Climate Change - In Case There Was Any Doubt...

Seeing the aftermath of the storms that went through the US yesterday and here in Atlantic Canada, I hope that any doubt about climate change is long gone. Heavy snow, rains, lightning and tornados in the US and snow rain and winds here, including some dramatic shots of the Canso Causeway being swamped while drivers crossed (much braver than me). I'm sure if you looked closely there may have been a locust or two in there somewhere...

Winters here are now more sleet, rain, freezing rain and slushfests than the heavy snowfalls of my younger days. A White Christmas here is no longer a guarantee. Waterproof clothing is a must, and layers too as you never know just how cold, warm or wet it might be.

And summers - well, one look at Lake Mead or anywhere else there has been drought for many years says enough. The way things are going the next big pipeline from Canada won't be carrying Alberta oil, it'll be water. If there was ever something to go to war over...

The Night The Lights Went On In Georgia

It has always fascinated me that in many ways US politics carries more importance outside of the country than in it. Many of us spend more time following it than the politics of our own countries. This has become particularly true with Donald Trump's arrival and persistance on the scene. What will he say next, what will he do next, will he or won't he be found guilty of something and how could anyone vote for him, although those that have and do must have reasons valid to them (hopefully).

It appears though that Trump's star and influence may be fading - the Democrats did better than expected in the midterm elections this year and most of his endorsed candidates lost. More importantly many of the down ballot candidates who could have had great influence on the 2024 election cycle also lost and a greater sense of democracy seems to have taken over for now.

This is never more true than in Georgia - Senator Raphael Warnock defeated Herschel Walker to retain his Senate seat. It took a runoff, again. Senator Warnock has been involved in 5 campaigns over the last few years - primary, election, runoff, election and runoff. He must is one of the most experienced campaigners today. Even give that experience, his victory over Mr. Walker was not a foregone conclusion. The election night map showed the urban (democrats)/rural (GOP) divide that seems to becoming the norm in politics not just in the US but in a lot of places.

The fact that it was so close is another example of why much of US politics makes folks go hmmm... Even GOP members and pundits questioned Herschel Walker's suitability as a senate candidate  and he did little during the campaign(s) to refute their concerns, yet he forced a runoff and came close to winning. I do feel sorry for him given the treatment he received form the media and how he was abandoned by the man who endorsed him in the first place. A future risk, given how candidates are treated, will be finding good people to run. 

The end result though was the lights did come on in Georgia, the Democrats hold a clear majority in the Senate and they are on much more stable ground heading into 2024. For no this bodes better for all of us. The fact is US politics has global scope and influence that are inescapable.

US politics will continue to daze and confuse and remain a concern of the World. Here's hoping they get it right for all of us...

(With apologies to Vicki Lawrence)

Image by macrovector on Freepik