# Trump is an even bigger disaster than we thought **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 8, 2016, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-an-even-bigger-disaster-than-we-thought/774209 "2016-12-08T15:16:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2016, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-an-even-bigger-disaster-than-we-thought/774209/1 "2016-12-08T15:16:00Z")
Trump is continuing his policy of appointing agency heads who are opposed to the basic mission of the agency. His latest may be the most dangerous yet. He is appointing an oil industry ally to head the EPA. Scott Pruitt, the atty gen of Oklahoma, has made a career of suing the EPA. He is adamantly anti-regulation, and to put the cherry on top, he is a climate science denier. News article > **[Trump Names EPA Head](https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2016-12-08/trump-settles-on-oklahomas-attorney-general-to-lead-epa)** > > President-elect Donald Trump confirms he'll nominate Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, a global warming skeptic, to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. and editorial > **[Scott Pruitt, Trump’s Climate-Denying EPA Pick, Is Worse Than You Think](https://www.thedailybeast.com/scott-pruitt-trumps-climate-denying-epa-pick-is-worse-than-you-think)** > > Climate change may grab headlines, but the destructive impact of an anti-environment EPA chief will be far more insidious. As the editorial notes, all Pruitt has to do to ensure that virtually no environmental regulations are enforced is to drastically cut the staff and budget of the EPA. Then Trump will crow about the budget savings, and polluters will be able to do whatever they want. It may take decades to repair the damage they do, if this country ever regains its sanity. Anybody who thought Trump was just a buffoon had better wake up. He is the most dangerous man in the world. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2016, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-an-even-bigger-disaster-than-we-thought/774209/2 "2016-12-08T15:36:09Z")
So the fact that he might be knowledgeable about the shenanigans of the oil companies isn’t at all relevant? ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2016, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-an-even-bigger-disaster-than-we-thought/774209/3 "2016-12-08T15:39:46Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > So the fact that he might be knowledgeable about the shenanigans of the oil companies isn’t at all relevant? Why should he work _against_ the shenanigans? He will probably aid in developing bigger & better shenanigans! ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2016, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-an-even-bigger-disaster-than-we-thought/774209/4 "2016-12-08T15:49:35Z")
Trump doesn’t appear to have any actual opinions of his own; he merely paraphrases whatever the last person he spoke to said, and _these_ are the people he’s surrounding himself with. Our only hope is one of these people advises him to do something blatantly illegal and we can get rid of the lot of them. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2016, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-an-even-bigger-disaster-than-we-thought/774209/5 "2016-12-08T15:56:48Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > So the fact that he might be knowledgeable about the shenanigans of the oil companies isn’t at all relevant? I guess if he is struck by lightning and Jesus appears to him and tells him to do what the EPA is supposed to do, then yes, it might be relevant. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2016, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-an-even-bigger-disaster-than-we-thought/774209/6 "2016-12-08T16:13:55Z")
More of a rant. Moving from Great Debates to the Pit. [/moderating] ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2016, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-an-even-bigger-disaster-than-we-thought/774209/7 "2016-12-08T16:14:38Z")
Set a thief to commit a theft. By now he may be making these appointments to mock the whole structure of America. Actually the administration of \*\*Ubu Roi \*\*is unfolding as lunatic farce, finally unleashing the underlying hidden forces of Chaos and Mother Night, just for the lulz. Still better than Hillary. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2016, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-an-even-bigger-disaster-than-we-thought/774209/8 "2016-12-08T16:15:29Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > So the fact that he might be knowledgeable about the shenanigans of the oil companies isn’t at all relevant? Seriously? I’m sure Bernie Madoff knows a hell of a lot about trading but I’m sure I don’t want him to be chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. . ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2016, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-an-even-bigger-disaster-than-we-thought/774209/9 "2016-12-08T16:17:05Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > Set a thief to commit a theft. By now he may be making these appointments to mock the whole structure of America. > Actually the administration of \*\*Ubu Roi \*\*is unfolding as lunatic farce, finally unleashing the underlying hidden forces of Chaos and Mother Night, just for the lulz. > > Still better than Hillary. And what would Hillary have done that’s worse? ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2016, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-an-even-bigger-disaster-than-we-thought/774209/10 "2016-12-08T16:19:55Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > And what would Hillary have done that’s worse? More emails! More Benghazis! Connect the dot! ---
**Author:** ![Frankenstein\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ccd318/32.png) [@Frankenstein\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frankenstein_Monster)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2016, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-an-even-bigger-disaster-than-we-thought/774209/11 "2016-12-08T16:31:30Z")
Fortunately, lack of EPA enforcement of pollution regulation is not the same as forcing people to pollute. Or do you think the EPA is going to outlaw Tesla cars for being too clean?? Mandating “rollin’ coal” installations on all new cars and directing people to using them every 5 minutes? Hard to tell where these exaggerated doom and gloom predictions come from sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2016, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-an-even-bigger-disaster-than-we-thought/774209/12 "2016-12-08T16:42:27Z")
> [@Frankenstein\_Monster](#): > > Fortunately, lack of EPA enforcement of pollution regulation is not the same as forcing people to pollute. > > … As though Industry in America ever had an aversion to pollution. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2016, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-an-even-bigger-disaster-than-we-thought/774209/13 "2016-12-08T16:55:27Z")
> [@Frankenstein\_Monster](#): > > Fortunately, lack of EPA enforcement of pollution regulation is not the same as forcing people to pollute. Oooh, good point. Nobody will force companies to pollute. Companies will pollute only if it’s cheaper for them to pollute. Care to give us any realistic scenarios where it isn’t, if there is no enforcement of environmental regulations? > [@](#): > > Hard to tell where these exaggerated doom and gloom predictions come from sometimes. Not hard at all. You only need to look at what it was like before environmental regulations were enacted. Amazingly enough, large corporations didn’t seem to care how much they polluted. Air was unsafe to breathe in many areas, toxic chemicals were dumped anywhere it was convenient, and rivers caught on fire. Let’s hope you don’t live downwind of a coal plant after Pruitt takes over the EPA. ---
**Author:** ![Grim\_Render](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@Grim\_Render](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grim_Render)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2016, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-an-even-bigger-disaster-than-we-thought/774209/14 "2016-12-08T17:02:05Z")
Are you **sure** Loke did not win the election? It is a shapeshifter after all, and this looks very much like Lokes brand of “up yours” chaos. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2016, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-an-even-bigger-disaster-than-we-thought/774209/15 "2016-12-08T17:07:04Z")
This is simply not true with respect to the EPA, since Trump campaigned on eliminating the EPA: > [@](#): > > Republican front-runner Donald Trump would eliminate the Department of Education and Environmental Protection Agency as part of his plan to balance the budget, despite Fox News moderators pointing out to him it won’t be enough. > > During Thursday’s debate, Trump reiterated his claim that he would eliminate the Education Department and “the Department of Environment Protection,” his term for the EPA. > **[AOC and other lawmakers paid thousands in campaign cash to Chinese-backed...](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2584908/aoc-and-other-lawmakers-paid-thousands-in-campaign-cash-to-chinese-backed-entity/)** > > A handful of House lawmakers, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), funneled campaign money toward a Chinese-backed entity during the midterm election cycle, according to campaign finance records. Four House members — including... I don’t how you can make the case that a weakened EPA (with and oil industry favorite at the head) is worse that no EPA at all–his campaign position. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2016, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-an-even-bigger-disaster-than-we-thought/774209/16 "2016-12-08T17:24:11Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > This is simply not true with respect to the EPA, since Trump campaigned on eliminating the EPA: > > [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/trump-says-hed-eliminate-department-of-environment-protection/article/2584908](http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/trump-says-hed-eliminate-department-of-environment-protection/article/2584908) > > I don’t how you can make the case that **a weakened EPA (with and oil industry favorite at the head) is worse that no EPA at all**–his campaign position. Selective enforcement against companies that don’t kow-tow to Trump or are owned by his “enemies”? ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2016, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-an-even-bigger-disaster-than-we-thought/774209/17 "2016-12-08T17:26:11Z")
> [@Grim\_Render](#): > > Are you **sure** Loke did not win the election? It is a shapeshifter after all, and this looks very much like Lokes brand of “up yours” chaos. Loki would have an actual plan. Mind you, it wouldn’t be a very good plan, but he’d have one. For Marvel villains, Trump is more like Thanos; sitting on his floating golden throne making sweeping claims about, “Bathing the starways in your blood,” and sending out ineffectual and incompetent minions but not actually doing anything himself. Also, Melania kind of looks like Death, so…somebody call Chris Pratt, tell Bradley Cooper to do some more voice acting for an angry CGI raccoon, and cue up a Runaways song. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2016, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-an-even-bigger-disaster-than-we-thought/774209/18 "2016-12-08T17:26:37Z")
All those plants will be powered by “clean coal”. Or unicorn poop, whichever is most freely available. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2016, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-an-even-bigger-disaster-than-we-thought/774209/19 "2016-12-08T17:34:47Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > This is simply not true with respect to the EPA, since Trump campaigned on eliminating the EPA: > > [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/trump-says-hed-eliminate-department-of-environment-protection/article/2584908](http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/trump-says-hed-eliminate-department-of-environment-protection/article/2584908) Ha Ha, so the jokes on Pruitt. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2016, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-an-even-bigger-disaster-than-we-thought/774209/20 "2016-12-08T17:49:44Z")
I’m reminded of the thoughts of the physicist Brian Cox in [an interview a few months ago](http://www.iflscience.com/space/brian-cox-explains-why-we-havent-seen-aliens-yet-and-it-isnt-pretty) regarding the Fermi paradox and why we haven’t detected any evidence of extraterrestrial civilizations: > [@](#): > > “One solution to the Fermi paradox is that it is not possible to run a world that has the power to destroy itself and that needs global collaborative solutions to prevent that. > > “It may be that the growth of science and engineering inevitably outstrips the development of political expertise, leading to disaster. We could be approaching that position.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-an-even-bigger-disaster-than-we-thought/774209.md?page=2)