Should the government make serious changes to stop global warming?

Question

This question is for people who believe that global warming is a valid threat to our world. If you think global warming is a fairy tale concocted by psycho environmentalists...this question is NOT for you. That said: Should government(s) be focusing on preventing any more greenhouse emissions, deforestation, etc? It seems like they want to leave it up to the masses to buy hybrids, carpool, recycle, but is that enough? Does any one think it is time for serious action, even at the expense of personal luxuries and conveniences we take for granted? I do!

Yes, global warming is natural but this global warming event that we are going through is far more rapid and prolonged than any other global warm up...EVER! Now if you also recognize that there has been massive deforestation and massive amounts of greenhouse gases both of which can contribute to a climate change...why wouldn't there be unusual global warming?
BTW, I'm not even a liberal. I'm a conservative Republican and I hate 'big' government but I am worried about our future.

Answer 1

Yes, but government needs to come a lot farther than Hillary Clinton (or GWB) to inspire people into action. The IPCC report is a very small, important first step. Accepting that we're responsible will not get greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere. In fact, we probably can't remove CO2 already in the atmosphere. And so our climate will change. But we can do something, instead of adopting the head-in-the-sand, might-as-well attitude. That's greedy, selfish, and morally bankrupt.

What will put us on a better path? Green building codes, maximum fuel efficiency standards, investment in alt energy, and a halt to deforestation policies. We should be concentrating our resources on technologies we can sell to developing nations like China and India.

All of these things are possible government actions. I'd be willing to bet that if our government was heavily promoting healthier air/water/soil/lifestyles and leading by example, many people would respond in kind. Businesses can still make money going green. Unfortunately, bringing Wal-Mart to Baghdad has cost us precious resources and international support.

Answer 2

You asked the question. You can not control who answers it. But, since I don't think that GW is a fairy tale, I will answer it anyway.

So, no, the government shouldn't make serious changes to stop global warming. If the IPCC got anything right, it is that there is nothing we can do about global warming. It is natural and occurring with or without us.

BTW, I think GW is a load of bull being shoved down our throat, much different than a fairy tale.

ADDED INFO:

In your additional information, you stated this,

"but this global warming event that we are going through is far more rapid and prolonged than any other global warm up...EVER! "

You state that so surely and confidently, but it is simply hogwash that you are misinterpreting from the data or misinformation that people are putting out that sounds scary but isn't. THINK for yourself: if it was the most rapid change that lasted longer than any other warming period, then we would have warmed up more than at any other time, ever. And at less than 1 deg C in over 120 years, that just aint so.

Answer 3

To answer the question you must analyze the threat. Is global warming occurring? Yes. Will it damage the the environment? Yes. Will it destroy our world? Hell, no. There is nothing that we as human beings could possibly do to destroy the Earth. As for the environment, it was originally a lot worse. Millions and millions of years ago, the atmosphere consisted of ammonia. And yet life started in this dump. Life on Earth is not going to end because of greenhouse gases, or anything else we put in the air. We could nuke the whole damn planet and life would still exist, in the form of bacteria. Life could re-evolve, and get back to where it was, just in time for the Sun to supernova. I tend to think in universal and cosmic terms. Will global warming create a dangerous world for our kids? No. Grandkids? No. Great-grandkids? No. Global warming, no matter how fast it is going, will not create devastating effects for generations. There is no "Day After Tomorrow". At worst, global warming will trigger a mass extinction event like the one that killed the dinosaurs. And we will most likely be included. Serves us right. As for government involvement, I have similar views. Even if the U.S. government decided to emplace pollution controls on our industries, how could this possibly affect global warming? Lots of other countries, like Russia and China, will not follow our lead. And in 2000 years, there might not even be a United States. 2000 years ago, Rome, the most powerful country of its time, salted the fields of Carthage and added to the Sahara desert. In 2000 years or more, a more powerful country than even the United States will undoubtedly do some damage to the environment. It's inevitable. No one person, no one country, not even a group of countries, will ever stop humanity's destruction of our environment. The only way to stop our effect would be to eliminate mankind as a species. Every last one of us. And that will still not prevent environmental catastrophes. So no, the government should not do anything about global warming because it can't. No one can. Only everyone can. And that will probably never happen.

Answer 4

I very much would like to see Polar Bears or any other Animals to remain here forever. It won't happen however. More Creatures have gone extinct than are still here. That is how Nature takes its course. Climate changes take place periodically and have nothing to do with us little Earthlings. Study the History of Climate and you shall see. We are very pompous in thinking that we are such an important part of this Universe. We are not and if we would go back to smoking industrial chimneys and stinky cars, it would not make an iota of difference in the Universe. The only effect it would have of course on ourselves. Global Warming has become an extremely big business and the Lobbyists are hard at work as always.

Answer 5

Global Warming ideas get bigger every day. If it does exist, its nothing to worry about. Because.... we will soon have the tecnology to turn carbon dioxide into something else. Scientist already are makign progress with turning it into sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). Think about it, it took us thousands and thousands of years to come up with an internal combusion engine and the most basic computer. Then when we had those, we got better things faster, and better and better. This is because technology increases exponentially. Instead of having to do scientific calculations out on paper that can literally take weeks sometimes, we can easily get the answer from a computer in a few seconds. Look how far we have come in just 100 years. Very far. So before you know it, we'll have ways to get rid of carbon dioxide other than trees. Turning it into baking soda does sound dumb...but think about this, creating artificial photosynthesis. Instead of regulating emissions (because even with next to no emissions, it will add up over time), we should focus on turning carbon dioxide into something esle. The government should invest in things to develope this technology.

Answer 6

Global warming is a serious threat to the world - period. It opens the door to a bunch of egotistical emotional "intellectuals" to impose their sad little games on mankind. The chickenlittles of our western culture are again diverting limited resources to the latest fad without taking all the facts into consideration. Here's a few tidbits to think about before more time and energy is thrown away on something that is more of a benefit than a curse.
1) In the past 100 years earth has warmed by 1deg. C. Most of that occurred in the first half of the 20th century before manufacturing and technology really took off.
2) Warmer temps contibute to: more plants to absorb CO2, less use of fossil fuels for heating meaning less global warming, longer growing seasons in more areas to feed the people of the worlld, more fresh water being released for man's use, less manufacturing to guard against cold harsh weather (clothes, vehicles, homes, buildings, utilities, etc.), better health and safety environment, and more.
3) Outrageous sums of money wasted on something of more benefit than detriment and certainly would lift millions of humans out of abject poverty.
4) If enviro-nazis are so adamant about this then they need to use their actions to show the world how to live. They MUST: sell their cars, never use anything but mass transit and only in matters of life and death, never ever ever fly again, get rid of all electrical appliances and have their power and phone disconnected, sell their homes and live in trees or mud huts, grow their own food, and most of all stop breathing and farting because they are expelling CO2 and methane.

This all sounds so silly doesn't it? Not half as silly as the garbage being spewed by politicians and environuts. Man does need to learn to be a responsible steward of the earth but he must also realize his resources and limitations. And most of all keep the government out of the free enterprise and prosperity generating activities of its citizens.

Answer 7

Yes they should make serious changes.

They should implement incredibly high tariffs against China and stop the importation of goods immediately.

But the enviro-nazis are going to convince them to tax and regulate the rest of the US's jobs out of the country.

Mark my words, China will destroy our planet and the US is quickly becoming a third world country where there are no jobs for hard working Americans.

Pray for us all.

Answer 8

Yes, I think that our government needs to open up their eyes some more.