Global Warming is Real

On August 11, 2026 By southwerkIn business ethicsLeave a comment

I live in Oklahoma which could be described as the most climate change denying state in the union. The state is pro-oil and energy development to the point of absurdity.

The city I live in has water contaminated by radium. This radioactive substance is found deep with in the earth and it comes to the surface when you do fracking and dump the waste water on the surface and don’t dispose of it properly.

I could talk for some time about the lead contamination as well but let us move onto today’s topic, global warming.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/10/july-hottest-month-ever-recorded-heatwaves

A quote from the article referenced above:

July was the hottest month ever recorded in the US, with repeated, scorching heatwaves across much of the country helping shatter all previous monthly temperature records stretching back over the full 132 years of reliable measurements.

The hottest month ever recorded! That sounds persuasive, doesn’t it. If you think that minds will change here in the Sooner State just because of a little thermometer reading, you are very much mistaken. Our great energy companies not only loot the state and do amazing amounts of environmental damage, they expect devotion and admiration and with very few exceptions they get it. It is the result of long term propaganda and the doctrinal stupidity of much of what passes for Christianity here.

However, if you are one of that vanishing species, the rare fact based thinkers, we are in one hell of a mess. We are entering the age of fire and the environmental damage will on a catastrophic level. Historically very small climate changes (like the gradual diminishment of rainfall on the Great Plains in the 1880’s) have had dramatic effects on farming, warfare and culture. The coming changes are not going to be small. This year more than 10,000 Europeans died because of the increased heat. We can expect those numbers to grow perhaps in the next twenty years to deaths in the millions.

This would seem to call for action and drastic action at that. But we live in the United States where pretending that global warming is some kind of hoax gets politicians enormous sums of campaign money.

I have to reflect that it is sad that so many have to suffer or die because of climate change because much of the leadership in this country is addicted to campaign money and therefore refuse to do anything about it.

James Alan Pilant

The Entertainment Driven Presidency

On June 1, 2026June 1, 2026 By southwerkIn business ethics

Kurt Anderson was being interviewed on The Daily Beast podcast and he had interesting things to say. And I would like share to a couple of his remarks with you. His words have a lot of validity in the current cultural zeitgeist.

Anderson discussed the President’s style of off the cuff remarks and bonkers social media posts. He said that this “style” appealed to many young people because it is unfiltered. But over time, the appeal is wearing off as it become increasingly clear that the President simply isn’t competent.

I always thought our fearless leader’s entertainment value was close to nil. The idea of a fake reality star emulating the “|drama” of championship wrestling is nothing but offensive to any man who desires the mantle of culture and gentlemanly behavior.

And indeed, his rise, has marked a horrifying loss in civility and intelligence in public discourse. He has mainstreamed a contempt for the handicapped and made a savage and unrelenting racism a regular part of American life.

When this ends there will be much to rebuild, much to avenge and much to get over.

Anderson does not reflect in the article my rage but it is well said.

It’s a good article and I recommend you read it in full.

Below is a link to the larger story about the interview and a very sharp quote from Anderson.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/author-says-trump-entertainment-driven-181119944.html

“Bread and circuses,” the author told Coles, explaining that leaders have been putting on a “circus” long before Trump came into power, but that this is only “fine if you’ve got the bread.”

Just the circus alone, and giant ballrooms for rich people, and giant tax benefits for rich people, and giant crypto scams for rich people. While I can’t afford meat at the grocery store, that doesn’t go down so well,” Andersen added.

Here is some background from my dear friends at Wikipedia on Anderson who has had quite the prolific and distinguished career.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Andersen

Entertainment Driven Politics

Alito Should Recuse Himself

On May 29, 2026May 29, 2026 By southwerkIn business ethics

Our Supreme Court is in desperate need of reform. Its code of ethics is non-existent and what few rules there ae are commonly ignored.

Here we have Alito, long an advocate for gas and oil interests declining to recuse himself from an important case.

I would suggest that if he were under the rules of a federal trial court, he would have to bow out.

But he’s not.

Just another day with the six rabid proto-fascist judges on the Supreme Court, more and more at best a source of humor than any source of justice.

Here below is a link to an article about the case and the argument for recusal.

James Alan Pilant

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/scotus-justice-refuses-recuse-himself-222049085.html

“His irregular recusal practice in oil and gas industry-related cases is undermining public confidence in the impartiality of the Court. They could not occur were he compelled to adhere to enforceable ethics standards against adjudicating cases where he has financial interests or the appearance of a conflict of interest where his impartiality might reasonably be questioned,” the groups wrote.

(The Illustration above is from David Balfour and while not entirely appropriate — Who doesn’t like a good sword fight!)

President Gets Verbal Beating from Germany

On May 27, 2026May 27, 2026 By southwerkIn Government Failure

Trump picked a fight with the German leader and he is neither afraid nor remaining silent.

Here is the link and an attached quote from the article.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/top-ally-takes-fresh-swipe-165223104.html

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz escalated a high-profile spat with President Donald Trump on Friday, saying he wouldn’t advise children to study or work in the United States under the president’s leadership. “I would not recommend to my children today that they go to the U.S. to get an education and to work,” Merz said at a Catholic Congress panel in the city of Wuerzburg, citing concerns about the “social climate” that has developed in the country under the second Trump administration.

What about this is business ethics?

When you have an ally particularly one that has stood with the United States through wars and crisis, you treat them with respect and kindness.

And yet, the comic figure who is our current leader rages, criticizes and insults our allies.

Do I really need to say that this course of action is counter productive?

Di I need to say that it damages, perhaps even destroys, our status as a nation whose word and conduct and be relied upon?

And the damage is probably permanent.

Later historians of the country will always look at the nation before Trump with admiration and wonder why it had to end. They will ask “Why did this have to happen,” the save way that Ugandans ask about Idi Amin and Italians about Mussolini.

When do we get our country back from these mad men?

James Alan Pilant

Why Should We Pay Attention to Elon Musk?

On May 14, 2026 By southwerkIn business ethics

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/articles/elon-musk-attacks-odyssey-again-155157057.html

Elon Musk has strong opinions about the upcoming movie, The Odyssey.

I’m sure a lot of people do.

Now, there are three ways that people gain expertise about a subject.

First, they can have direct experience. For instance in having an opinion about a movie you could have directed on acted in one or perhaps even produced one.

Secondly, you can have developed an expertise by learning. You can take courses in acting and directing. You could study and read screenplays, etc.

Thirdly, you can contemplate the topic. This isn’t by any means bloviating like an old White man holding forth n a bar about the thousands of things he knows nothing about. This is where you actually think. You know, read some articles, try to understand more than you did before. Figure out what is important in the subject and use your thought on it creatively.

As far as I can tell, Musk has no experience in movies, has done no studies associated with the subject and hasn’t given a moment’s thought to the subject.

He has simply stated an opinion.

Now, I realize he has a great deal of money. But does that by itself make an opinion newsworthy? Really?

There are countless people who can hold themselves out as experts on movies.

Why don’t we talk to them?

The AI Abyss

On May 12, 2026May 12, 2026 By southwerkIn business ethics

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/college-graduation-speaker-shocked-students-010355560.html

Gloria Caulfield, President of the Lake Nona Institute and Vice President of Strategic Alliances at Tavistock President of the Lake Nona Institute and Vice President of Strategic Alliances at Tavistock was a speaker at commencement and was loudly and repeatedly booed for praising AI.

This is one student’s response as reported in a local newspaper:

“To stand in front of a graduating class of artists and communicators and discuss Jeff Bezos and Howard Schultz, is to spit on our efforts to flip the script. I’m embarrassed to have had to endure the most embarrassing, unskippable, tone-deaf, ad-like commencement. Boo to AI and boo to your agenda,” Eletr told Orlando Weekly.

And he is absolutely right. We hear this nonsense constantly — “new industrial revolution” “cutting edge,” “game changing,” “disruptive,” and then of course a truly incredible mountain of praise for the tech bros who stand to make trillions of dollars if only they can render virtually all of humanity obsolete.

All I see is AI slop on the internet and regular failure and disaster in deployment.

How can there be such constant unquestioning, sky-high praise, while at the same time the evidence of the current news and our own eyes shows just the opposite?

The Duty of a Gentleman

On May 11, 2026 By southwerkIn business ethics

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/horror-show-trump-still-t-190127825.html

“After a brief rant about his interest in beautification, Trump shifted his focus from the issue at hand to the journalist who dared to ask why he’s so invested in diversions.

“It’s such a stupid question that you asked,” the Republican whined before suggesting that Scott might “understand dirt” better than he does. Trump said he considers Scott to be “one of the worst reporters” and a “horror show,” before adding he also considers ABC to be “fake.”

The president concluded, “A question like that is a disgrace to our country.”

A Gentleman has a Duty.

Every man has a duty as a gentleman to act with dignity and kindness toward other human beings.

The leader of our current regime does not believe that this is necessary. In fact, I would argue that he is a boor and a cad, not a gentleman.

She asked a completely legitimate question and he responded like a dictator from a banana republic.

The article, which I strongly recommend, goes on to document his other crudities with women. Aside from the hideous maga faithful, intelligent human beings will discern a pattern of contempt for women.

This is wrong.

We need to return to the days when our leaders could speak to the press as educated, intelligent human beings with some element of culture and dignity.

James Alan Pilant

Do We Really Need to be Killing Kittens?

On December 5, 2025 By southwerkIn business ethics

The National Institutes of Health are supposed to be phasing out the use of Cats in cruel and fatal experimentation but that does not appear to be the case.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/03/nih-funds-cat-experiments

New grants include $486,000 to study blood flow in the brain after stroke. In the study 60 kittens will have portions of their skulls removed, have viruses injected into their brains, are paralysed and have strokes induced. They undergo brain imaging before being killed.

Another, investigating gene therapy for human glaucoma, received a grant of $439,000. Three-month-old “mutant” kittens bred with glaucoma, are injected in the eye with viruses, restrained for examination and killed. Their eyes are then removed for dissection.