Megadeath

Don't know why this theme keeps running through my head. I'm sure there's a reason somewhere. For those of you who don't remember, the term "megadeath" was coined during the Cold War and was a term of measurement to designate a million human deaths. Usually, experts would match nuclear weapons to a particular target and estimate the number of megadeaths that would ensue. Example: 6 hydrogen bombs dropped on Moscow = 9 megadeaths. Nice, huh?
One reason this concept has come to mind is the recent explosion in China, but as far back as Bhopal, we've been on the edge of a megadeath incident. Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima all demonstrate how probable such an event is, though none of them reached megadeath status.
Here's what I've been thinking about megadeath. There will be a megadeath incident in my life time. The combination of dense population and earthquake faults, super volcanos, hazardous materials, typhoons and hurricanes, tornados, or raging fires makes it almost inevitable. The one requirement for a megadeath incident is population density. As the human population grows (and it's growing exponentially), the odds for a megadeath incident increase, too.
I am most curious about how we'll respond when something like this occurs. My prediction is that, of course, we'll be horrified first and foremost. And then we'll think, "Oh, it was terrible, but it won't happen again." And we'll carry on, business as usual. But what about the second one? Or the third? What if we take the same attitude as Americans to mass shootings? We get used to them, throw up our hands and say there's just nothing to be done about it. Yeah, I think that could happen, except the US is not the world.

Issues and Elections

The bombast and sham of the Republican "debate" got me thinking. Who will I vote for and why? It's simple. Every Republican on that stage still supports trickle-down economics. It's a failed economic policy that screws the middle class. I don't care about the race or gender or wealth of any candidate of either major party. Here are my issues in order of importance to me: 1 - Tax the rich. Just raise their rates a little. Don't wipe them out. Don't even tax them enough to lower their standard of living. But definitely make them pay more. Republicans are universally against this. I will not vote for them. 2 - Raise the minimum wage. It's the decent thing to do. All this BS about how much harm it would do our economy is just a lie. Democrats all support raising the minimum wage. 3 - Leave Obamacare alone or fix it. All Democrats support this. As far as I can tell, all Republicans oppose it. 4 - Immigration: give all long-term, non-criminal illegal immigrants a path to citizenship. No fines. No punishment. They've lived here, built homes here, paid taxes here. Let them stay. Jeb is closer than any Republican to this, but I will mention him later. 5 - Leave women alone. Let them make their own choices about their bodies and their futures. Don't impose your religious beliefs on their wombs. Sorry, a fetus is not a baby. No Republican supports this position (it wasn't so long ago when moderate Republicans were allowed to be pro-choice). I cannot in good faith vote for any anti-choice politician. Fund Planned Parenthood. 6 - Global warming is real and our government has to do something about it. Some Republicans accept this; most do not. 7 - Marriage equality is the law of the land. I'm happy about that. It's the right thing to do. Leave it alone. Most Republicans want to go back to what we had before. Just no. 8 - Peace and diplomacy first. If Iran is a threat to Israel and Saudi Arabia, we've spent a fortune arming them. They can defend themselves. We shouldn't have to. All of that means that Republicans will try to make this election about "character." Attacks on the personal lives and character of the eventual Democratic candidate will be relentless. Republicans have lots of practice. They have attacked Obama and his family constantly for the last 7 years. They've been attacking Hillary Clinton for just as long. Benghazi demonstrates something quite simple: even when they have nothing, they will keep attacking. Not one accusation has proved credible, but Republicans continue to spend time and money trying to smear her rather than conducting the country's business. But these attacks will have no effect on my vote. None. Because the issues that are important to me won't change. Even if Hillary is proven to be evil incarnate. Even if she only changes her underwear twice a week. Even if she's not a true blonde, she will still do more to advance the causes I believe in than any Republican. That is also why it won't matter who the Democrats nominate. Socialist Bernie? Better than any Republican. Joe Biden? I think he'd be a great president. Jim Webb? I'd hold my nose, but I'd still vote for him. I'll still pay attention to the Republican primaries, but more for entertainment. It's still not certain if Republicans can get a moderate candidate through the primaries. In my opinion, part of the reason Romney lost is that he ran as a moderate once he got the nomination. He lost more than a few Tea Baggers in the process. Jeb Bush is trying to stake out turf as the moderate. He was #2 in the polls before the debate. I suspect his numbers will go down in the next polls. And, see, he's the moderate. The one who says Americans need to work more hours. The one who says we spend too much on women's health care. The one who has to pretend he's not the son and the brother of two failed Republican presidents. One couldn't even get the support of his own party to get reelected; the other left the country in shambles. Yeah, I wouldn't vote for him, even though I do believe he wouldn't be as big a disaster as his brother. Well, that's where I stand on the election process. I'm pretty sure I won't change much, no matter what the billionaires say in their PAC ads.

Are you getting what you want from life?

That's what I've been thinking about the last couple of days. It's a less complicated question to answer than "Are you happy?" I have to say my own answer to that question is pretty positive. I own my home, we have two nice, environmentally friendly cars, I am happily married and have three sons. I think I can say my wife and sons are, for the most part, getting what they want from life. I make enough money to pay bills, buy a few luxuries (cable TV, smart phones, big screen TV, easy chair, at least one trip per year and two vacations a year). I also have a job I love, one that challenges me and lets me be creative. I've also managed to build a decent retirement that I'll start enjoying in three years. Oh, and although I'm a pretty severe introvert, I do have some good friends around me. I'm not bragging, though. I think it's important to assess our existence from time to time. If I use this measurement, I have to admit that my sister and most of my brothers are also getting what they want out of life. I feel good about that. NOW...if all of that is true, what are my responsibilities to the rest of the human race? Honestly, I don't want to stand in anyone's way. Let them get what they want out of life, too. That's a pretty basic reason for my being pro-choice and for marriage equality. If I do things that hinder people in either of those categories, I'm blocking them unnecessarily. I won't do it. But leaving people alone isn't really enough. I want to help others have a better chance to get what they want out of life. I have only one charity I give money to, but it helps children in hard circumstances have a safe place to live and develop until they finish high school. And I vote Democrat. If I have to pay more in taxes so we can raise the minimum wage or provide health care or train veterans for jobs or help disadvantaged kids go to college, I'm good with that. I want to see that happen. Finally, what about you? Are you getting what you want out of life? Why not? And if you're not, what are you doing to change that? I hope you can come up with some good answers. Life is good.