Another unbelievably idiotic tweet from President Trump.
Yes, I know, I know. Idiotic tweets from Trump are hardly even news anymore, but just a given in the sorry state of our national politics these days.
But given Trump's horrendous environmental record, and given the absurdity of the "fake news" that Trump is trying to pass off as fact in this tweet, it just needed to be scrutinized more closely.
Let's begin by reposting what President Trump tweets directly, in it's entirety:
"California wildfires are being magnified & made so much worse by the bad environmental laws which aren’t allowing massive amount of readily available water to be properly utilized.It is being diverted into the Pacific Ocean. Must also tree clear to stop fire spreading!"
First of all, Trump suggests, perhaps rather accurately, that "bad environmental laws" are likely responsible for the level of seriousness with the California fires that we see dominating news headlines every day lately. However, he seems unaware somehow that he himself has been the author of some of the worst environmental policies in modern American history.
Also, he is suggesting that somehow, officials are holding back on water to fight the forest fires, and that this water is being diverted to the Pacific Ocean. That seems to be ridiculous and factually incorrect on just so many levels, that it is outrageous. Indeed, water laws were tightened in California during the massive drought that lasted years, and ended not all that long ago. However, those laws are not designed to withhold water during times of clear emergencies, which these fires clearly would be not only counterproductive, but downright illegal.
Then, that last sentence. "Must tree clear to stop fire spreading!"
Aside from how dumb that sentence sounds, it is also clear that Trump is inserting his political beliefs here, that clearing out trees for the profit of the few would be beneficial, and in fact, crucial, to combating these forest fires. The forests grew there naturally, and as such, it seems to me folly to assume that we know better than Mother Nature. Secondly, the trees that are on private property tend to belong to mostly well-off California residents. Those are not natural trees, but surely, these are also not the trees that Trump was referring to, right?
So, using this tragedy to promote political views that just happen to coincide with Trump's policies that benefit the few at the expense of everyone else.
Can we expect more from Trump?
We should. But with this man in charge, that seems downright naive at this point, does it not?
Trump: Environmental laws making California wildfires 'so much worse' BY MAX GREENWOOD - 08/05/18:
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