I have read reams of testimony, ranging from well-credentialed scientists to political hacks, and those who continue to demand a “cap-and-trade system” to control global climate change are simply wrong.
The reason the politicos picked carbon dioxide as their chosen control mechanism is because we are a carbon-based species living in a carbon-based world. The preponderance of our economic growth is based on carbon-based energy generation – and that is the true goal of the politicians: to control energy production and use so as to exert control over our population, economy and military activities.
Truth-be-told, carbon dioxide is a required component of life and is necessary for the functioning of our planet. As a greenhouse gas, it is greatly dwarfed by the real “greenhouse” gas that drives our climate: water vapor.
It appears our planet has a self-regulating mechanism when it comes to carbon dioxide. The balance of dissolved carbon dioxide contained in our oceans and the amount of carbon dioxide contained in our atmosphere is more or less a stable feedback loop – dependent upon temperature and the partial pressure of the atmosphere at any given location.
CO2 does not appear to be a causal mechanism of global warming …
Think about it … the global warming community is claiming that our temperature rise is due to the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide. Which is ass-backwards. Credible studies have shown that the rise in carbon dioxide levels lags the increase in temperature by 600 – 1000 years depending on which dataset is being used. A lagging indicator can hardly be considered causal – and those who believe that it can are simply wrong.
However, there is a simple explanation for the physical observations we are seeing …
Let’s consider a cold beer which contains dissolved carbon dioxide. Open the beer and watch what happens. As the beer warms (before you can drink it) the carbon dioxide comes out of the beer and enters the atmosphere. At this point in time, you would see the beer’s temperature rising and the atmospheric CO2 increasing. Now, turn your mind away from that cold beer (try harder) and consider that our oceans are emitting more atmospheric carbon dioxide as they warm. Which, you must admit, is a scientifically elegant explanation for the lagging rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide caused by temperature change.
So what appears to be causing the Earth to warm …
So, you may ask, what is causing the world to warm? Again, the answer is right in front of you. The great portion of the heat comes from the output of our Sun. The amount of heat transfer is a function of the solar variability, the Earth’s planetary path, the precession and rotational dynamics of a spinning Earth, the deep ocean currents and that major greenhouse gas: water vapor. Of course there are a number of global and local factors which are also at play. So many individual factors that many of these mechanisms remain unknown, poorly studied and can only be approximated with computer models based on the underlying physical phenomena.
Is it catastrophic or even dangerous?
Nature has always been a formidable and often dangerous force. Earthquakes, floods, volcanoes, lightning and other natural phenomena can pose extreme danger to man. But man is adaptive. Moving to locations where nature is more hospitable, where there is abundant natural shelter, water and food. Abandoning locations which grow increasingly dangerous as the dangers become known.
As for so-called man-made global warming, the phenomena itself does not seem to be out of the ordinary when one considers nature’s variability. The Earth has been colder as well as hotter. The carbon dioxide levels have been smaller and greater. Man has experienced a number of naturally disruptive phenomena and yet we still survive. And so it will be for the future – barring a planetary catastrophe like a major meteor strike or cataclysmic breakup of the tectonic plates.
Why are the scientists lying?
In many instances, the scientists are not lying. They are doing their very best to study and explain the world around them. Sometimes, their studies are of an extremely limited nature, like looking at tens of trees in a location, and the results of which are erroneously extrapolated onto a much larger world. Or perhaps they are subtly, and in many cases not-so-subtly, influenced by the institutions for whom they work. Where political correctness and funding can influence the type and course of research performed. Certain people have claimed that bogus research was produced by scientists funded by the major oil producers and energy companies. While this may produce slanted research, much like that produced by efforts funded by the tobacco industry, one must realize that billions of dollars in funding have been supplied by governmental organizations – which also have a vested interest in the outcome and conclusions of the research.
The problem does not lie with the scientists, but with the politicians …
What we are seeing is a political power grab by dishonest politicians and political parties … all with the goal of obtaining and maintaining political power for life. To be able to pursue a political agenda of enlarging government, taking more of your hard-earned money to support the burgeoning behemoth and restricting your freedoms of choice.
I spent some time speaking with a paleoanthropologist who suggested that the disappearance and/or migration of ancient populations could have been caused by man’s natural adaptation to local climatological conditions; but it also could have been caused by the political leadership’s mismanagement of community resources.
A clear and present danger …
As this blog is written, there are those in Congress who are purporting to hold hearings on climate change and the necessity of cap-and-trade legislation. I say purporting, because it is a tightly controlled political process governed by time-limits and arcane rules. This is not an open debate requiring real evidence. People like Al Gore are not placed under oath and held accountable for their statements. Is is all kabuki theatre – a stage show for the people – to demonstrate that there was some need, however bogus, for enacting self-serving legislation. And make no mistake, both parties are equally corrupt and/or complacent and will be sharing in the eventual spoils – the minority party receiving a minority (45%) share – but spoils of evil intent nonetheless.
We need a national debate …
Forget the crap spewed by the dishonest United Nations, who has openly admitted to fudging numbers to raise awareness and funding for its initiatives.
Forget the so-called “peer-reviewed” studies when such peer-review does not make the actual datasets and computer programs available to others for examination.
Forget the well-credentialed scientists who have adopted a political agenda or who are seeking funding for their own benefit.
We need principled scientists who will stand in the light of day, present their findings, present their data and computer programs, and challenge all comers in an open forum. It is then and only then can we begin to make public policy based on scientific research.
What consensus?
Truth-be-told, there is no consensus, only a confluence of like-minded individuals who appear to be reaching for the golden ring of recognition and reward. The thought that this treaty or that treaty can actually save the planet is ludicrous.
One well-intentioned scientist has suggested pumping sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere to simulate the explosion of Mt. Pinatubo – which appeared to result in a period of global cooling. When someone asked what would happen when SO2 (Sulfur Dioxide) was mixed with H2O (water) and the resultant H2SO4 (Sulfuric Acid) rained down upon the people, he claimed that the model he used did not account for human interaction, only climate change. And these people are being given the chance to influence public policy. There are any number of well-credentialed scientists with storied careers that are absolute nut-cases when it comes to practical solutions to political problems. Not everything can be anticipated and resolved with science – especially when human nature is a large component of the solution.
What is the solution?
There is no doubt in my mind that the physical phenomena of global climate change should continued to be studied and that public policy should dictate the good stewardship of our land, air and water. And that the response to global climate change, in fact the response to any natural phenomena, is to strengthen man’s survival skills. By reducing pollution, by developing new methodologies of producing clean potable water, to enhance the hardiness of our food supply and to increase our shelter technologies to make them more nature-resistant.
What is the real problem?
As for those political asshats who want to redistribute the wealth – especially wealth created by hard-working Americans – to a defined class of political victims, I say redistribute the means to enhance clean water technologies, enhance food supplies and improve sheltering. Work on eliminating disease and pestilence.
And most of all, hear me United Nations, reduce the friction in the world caused by toxic politicians, religions and countries who want to amass power for political ends – without regard to freedom, human rights or the living conditions of its populace. There is much to be done other than sending money and humanitarian aid to those who will misdirect it away from those that need it the most.
If our politicians were honest brokers for change, let them start by cleaning up the political cesspools in places like the inner cities found in Los Angeles, Chicago and Detroit. Make them prove their programs actually work in the real world. Show the people that public policy can be used to help our communities, not the special interest fat cats who have bought our politicians.
We are now at a state of decay where our political system is almost bankrupt, both figuratively and literally. The time for hope and change is NOW – not brought by some false political messiah, but by Americans who are willing to take back their government by voting all of the incumbents, on both sides of the aisle, out of office and not replacing them with professional politicians, party hacks or lawyers. Vote for your friends and neighbors. Common people, decent people, people who care for each other.
View the threat as it is: not from global warming, but from dangerous politicians with misguided ideas and delusions of self-importance.
-- steve
Reference links:
I could list thousands of reference sources – but I strongly suggest you do your own research and keep an open mind.
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