Arkansas Blog

I expect local media to ask tough questions of leadership on the front end, not as an afterthought.

And this is called the Natural State because - why?

As you said, what do you expect? Beebe would never put the health of future citizens of Arkansas above his friends' profits. He showed his allegiance when he brokered that sweetheart deal on the gas severance tax. Nowhere was there an indication that he'd protect Arkansas from the resulting environmental degradation, using even the pitiful laws that exist. Your grandchildren who can't afford to move out of Arkansas will live their short lives in decrepit poisoned former mini-boomtowns.

He spent $50 million of tax money to bribe a company to move here what other states would consider low average pay jobs. HP took advantage of our desperate beggar inferiority, knowing that we'd sell our children's souls for a call center they would have moved here anyways (for the low wage expectations and anti-worker mentality). I'd like to see the teeth in the "clawback clauses" (if there are any), if they don't deliver.

Do we really need to ask where he stands on blanketing Arkansas in toxic emissions from coal-fired generating plants? Or pumping the aquifers dry? Or using our rivers as sewer lines?

Corporate profit is somehow more tangible and desirable than the hippie-dippy abstractions of a future of clean air, clean water, and healthy people. We seem to have chosen to use disposable people to get disposable income. I can just hear that '80's mantra, "Greed is good."

...............Beebe's Arkansas, The New Gas Whore.........

Would that fit on a license plate?

Arkansas - The Natural Toxic Gas State

When I began to look at a better graduate school that integrated ecology with city planning, Dr. Francis Christie of Hendrix College suggested that I look into the University of Colorado at Denver's Planning School I took the bus out there to visit with the faculty. Vera Miller of Helena suggested UCLA so I went on out there. My OU geography professor suggested that I might look into a new University in Ontario, the University of Waterloo. The visit to Denver left me with the insight of the faculty telling me how the legislators were from the Cro-Magnon era. The faculty at UCLA were almost non accessible and I would have to commute 2 hours each way. Traveling up to Waterloo, I discovered the more incredible campus, where the stream meandered right through the middle, and the ducks that my cousins would hunt in Stuttgart were flocking on the pond. The students showed me around and were most proud of the big math-science building where in the deep well were the big processors, somewhat out of a star wars scenario. The school of planning within the Faculty of Environmental Studies proved to be the best choice. Saul Herzog was my first advisor where then I switched to Harry Coblentz who would always ask me about the Jewish Merchants of Little Rock. But then one would have to study the Coblentz Society to fully understand the nature of his teaching ability. He helped me to cross the Rubicon. Perhaps some kind souls in Arkansas could invite some souls in Kentucky to cross the Mississippi for little baseball/music event/spiritual washing event somewhere between Conway, Little Rock and Hot Springs? Pine Bluff and Helena, and Bentonville? DEmostrate the pwer of the assembly and capacity to wash away the problems and come clean while captializing better movement with better meals? (and a few blessings towards our Creator).

No mention of the gas pipeline that was announced today?

Hwy 65 from Bee Branch on past Clinton is becoming more crumbled every week I drive it. Last winter the roads were much less crumbled than now and we didn't get as many icy road storms as in the past.

This winter, after 6 more months of huge heavy drilling rigs pulverizing the road surface of hwy 65 and a few icy stroms the road will come up in potholes as large as some school districts.

By spring you won't need to avoid potholes on a paved road, just avoid leftover pavement spots where not yet worn down to the former road bed.

Remember, gas severence tax will not start coming in till the early years exemption expires in 3 - 5 years.

What do we do for roads till then?

Click my name for video commentary.

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This is what happens in states that are serious about change:

Solar Water Heaters Now Mandatory In Hawaii

Hawaii has become the first state to require solar water heaters in new homes. The bill was signed into law by Governor Linda Lingle, a Republican. It requires the energy-saving systems in homes starting in 2010. It prohibits issuing building permits for single-family homes that do not have solar water heaters. Hawaii relies on imported fossil fuels more than any other state, with about 90 percent of its energy sources coming from foreign countries, according to state data.

The new law prohibits issuing building permits for single-family homes that do not have solar water heaters. Some exceptions will be allowed, such as forested areas where there are low amounts of sunshine.

State Sen. Gary Hooser, vice chairman of the Energy and Environment Committee, first introduced the measure five years ago when he said a barrel of oil cost just $40. Since then, the cost of oil has more than tripled.

"It's abundantly clear that we need to take some serious action to protect Hawaii because we're so dependent on oil," Hooser said. "I'm very pleased the governor is recognizing the importance of this bill and the huge public benefits that come out of it."

Meet - tell me what you've heard about the pipeline?

The East Coast gets the gas and we get polluted water and a severance tax 6 full percentage points below that of Texas. 95% of our tax goes to the Highway Department- but Education is our top priority according to Beebe. Pipeline story at link in name.