I am not an expert on global warming or climate change or whatever it is their calling it these days. I'll admit that right up front. I don't know if we're in a warming trend or a cooling trend or a trendy trend or what. I do know that the history of this planet is full of shifts in climate. There was a thing called the ice age. I think we've been warming up ever since, except of course for the little ice age. The end of that particular phase also marked the end of the dark ages if I'm not mistaken, so maybe a little warmth isn't so bad after all.
My point is, I don't know whether this is a natural cycle, a man-made event, or if it even exists at all. Some reports are that the average temperature has actually been dropping for the last several years ( the cynic in me would say this is why they stopped calling it global warming and started calling it climate change ) and that there is no correllation between global temperatures and co2 levels in the atmosphere, as those have continued to climb. I've heard sunspots and solar flare activity blamed for the latest warming trend as well as cow flatulence and aerosol. I've read that the cooling trend is actually caused by the warming trend. Something about a change in natural sea currents and the ocean bringing colder water down into warmer water or something like that. As I said, I'm no expert. What I do know, however, is that there is far too much conflicting information out there to call the debate over. There are far too many people out there, people who are experts, who argue for both sides to call it a slam dunk in either direction.
The people claiming that there is no argument strike me as the same people in those late night infomercials telling me to 'Act now before it's too late, this is a limited time offer' only they aren't offering me any extra set of kitchen knives, or 2 snuggies for the price of one. All they're offering is a great big tax hike, spiraling energy costs, and a lifetime of servitude for my children and their children and their children's children as the national debt explodes.
It would be one thing if the rest of the world was offering to do the same thing as us. Limiting emissions and taxing polluters won't do a damn thing for the environment if we're the only one's doing it. China and India, both emerging nations, want no part of this scheme, and will continue on their merry way. This fact is indisputable, and it will negate any benefit caused by our efforts. Anyone that believes that we can 'lead by example' and become the 'moral authority' on this issue has been reading too many of their own press clippings - Hello Al Gore.
As I said, I am no expert on climate, but I can tell the difference between the truth, and cow flatulence. One's bad for the environment, the other, inconveniently, for the environmentalists. I'll let you decide which is which.
TFD
