Editorial: A legal victory with complications

The Connecticut Superior Court ruling Tuesday validated State Rep. John Santanella's complaint. This is a clear win, and allows him to avoid an August 11 Democratic primary against his challenger, former town attorney Tom Tyler. Tyler can appeal, but absent that, Santanella can shift his focus to November. But a winning legal outcome is not the same as a winning narrative outcome. This was an honest mistake by the Tyler campaign, a consequence of some flawed official guidance and a decision to rely on that guidance. The court found that the Democratic registrar provided petition sheets four days before state law allowed, and that the state-supplied forms lacked a legally required statement from circulators on the number of signatures gathered — a defect that invalidated all of Tyler's petitions. The ruling also notes that there was no evidence the Tyler campaign exercised due diligence to confirm the official guidance. Connecticut election law doesn't allow for honest mista...
Post a Comment

The three phases of climate change conversion

Bushnell Park, Hartford, May, 2019

Unless you live on the shore, climate change in Connecticut isn't all that noticeable. Spring still seems like a spring. A little wetter, perhaps, but people don't associate an increase in precipitation with a changing climate.

The most noticeable impact may winter's polar vortex. Polar air that is otherwise blocked off by the jet stream breaks free and plunges south. But our single digit cold is nothing like what the people in the Midwest experience. Most people don't consider these low temperatures far outside the usual.

But awareness that something is changing is arriving, slowly still.

The average person who truly understands what's happening goes through a life-altering climate change conversion that comes in three phases.

First, they may be aware of the issue, recognize it's something of problem, and generally agree on the need to end use of fossil fuels. They may even know what the Keeling Curve is. But it's not an urgent issue. The TV meteorologists rarely mention it. 

The second phase of this conversion involves a growing awareness. They are learning more about coral reef declines. They notices the headlines about fish migration to colder waters and the threats to species. The flooding and fires has their attention. They realize Miami won't survive rising waters, and they begin to do some serious reading. Their interest deepens.

What happens next -- the climate change conversion -- happens in a moment and hits with horrifying force and visceral fear. They now understand how serious it is and what it means for the future. It changes how they see the world each and every day and they are now sick with fear over what the children will face. They get the Green New Deal, and wonder if it's anywhere near enough. America is still somewhere in phase one, if that.

Once you have this climate change conversion, nothing will seem the same again. A good spring day no longer seems like just a nice day. It seems like something very precious and on the verge of being lost for good. 

Comments

Post a Comment