Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Will those who follow as I exit stage left face increasing hardships and decreasing lifespans as the years march on and Nature becomes more and more disfigured?
It appears that humankind is …
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Will those who follow as I exit stage left face increasing hardships and decreasing lifespans as the years march on and Nature becomes more and more disfigured?
It appears that humankind is headed in that direction, thanks to the dim-witted, self-serving and short-sighted who seem to thrive among us more and more — inspired by the greedy leadership of Donald Trump and his ilk. The mid-term elections of 2022 will determine the character of our U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, as well as state governments. I intend to be around to cast my ballot, and we’ll see how it goes. That explains in large part my determined survival at an advanced age.
So meanwhile, back to a still-closer subject of a relative nature. I’ve lived in Port Townsend since 1928 and entered adulthood about the end of World War. I have some responsive questions and thoughts for those (in no way here related to the Trumpian philosophy alluded to above) such as Ms. Berry, whose recent letter stated:
“Growth is something Port Townsend no longer needs and should not allow anymore. We are the only city in Jefferson County designated for growth. We are endangering the fragile ecosystem and threatening the rural flavor.
“The ruination of Port Townsend has begun. We continue to see loss of trees for development.The loss of trees includes loss of wildlife habitat, loss of oxygen-producing and carbon dioxide-absorbing entities, and loss of local beauty. It’s time, now, to preserve. It’s time, now, to contribute to the repair of our broken planet by doing our share which should include planting, not removing trees. It’s time, now, to stop increasing the density of a town that is so small, it will soon fall prey to severe increases in pollution, traffic, and crime “
All true enough. I agree with Ms. Berry. However, the comments raise many other related questions in my mind — such as: How long have you lived in the area? How old are you? How many children do you have? Port Townsend can in no way designate itself as a NIMBY refuge on this planet that is destroying itself via over-population. In 1950, several years after I was out of high school, the U.S. population was 152.27 million. The U.S. population today is 326.7 million — more than doubled.
And most of the statements such as those spelled out in the Berry letter and by others appear to apply more to the Greater Port Townsend area, outside the city of Port Townsend (which itself has been somewhat ruined by both over-population and gentrification — much like Seattle).
A little over 60 years ago — when our lagoon was whole and reached all the way to the highway and to Kearney Street, Cape George Colony had not yet been envisioned and Kala Point was undeveloped, while Cook Avenue was still barren, I was picking small oysters off the rocks at old Port Ludlow (without seeing another person). Otto Street was a beaten-down area where I picked wild blackberries, and it was pretty lonesome driving along the Oak Bay Road.
The city population of 5,074 in 1960 has reached an estimated 10,200 over 61 years. Jefferson County has increased from 9,639 to about 33,000 or so. While the city proper has about doubled, eastern Jefferson County over all has tripled in population. Trees in great number outside the city fell over the years and deer finally moved into town in relatively modern times.
The “rural flavor” has been lost in Port Townsend, of course, but more so is disappearing from Hadlock to the Hood Canal Bridge and in other directions. I can no longer jump into my car and drive out to pick a few oysters or dig a few clams — or grow roses in the city without erecting deer fences. Never saw a deer on our mini-farm near the woods out on San Juan Avenue but Chinese pheasant used to raid the corn patch.
Those of us who think it’s turned worse in our lifetimes won’t be around to see how bad it can really get in another 75 or 80 years or so.
Incidentally, the only descendants of my parents at the moment are the three children mentioned in the foregoing heading — Claire, Simon and Iris. Not bad (so far) over a span of five generations, in a world gone to hell via over-population. My mind’s eye keeps going back to the guy who bragged on an episode of “Family Feud” about being the youngest of 18 children in a family.
11 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
MargeS
Is the glass half full or half empty? Lets hope its half-full. Jefferson County is still the best place to live.
Saturday, January 15, 2022 Report this
Justin Hale
What a load of krapola Tom! Like I said once before, you partisan Democrats have nothing good to run on in the 22 elections so you go back to blaming the X-POTUS for all of the ills of the Biden administration that we are all suffering under. Ask the average person on the street if they are better off since Biden took office. We're paying almost twice the price of fuel, groceries( if you can get them) are through the roof, and because of government mandates, we are not getting the services we pay for.
You spent four years and more *****ing and moaning about Trump, accusing him of all manner of evil all designed to get him out of office. Well, you succeeded, now we are stuck with Biden and instead of touting his leadership, you go back to attacking Trump.
How about telling U.S. about the great job Biden is doing at our southern border? "The U.S. Border Patrol reported more than 1.6 million encounters with migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border in the 2021 fiscal year, more than quadruple the number of the prior fiscal year and the highest annual total on record." Nah! that doesn't have any effect on our population problem.
Saturday, January 15, 2022 Report this
MargeS
So what has that guy, President Biden been up to since he took office.
Lets start with his first 100 days:
$1.9 Trillion Covid Relief bill, 200 million coronovirus shots delivered, eventually 72% of American Adults fully vaccinated
Daily press meetings
American rescue plan $160 million stimulus
Got us out of Afghanistan
Federal judges appointed & confirmed
Unemployment rate at 4.2%
And he could do a lot more if the Republicans in Congress would discontinue their support of Trump. The 2022 congressional elections are very important, hopefully we will see more democrats in all public office.
And your special guy Trump what did he do?
Promised to Repeal Obamacare
Build a wall between the U.S. & Mexico
Pass Term Limits, and guess what zip happened [very grateful for that]
He banned immigrants from muslin countries
Backed the Proud Boys, told them to "Stand back and stand by"
Joe Biggs, a Proud Boys member, celebrated the group’s mention on the social media platform Parler, saying: “President Trump told the proud boys to stand by because someone needs to deal with ANTIFA...well sir! we’re ready!!” Biggs is now facing federal charges for conspiracy.
And the list goes on and on . . .
Saturday, January 15, 2022 Report this
Justin Hale
If you believe we are better off today than we were a year ago you must be living some alternate universe. I haven't heard one person say they were happy with today's economy, the prices we pay at the pump, and the check-out stand, are you?
Trump did not repeal Obamacare, but during Trump's administration, the penalty for Americans who don’t have health insurance was ended.
Illegal immigration was somewhat under control under Trump's administration, a hel of a lot better than What's her name is doing.
Yes, Trump banned Muslims from certain countries deemed a threat to our country, as his office requires. Just as Obama did.
"Backed the Proud Boys, told them to "Stand back and stand by".....
In an interview with Sean Hannity on Thursday evening, President Trump said: "I've said it many times, let me be clear again, I condemn the KKK [Ku Klux Klan]. I condemn all white supremacists. I condemn the Proud Boys.
(https://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2020-54381500)
I would trade 2017 for 2021 any day.
Sunday, January 16, 2022 Report this
MargeS
The only thing good about 2017 was there was no COVID-19. Other than that, I am so thankful I don't have to wake up every morning wondering when Donald Trump is going to get his Proud boys and Neo-Nazis to create a coup, insurrection, takeover, disenfranchise people because of their religion, ***ual orientation, color etc. Give those billionaires another tax break . . .
You can't be serious you would want this person back in office. Hopefully he will be in prison by 2024, if there is any justice in this world.
Sunday, January 16, 2022 Report this
MargeS
Really? I can't say ***ual orientation?
Sunday, January 16, 2022 Report this
MargeS
***ual orientation is the accurate description of an individual's enduring physical, romantic and/or emotional attraction to members of the same and/or opposite *** and is inclusive of lesbians, gay men, bi***uals, as well as straight men and women (see AP & New York Times Style).
Sunday, January 16, 2022 Report this
Justin Hale
Marge, you're a fine example of how the MSM has brainwashed much of our populace.
Really? you woke every morning for four years worrying about what the POTUS might do??
The new program the Leader is using to censor/monitor our speech is silly. You need to write biSXuals, or, as in my case bching instead of *****ing. Just stupid!!
Monday, January 17, 2022 Report this
MargeS
Thank you Justin for your profane information. "the new program the Leader is using to censor/monitor our speech is silly. You need to write biSXuals, or, as in my case bching instead of *****ing. Just stupid!!
Once again you missed the point. I know the Leader is using a filter. You on the other hand are just a Trump supporter with nothing to do but call people names. Trump would be so pleased.
And yes actually, I did wake up every morning wishing it was just a bad dream but then the twitter sphere exploded with another Trump rant, it took a toll on a lot of people who found him, shall we say, less than desirable as a president. And when I woke up November 3, 2020 was the last time I worried about the president of the U.S.
Monday, January 17, 2022 Report this
Justin Hale
"I did wake up every morning wishing it was just a bad dream".....As I said the MSM did a masterful job on you.
Tuesday, January 18, 2022 Report this
MargeS
To tell the truth I don't ever look at MSM [whatever that is] I get my news from the Washington Post, NY Times, Salt Lake City Tribune, Boston Globe, Seattle Times, Seattle PI, HuffPost, and when there's a subject I am interested in I go to the newspapers from that area to see what the local folks have to say. Been watching the news in Texas, Arizona, Ukraine [will Putin attack] Britain [is Boris Johnson on his last try?] I'm a news junkie to tell you the truth. Not a twitter fan though. Been watching the January 6 investigation. Trumps lawyers have been requested to testify, will they lie?
Tuesday, January 18, 2022 Report this