Dearest Nick. Yes, I agree, it’s terrifying. But when you write,
The Republicans seem to be the ones who ratchet up spending while the Dems solidify that amount. Which party will grow into being the crew that brings spending down to something that is affordable?
— You guide your readers with rather a sloppy assertion. The President’s party matters less to the budget than does the party controlling Congress and budget appropriations. That is, it was that way up until Obama, when the party controlling the Senate realized that if they just did nothing, the last budget the agreed to would remain in effect — with an automatic replay of the “one-time” stimulus money making its way into every year’s spending outlay.
I mention this because, for instance, Reagan often used his veto, Bush II didn’t, Clinton was largely kept in check by Gingrich and the boys, and Obama is looking to bring down the entire system.
You’re welcome.
(h/t Terry H)
But, but…..Todd Akin!
Obama is looking to bring down the entire system.
Mount St. Helen’s, just after the blast: “OMG IT LOOKS LIKE AN EFFING MOONSCAPE AND IT WON’T RECOVER FOR A FEW CENTURIES, AT LEAST!”
Mount St. Helen’s, a few years later: “Lookie here! Flowers!“
dicentra,
If you’re trying to show me that a few survivors will thrive in the aftermath of Mount Saint Barry’s epic implosion, it’s not making me feel any better. Because I happen to know that 99.99% of those flowers were wiped out in the blast.
Because I happen to know that 99.99% of those flowers were wiped out in the blast.
And all those little seeds that waited for years to germinate—but couldn’t, because the mean old-growth trees blocked the sunlight and rain and hogged the soil nutrients—will finally get their chance.
Perhaps the Yellowstone Conflagration of 1988 is a better analogy: chronic mismanagement and fanatical fire-suppression policies (Smokey the Bear!) meant that when Yellowstone finally went up, it went up big, burning down trees that would have survived the smaller, seasonal fires that swept through before Teddy Roosevelt and his descendants decided to Improve Upon Nature.
So once the Behemoths were burnt to death, all the dormant seeds saw their chance. I can guarantee you that the fireweed in the photo did not survive the blast but germinated afterwards.
Though I should point out that bindweed seeds can remain viable for decades (and their roots go 30 feet deep), whereas more desirable species have shorter shelf lives.
Ain’t that the way…