Unfortunately, you cannot have an objective conversation about this, thanks to the vast numbers of people who form opinions without ever investigating the science themselves. Politicians (equally as ignorant) use the global warming theme to play on popular fears, increase taxes, reward their cronies and grab more power. And the media have been taking this “Chicken Little” story to the bank for two decades.
We keep hearing “the science is settled.” But science is never settled – just look at the case for putting fluoride in public drinking water, sold as a great way to prevent cavities 60 years ago. Opponents of the fluoride initiative were laughed at, labeled as paranoid nut jobs. Now, new research shows that fluoride has no effect on cavity formation and may in fact be a neurotoxin similar to lead. Then there is thalidomide, DDT, electroshock therapy…the list of scientific failures foisted on a gullible public by aggressive government “experts” is long and heartbreaking for many.
This is not to say manmade global warming is not happening. But the truth is we don’t really know because the skeptics, the people who would move the science forward, have been kicked out of the conversation. Alternative viewpoints have been banished from the media, the universities and most science journals. If you are curious enough to look at both sides of the debate on global warming/climate change, check out Anthony Watts’ blog: “Watts Up With That,” and Dr. Roy Spencer, a climatologist at the University of Alabama Huntsville.
If global warming can be proved to be a crisis, three things should happen. One: we’ll need objective, honest, science free from political interference. Two: we’ll need our government to respond in bipartisan fashion with competence and fairness. Good luck with either of these two.
The third solution is to unleash America’s untapped engineering expertise.
