Cynicism and skepticism do not overlap.
Of course, sometimes both come up at the same time.
Skepticism is employed as a method for questioning any assertions of fact. Whereas cynicism is to distrust or doubt not just someone’s words, but his or her motives.
Try as we might, too often politicians from both sides of the aisle leave us straying into the negative world of cynicism.
Some politicians may even fit a description of slick, or sinister figures that bluster their way through anything.
That description would be woefully misplaced in describing Rep. David McKinley, who indeed, is quite the opposite.
One might even expect to believe some of what he told The Dominion Post this week in an interview.
However, though we will defend his right to be wrong in our pages, we fear our silence in response translates into acquiescence or agreement.
Matter of fact, we could not disagree more with McKinley’s positions on practically every subject he discussed.
“Back here, no one’s talking about that (the impeachment inquiry).” Huh? Hogwash. The entire nation, including his constituents, are talking about it even if he’s not listening to it.
As for this investigation putting other legislation in peril, that’s equal measures of hogwash and hypocrisy.
House Democrats haven’t been squandering time. In addition to this investigation and others, they’ve been passing legislation at a rapid clip. As of late May, the House had taken up 51 bills, resolutions and other actions since January — 49 of which they’ve passed.
This includes bills on lower prescription prices, veterans issues, gun control and protecting pre-existing conditions.
The problem is most of that legislation hit a roadblock in the GOP-controlled Senate. Needless to say, there’s little policymaking there, where the focus has been on confirming President Trump’s nominations to the judiciary at a record pace.
As for waiting until we have all the world curbing CO2 emissions before following suit, more baloney.
We have always been the leader in what’s worth fighting for in this world, not followers. Right?
As for rejecting the baseline capacity of renewables to meet our nation’s needs that’s equally misguided.
On any questions about energy, as much as telecommunications, transportation, medicine, etc., the technology equation is primary. And by dedicating more federal research and development dollars to advances in renewables, rather than fossil fuels, that baseline capacity issue and others can be more quickly resolved by technology.
One trendy assertion goes that any opinion is automatically worthy of respect as any equal and opposite view.
Still, the rule of law, incontrovertible science and technology’s promise do not overlap with stonewalling, denial and special interests.
