Fact? After four years of suffering “alternative” facts from an administration who played fast and loose with the word, it needs defining.

Fact: a thing that is known or proved to be true, the truth about events as opposed to interpretation, an occurrence in the real world. The usual test for a statement of fact is verifiability — that is whether it can be demonstrated to correspond to experience. Standard reference works are often used to check facts.

I understand your belief, it would be very comforting, but I don’t share it. My wife is a Christian, she shares you belief, but she would never state as a fact. She also understands my point. She takes comfort from her beliefs, but she wants a world with clean water, clean air, she wants a government that will act to curb pollution, that will act to halt emissions harmful to the atmosphere, for the sake of our ten grandchildren and their children. For no one knows when Christ will return.

Neither of us want a politician who ignores the problems facing the planet, Trump, nor one who is essentially passing the buck, waiting for God to solve the problems.

Here’s a practical example. During the 911 crisis, passengers on United Airlines Flight 93 were in dire straights. I’m sure many were praying, but along with prayers some took action, those actions averted a much greater disaster.

I think your faith and my wife’s faith is a terrific belief and a great comfort, but action is needed. Some believe that same old economic systems can be relied upon to undo the harm we have done to the planet. But I don’t think capitalism and the never ending quest for profit has the answers, rather it’s a big part of the problem. Our economic system relies on constant growth, buy, buy, buy more and more stuff. Chuck the old stuff, fill the oceans and landfills with our never ending waste. Use more and more plastic, because it’s cost effective and enhances the bottom line. Pretend we are recycling when in reality developed countries have been shipping their waste to China, until they called a halt to it, then to Indochina, Vietnam, virtually any underdeveloped country stupid enough to take it. Now if we continue to ship our so called “recyclables” to these same countries they simply sink them in the ocean.

What system could best solve the global problems? I don’t claim to have it figured out. One thing I know is that we must make a systemic switch from competition to cooperation. We need benevolent governments who seek peace, not governments like our own, constantly preparing for war and waging it around the world. In the history of the US, we have been at war all but about 27 years of our existence. Big changes are requires to match the magnitude of the problems facing the Earth.