Gov. Jindal Follow-up: What Is 'Volcano Monitoring'? (we cannot possibly survive without it dude)

Live Science ^ | Wed Feb 25, 2009 | Andrea Thompson

[presidio9]

After President Obama's speech on the economy last night, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal criticized government spending in the stimulus bill, citing examples including "$140 million for something called 'volcano monitoring.'"

The $140 million to which Jindal referred is actually for a number of projects conducted by the United States Geological Survey, including volcano monitoring. This monitoring is aimed at helping geologists understand the inner workings of volcanoes as well as providing warnings of impending eruptions, in the United States and in active areas around the world where U.S. military bases are located.

Most of the money from the stimulus bill earmarked for monitoring (only about a tenth of the total going to the USGS) will go to modernizing existing monitoring equipment, including switching from analog to digital and installing GPS networks that can measure ground movements, said John Eichelberger, program coordinator for the USGS's Volcano Hazards Program. Much of the expense of this technology comes from the manpower required to make and install it, he added.

"Ultimately most of this creates jobs or saves jobs that would have been lost" to recent budget shortfalls Eichelberger told LiveScience.

When he heard Jindal's remarks, Eichelberger said he "was frankly astonished" that the governor would use this particular example, given his own state's recent brush with a catastrophic natural disaster.

Among the scenarios in which the USGS's monitoring can assist - the catastrophic eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980, which killed 57 people (including a geologist monitoring the mountain) and was the deadliest and costliest volcanic eruption in U.S. history ($2.74 billion in 2007 dollars). This event was preceded by thousands of

[muawiyah]

We can't even get everybody to get out of the way when they do go off.

People can be so stupid.

[Fu-fu2]

“As I’ve said elsewhere, the rate and amounts of the spending are such that no one can pretend this is going to help the economy, not even Keynesians and socialists. This spending is designed to kill the economy and dole out lots of paybacks while sinking the knife in its back — all to ruin the economy so that the people demand a world economic ministry and a global currency.”

Good post.

[muawiyah]

We can't even get everybody to get out of the way when they do go off.

People can be so stupid.

[Kirkwood]

Here’s your warning. Stop living next to volcanoes!

[Syncro]

All “invetions” are irrelevant

I do like your new word though!

I think your comments would make Mona Lisa frown.

[Syncro]

You can say that again!

What about that old guy that stayed on the mountain when Mt. St Helens erupted? A 12 ticket ride!

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

I'm not sure if you're kidding, but the US dollar is not a ‘global currency’ in the sense that it is the only currency that is legal tender and that is regulated from a central (global) bank. The global socialists have been trying to destroy the US economy and the US dollar for decades. To implement a new monetary unit that is issued and regulated from a UN-type of economic ministry would mean total control over the world's population (except for the survivalists who are entirely independent) and the end of all nations as sovereign nations.

In short, all peoples of all the world would be reduced to a global feudalism.

[muawiyah]

We have what is known as a "world reserve currency". That means "they want it, we got it".

It's as close to a universal currency as this world has, or can have.

Given the many ways "money" can be created (lines of credit, printing presses, loans, credit cards, etc.) it's fairly difficult to control everybody from a central bank.

[Gondring]

seismologists into climatologists?

Nah...

[Gondring]

The merits of “Volcano Monitoring” aside. How does it stimulate the economy?

The article explains.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

At the recent G7, reps from both China and the neo-Soviet Union both floated the idea of unpegging the US dollar as the ‘world reserve currency.’ If that happens, the rating of the US dollar plummets and becomes virtually worthless.

As I said, those who are not dependent on others will be able to survive, though meagerly. All others who are dependent on others for their food supply can be easily controlled by a central, global governance. If you want to eat, you will have to play by their rules.

If you haven't, read The Creature from Jekyll Island. I have many other titles to suggest, but that is a very good starting point for understanding the monetary science and the history of those who implemented the Federal Reserve (our central bank) and what their ultimate goals were and continue to be.

[Gondring]

Meanwhile, earmarks like volcano monitoring have zero to do with stimulating the economy.

Wrong. Read the article.

This was one of the worst examples for them to choose, as it has immediate and stimulating effects. They should have chosen one of the wasteful pork items.

A better use of the money would be on military spending

You do realize that the military is a big beneficiary of this research, right? Ever hear of seismic monitoring of nuclear testing, industrial accidents, etc.? Ever heard of Clark Air Base?

[Gondring]

I think it was too much prep, and too much effort to seem folksy.

http://www.youtube.com/v/wROwWvq6zvw

[buccaneer81]

I thought this was a bad choice by Jindal, just because that Alaskan volcano has been threatening lately.

The Yellowstone Caldera is far more urgent.

I agree, a horrible target for Jindal.

[Gondring]

What about that old guy that stayed on the mountain when Mt. St Helens erupted? A 12 ticket ride!

Harry Truman

I honor Dave Johnston, though..."Vancouver! Vancouver! This is it!"

[Gondring]

Actually Rainer could have a massive slope failure with no earthquake or eruption whatsoever - it’s incredibly unstable and being eaten away from within by circulating hot acidic water.

What a mass waste that would be!

[buccaneer81]

David Johnston, 30-year-old volcanologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, was swept away by the catastrophic eruption of Mount St. Helens on the morning of May 18, 1980.

Swept away? Vaporized more likely.

[Gondring]

But what is not acceptable is to continue the venom for another day.

Unless they are smacked HARD, they won't learn the lesson.

[bray]

$140 million sounds like a big waste of money and I live at the base of a bunch of volcanoes. Save the money for something useful.

Pray for America

[cookcounty]

But then put it in the budget, not the Stimulus. Did you notice the proponent in this article refers to it as an “earmark?” Obama says there were no earmarks!