The earth has a history of climate change over vast periods of time.  The idea of climate change being caused by mankind is a current debate at least among some in our scientific community.  Is the earth beginning a new climate change cycle or is mankind causing the change through our use of fossil fuels, new farming techniques, the destruction of our rainforests etc.  Bob Quinn, a PHD farmer in Montana and a fellow Rotarian, believes “climate change is both real and manmade.”  As a result, according to the article in the Rotarian, he has successfully developed natural processes to farm 4,000 acres and ships his organic products worldwide. 
 
On the other hand my wife has an uncle, a native of Steubenville, who became a geologist via the University of Nebraska. He worked 40 years in the oil business developing oil fields around the world.  Retired on his farm in Nebraska today at the age of 93, he will tell you in no uncertain terms that manmade global warming is a hoax.  Of course, being from Steubenville, his language would be much more colorful.  His position lead to some spirited debate during our visit to Nebraska this past fall!
 
This winter has cemented my position.  Climate change is real and is happening.  The cause we can debate but it is real.  In a few years I will be enjoying South Carolina weather here in Steubenville Ohio.  Maybe the oceans will rise enough to bring the beach too!
 
Reading the Rotarian article on Venezuela made my heart break: over 4.5 million refugees since 2005.  A country that used to be wealthy is in ruin today, much, maybe most of it, caused by government turmoil.  People are fleeing because they cannot feed their families.  Even well educated, professional folks are trying to leave.  They have difficulty finding host countries where they are welcome.
 
It makes you wonder about the state of the world today.  According to the article we have taken in 350,000 refugees from Venezuela since 2015.  Definitely a large number but why not a million?  I was in Wexford not long ago and the McDonald’s there was advertising on their billboard for student workers age 15 and older.  We are putting kids to work because we are out of workers or out of people who want to work.  Either way, employers are in grave need of workers.  Ask nursing homes, ask restaurants, ask the trade unions, ask large farmers, ask home health agencies, ask hotels.  They all need employees and in many cases hire questionable people at times because of the lack of quality applicants.  Even finding police officer candidates here in the City of Steubenville was a problem during recent months.
 
US immigration laws need updated.   Allowing more immigration from Venezuela might be a good place to start.  The turmoil in our political system is a bigger problem.  Refusal by our elected officials to work across the aisle on anything is turmoil.  Impeachment is turmoil.  Doubting fair elections is turmoil.  Mocking the President is turmoil.
 
Our government is in turmoil or at least near turmoil.  Are we the next Venezuela?