I do somewhat try to overlook politicians saying silly things — most of us are intermittently idiotic, and are just lucky not to be constantly filmed. Still, when the stupid is both extreme and premeditated, we’re surely allowed a bit of mockery.
First: Michael Gove takes ‘Red Tory’ in a bewildering direction, declares himself proud to be a Maoist. Because when you’re introducing such an extreme
attack on
modernization of the education system, you run out of models to follow. And China has the best example* in living memory* of how to annihilate education (and much else) in only a few years. So of course Gove wants “
in education…to implement a cultural revolution just like the one they’ve had in China
“. [The whole article is a spectacular case of “what was he thinking?”] [via jacinthsong]
Meanwhile in the US, the incoming chair of the House subcommittee on energy and the environment**, apparently believes that the Bible guarantees us no climate change
So I want to start with Genesis 8, verse 21 and 22. “Never again will I curse the ground because of man…” I believe that’s the infallible word of God, and that’s the way it’s going to be for His creation.
…
The second verse comes from Matthew 24. “And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” The earth will end only when God declares its time to be over. Man will not destroy this earth. This earth will not be destroyed by a flood. And I appreciate having panelists here who are men of faith, and we can get into the theological discourse of that position, but I do believe God’s word is infallible, unchanging, perfect.
So, in order to get him taking climate change seriously, we need him to believe we’re living in the end-times?
* Or almost; I guess the Khmer Rouge still have the edge. Fortuantely Phnom Penh wasn’t on Gove’s itinerary.
** I’ve no idea if this is an important committee, or just a dumping ground for annoying congresscritters. I hope the latter.