Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Can't be too much of a ratbag for Catallaxy (and let's look at renewables again)

Well, my question earlier this week as to whether someone booted out of the IPA for being too offensive to Muslims could still post at Catallaxy has been answered in the affirmative, with Alan Moran still posting there today (about renewable energy.)

Well done, Sinclair Davidson!  Previously, extreme views of Islam were restricted to those visitors in threads; now we know they're held by (at least one) who posts there too.

Speaking of renewable energy, Moran points with approval to a Leyonjhelm piece in the Australian today, which (as usual) is big on claims but short on evidence.

The Bald One apparently accepts uncritically a Deloittes report from earlier in the year that figured the RET would "cost the economy" $29 billion.

But as this article noted, this is based on some very dubious assumptions about the ongoing cost of installing renewables, when we know that they have been becoming cheaper.   And besides, this way of modelling and adding up a cumulative amount over years of "costs to economy" exaggerates the effect for political purposes.   And even more crucially, the Deloittes report is open about not taking into account any environment benefits of renewables at all.

This last point is, of course, at the heart of nearly all criticism of the RET:  those fighting it do not really believe there is an environmental benefit to it at all, because they don't believe in climate change.

Update:   here's Leyonjhelm as apparently quoted in The Australian today:
“I have seen so much levy money being poorly spent on ridiculous fantasyland things such as climate change and sustainability; ..."
I thought he used to take a more "well I'm just being open minded" line on climate change, saying things like:
Nobody disputes the fact that atmospheric carbon dioxide is increasing, although there is debate about what effect this is having and whether it justifies government action. 
 So it's good to see that he has outed himself as a clear denialist, then.  



23 comments:

Paul Montgomery said...

The reappearance of Moran at Catallaxy Files suggests that Davidson disagrees with Roskam. Is this the start of a schism in the IPA? Or is it just that Roskam is serious about running for Hawthorn and is trying to divest himself of the shame of association with wingnut ratbags?

Paul Montgomery said...

Reposted from Homer's site:

I have been thinking for a while that you, Homer, I and maybe whoever else might want to get involved should start a Facebook page for leftist Aussie poliblogs to re-post all of our stuff, to get into that sweet FB referral traffic. It would give some of the advantages of having a group blog, without us having to give up our individual platforms.

anon said...

Great idea numb nuts, the three of you... Stepford, homer e Paxton and fatboy start a group blog.

Fabulous. Can't wait.

Paul Montgomery said...

LOL JC, link us another St*rmfront blog post again.

nottrampis said...

No JC Davidson wouldn't be part of it M0nty would!

anon said...

I didn't know it was that sort of site, fatboy. You know that, but chose to pin it on me. Man up, you pathetic excuse for a male.

Homer, get off the retard drugs and try to write coherent sentences you oaf. Failing that use gram check.

Morons, the three of you.

Paul Montgomery said...

Your intellectual laziness knows no bounds, JC. Invest is some more monopolies and pat yourself on the back for your genius.

anon said...

I wish monster. I wish. In fact if there's a small dip I may buy some more. One of my most beautiful long term investments.

Bought between $1.60 to 2.1 receive an annual div of 24 cents and a special one off div of 82 cents.

That's why I'm in my alligator slippers and smoking jacket puffing Cubans.

You fat idiot.

Steve said...

"That's why I'm in my alligator slippers and smoking jacket puffing Cubans."

Leave the pool boy alone, JC.

monty: I know he sounds like Mr Burns, but does he look like him too?

Paul Montgomery said...

JC looks more like Mo Szyslak.

anon said...

Why is it always with the pedo comments from you stepford? Why exactly?

Paul Montgomery said...

Haha JC, you are not one to criticise when it comes to repetitive insults.

anon said...

Shut up fatboy.

I'm asking stepford why he's continually making references to pedo stuff at the drop of a hat.

It's actually quite disturbing.

Steve said...

"Pool boy" in porno terms is hardly understood to be a minor.

And no, I don't make pedo jokes at all, let alone repetitively.

Abbott and speedos - yes, I did have a run of those, but a few cartoonists are still into that so I'm far from alone.

anon said...

And fatboy, you shouldn't be talking about anyone's appearance with a kisser like yours. Stay well away from that one.

Paul Montgomery said...

None of us are oil paintings, JC. We're all lucky to be married, really.

Steve said...

I see IT has had another baby, this time a girl. JC, you can pass on my congratulations; she may have a moderating effect on him.

And JC - have you ever congratulated monty on his son? Virtually no one from Catallaxy did, as far as I recall.

Paul Montgomery said...

Actually lots of Cats were very complimentary towards me on the occasion of my son's birth. Mazel tov to IT, too.

anon said...

"And JC - have you ever congratulated monty on his son? Virtually no one from Catallaxy did, as far as I recall."

Fatboy, did I... ummm?

anon said...

Anyways, getting back on point. I'd thoroughly welcome the idea the three of you running a blog.

I think it's a cracker of an idea... if you know what I mean.

Steve said...

By the way, JC, on the issue of my "self banning": yes I did leave voluntarily, but twice over about the last three months I attempted to leave short posts in the Open threads and twice they went into moderation and ASFAIK did not appear. I haven't bothered since, and in any event, as even you would acknowledge, the place has become fuller of ratbaggery than ever before.

One has one's standards of where one should be seen....(Even if I can be seen there.)

anon said...

Stepford, A lot of people's comments have been eaten up by the spam meter as I've seen quite a few complaints over the past few months.

Stop the paranoia.

Paul Montgomery said...

I created that Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/realitybasedcommunity - so join up and I'll mod you if you want to get involved.