate for President of the United States of America, and Rabbi Jason Miller

Rick Perry has had made some interesting statements in his quest to obtain the Republican nomination and eventual win to the Office of POTUS, President Of The United States. Many times, Rick Perry makes a gaffe, and then comes back to retract his statement of this or that, of one kind or another.

Gaffes notwithstanding, many times Rick Perry makes statements concerning religion and government. In fact, Rick Perry has does so to such an extent that it appears to me he has essentially proclaimed his desire to have Christianity officially recognized as the national religion of the United States. However, much to the chagrin of Rick Perry and people who share Rick Perry's view on the Christian religion and American public policy, that darn First Amendment keeps getting in the way.

Well, Rabbi Jason Miller has responded to Rick Perry in a very thought-provoking way. I suggest you click on over to read:
Response to Rick Perry's Campaign Ad

A Thanksgiving Message From Roland Louis Hansen

I bet you are expecting to read a personalized Thanksgiving message from me. Right? Wrong! I have no personal Thanksgiving message for you.

However, I strongly suggest you head over to a couple places to read these other Thanksgiving messages that I find personally meaningful and reflective:
A Time to Count Your Blessings, Pure Spirit Creations, As The Spirit Moves Me, Nina Amir.
Thanksgiving is Part of the Jewish Experience, RabbiJason.com, Rabbi Jason Miller.

Oh, by the way, on a personal note, I will be having a wonderful day and Thanksgiving dinner with loving family, my cousins who are the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of Sylvia and Roy Goldman (may they both rest in peace) in Phoenix, Arizona.

Just Blowing Smoke on Facebook

My good friend, Tim Higgins, wrote a piece in regards to Facebook. I need to tell ya that Tim is "Just Blowing Smoke..." That aside, I gotta say that mi amigo, Tim, has eloquently (or not) written that which also reflects my own views exactly. Tim Higgins is right on target.

Please take a look and read Getting Too Much Facetime.

American Democracy Threatened

Back on March 2, 2007, I wrote a Roland's Ramblings (my other blog) in which I stated: "we in the United States of America are in jeopardy of having our representative democracy form of government destroyed."

I was not making a reference to any threats from terrorists. I was not alluding to a rebellion, civil war, uprising, people's revolt, or anything like that. I was not speaking of an economic crisis bringing about the demise of our nation. I was not even making reference to the Tea Party Movement or extremists from either the left or the right of the political spectrum.

No, indeed; none of those.

That which I believe is the biggest threat to our American government, our representative democracy, is "We The People" or more specifically the fact that very few Americans actually vote in our elections along with the ignorance of the American electorate as a whole.

I realize many people will take offense to my remarks, However, to be honest, I really do not think many people will read my comments. Even if the whole American population were to read my views on the matter, it makes no difference to me if some one should take offense. I stand by my views on the matter as I have expressed them

Then, I suppose there are the people who may take exception to my perception and opinion that the vast majority of Americans, especially American voters, are ignorant. Well, golly gee, people! I am not alone in my thinking and there are, indeed, some scholarly writings that tend to affirm my own thinking on the matter. For instance, take a look and read:
Somin, Ilya, When Ignorance Isn't Bliss: How Political Ignorance Threatens Democracy, Policy Analysis, No. 525, September 22, 2004.

Cross reference: Cato Institute 'lead' article.

So, what I want to shout out is this:
Do your homework, people! Read up, study, and learn about the issues and candidates for the upcoming elections; then, go out and vote with an informed mind!

Holocaust: Hoax or Real?

There are those who believe the Holocaust is a hoax: these adherents of "Holocaust Denial" do not believe there is sufficient evidence to substantiate that six million Jews were killed under Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany regime.

Then, there are others who believe the Holocaust is real; they believe there is sufficient evidence to prove their case as was presented in the Nuremberg trials as documented in "The Nuremberg Scripts."

Hmmm, I do believe I saw some of those "Holocaust Denial" adherents at a recent Tea Party.

Fred LeFebvre of WSPD: Rude and Crude are his True Colors

Approximately four years ago, I wrote a Roland Hansen Commentary about Fred LeFebvre, a radio show guy on Radio Station 1370 WSPD-AM Radio in Toledo, Ohio. I am surprised that Fred LeFebvre is still employed at WSPD; and quite frankly, after what transpired tonight, I call for his resignation. If Fred LeFebvre does not resign from his duties at WSPD, then Clear Channel Communications, Inc., the owners of WSPD, should fire him. Fred LeFebvre, as a public representative of his employer has demonstrated that he is totally irresponsible and reckless in his dealings with the public, service consumers, and potential audience of WSPD.

Oh! You are probably wondering what this is all about. Okay, I will let you in on it. Well, you see, earlier this evening, I had a chance encounter with Fred LeFebvre on the Facebook wall of Mark Dansack. It turned out to be very interesting, indeed. It started when Mark Dansack wrote an "update status" as to what was on his mind making a comment about tax cuts for the wealthy. In what followed, Fred LeFebvre of 1370 WSPD-AM Radio showed his true colors of RUDE and CRUDE.

Tell you what, rather than try to summarize what transpired, you can read it yourself. I have copied the Facebook exchange between Mark Dansack, Fred LeFebvre, and me word for word, and I pasted it below:

Mark Dansack Tax cuts for all the wealthy. They're bound to create jobs for all of us ! Hasn't this been tried for the last 10 years ? The only jobs being created are out of the country. The definition of insanity is to keep trying the same thing and expecting different results.

Fred Lefebvre: It appears that you are calling Pres. Obama insane.

Roland Hansen: Why was it necessary or appropriate as a follow up to the initial comment for Fred Lefebvre to make that snide comment about the President? Does he always have to just be one of the low denizens of Obama Bashers? Bash, bash, bash - it gets tiring, boring, and humdrum. The bottom line is that the historical evidence has demonstrated tax cuts for the richest of the richest has not spurred any jobs - period - none. nada, zilch. If I am mistaken, please cite the raw data (not opinion) proving a positive correlation between tax cuts and job creation.

Mark Dansack: Fred's a one trick pony re: Obama. Barack could cure cancer and Fred would complaiin he didn't do it fast enough. Something tells me that Fred doesn't like Obama.

Fred Lefebvre: Did I bash the POTUS? I simply commented on mark's observation about insanity being doing the same thing and expecting different results.

Fred Lefebvre: If you two don't like the posts you can always go somewhere else. I believe we've raised taxes a number of times over the years also and without the attendant job growth.

Mark Dansack: At least you can't hang up on me on Facebook, Fred.

Fred Lefebvre: i wouldn't hang up on you on air either mark if you had the balls to call

Mark Dansack: I try to call when you guys have a guest on, and am told to call back after the guests off the air. That doesn't really give us a chance to challenge what your guest is saying, does it ?

Fred Lefebvre: no it doesn't. the guest isn't there to answer your questions, he's there to answer mine.

Mark Dansack: no one has all the questions or all the answers.

Roland Hansen: Re: Fred Lefebvre - http://rolandhansencommentary.blogspot.com/2007/08/fred-lefebvre-disappearing-act.html Roland Hansen Commentary: Fred LeFebvre: The Disappearing Act

Mark Dansack: sometimes a discussion on certain programs closely resembles a diatribe ?

Fred Lefebvre: oh my god roland you are going back years for that one aren't you? you were as unimportant to me then as you are now

Roland Hansen: ‎@ Fred - ROTFLMAO

Fred Lefebvre: i guess the real question is not should we raise taxes then, but how much should the government be allowed to take from the people who work for it.

Roland Hansen: ‎@ Fred - DUH

Fred Lefebvre: and how much is that mark and roland? how much of my money as a percentage should the government be allowed to take?

Roland Hansen: ‎@ Fred - Yahn!

Mark Dansack: I'd rather have middle class Americans have more $$ in their pockets. At least they might spend a little to spur the economy, although so many products are made outside the country, I'm not sure we would see any job growth beyond retail jobs.

Roland Hansen: Oh, jeesh, my "Yahn" comment up there was really a "yawn." In my humble opinion, Fred Lefebvre sure has demonstrated a true lack of professionalism and a total lack of civility. His comments here directed at me in a belittling manner are reprehensible, but do indeed show his true character -- you know - the one he tried to cover up in his entry on that blog entry to which I linked. Go ahead, take a look at it and you will see for yourself that I write the truth.

 *** UPDATE AS SEPTEMBER 20, 2011:
Apparently I wrote and published this blog entry a little bit too early because there was more. Here is what was posted on that same exchange after that last comment above:

Fred Lefebvre: Roland you are the Ed Emery of Facebook. You really think anyone cares whether or not I returned a call to some self important blogger 4 years ago? Isn't there a link to something your wife wrote that we could be pointed to also.

Mark Dansack: My page is not to be used for personal insults. I welcome a healthy discussion of the issues at hand and honest respectful disagreement. It's what has made our country great. Thanks

Judy Rosenberg Hansen: "Do tell Fred, what was it I wrote about that you are referring to?"

Dave Westrick: "Wow, bringing a guys' wife into it, how low can you go, Oh never mind it's Fred. Trollin along Bottom feeding fred."

What do you think? Are the words and actions of Fred LeFebvre an appropriate display for a person holding an on-the-air employment position with 1370 WSPD-AM Radio?
***Incidentally, there was no further dialogue on that message thread because Fred LeFebvre chose to unfriend (defriend) me (and Mark Dansack) on FaceBook.

Postscript: There are some very interesting, if not intelligent, comments over on the SwampBubbles message thread "Who Is Fred LeFebvre, Anyway?" - take a look, it is funny stuff in its own sick convoluted way.

Chili Dog, Public Lands, and the Public Good

It's been awhile since my last entry here on Roland Hansen Commentary.

-- Whatever. --

I just do not have an overwhelming desire nor do I have a compelling need to write my opinions just to for the sake of writing. At any rate, I had decided earlier to write a commentary about a certain topic here and was just preparing to do so, but upon going through my google reader first, I came across an entry on Chili Dog Blog that I read thoroughly.

I was, and am, so impressed by its commentary and perspective on the very important issue of public lands as it relates to private ownership of land and the overall public good that I decided to link to that Chili Dog Blog entry here instead. In my own opinion, it is indeed very much on target and very well stated.

Please take the time to click on over to read:
Political No Man’s Land as posted by Chili Dog on September 14, 2011.

Republicans Use Glock To Take Aim At Congresswoman

Back on January 8, 2011, Jared Lee Loughner took aim with his Glock in his attempt to assassinate Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle "Gabby" Giffords. Loughner's attempt to kill Representative Giffords failed; however, Giffords suffered an extremely serious head wound. Loughner also shot 19 other people in his Glock shooting spree murdering six of those people in cold blood.

The local Republican Party has since also taken aim with a Glock pistol at Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who just happens to be a Democrat, a woman, Jewish, and the wife of Astronaut Mark Kelly.

Yes, indeed, in all its wisdom, the Pima County GOP, the local Republican Party in Representative Gabrielle Giffords' Arizona's 8th congressional district, is raffling off a Glock handgun to raise money in its get-out-the-vote efforts in the district to defeat her and other Democrats in future elections.

Read about it yourself in the article from Politico: Ariz.GOP raffling off Glock gun.

Just remember: Guns don't kill people; people kill people; guns with bullets just make it easier for people to kill people.