A Policy of Unreadiness: what is the Tea Party drinking?

Americans are risk-takers, for sure. Look what happens when you hand the reins of power to people who think climate change is crap: A rider in the US Governments Agriculture appropriation (Sec. 755)blocks the Agriculture Department (USDA) from carrying out its Policy Statement on Climate Adaptation. The rider by Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) would prevent the USDA from even assessing what impacts climate change might have on farmers, foresters and other landholders. Approved by a House vote of 238-179. "The amendment... would prohibit USDA from using funds to implement its June 3 departmental regulation calling for an assessment of how increased occurrence of severe weather events linked to climate change may affect the department's operations -- and the farmers it serves. A final assessment of USDA's vulnerabilities to climate change is due to be completed by March 2012."