Question re: global warming?

Question

...How come those who believe in global warming are in favor of restrictions affecting the lives of others, but aren't doing these things themselves?
(If you don't believe this is true, look at how much electricity former VP Gore is using).
...Your opinions, please.

...Let me be clear - I don't believe in global warming, nor do all scientists. I don't believe there is much to worry about - partly because of the lack of support in the scientific community, but mostly because I am a Christian, and God sovereignty rules over all.

...I also conserve - this is smart and saves us money. But some of these folks would like us to stop driving our autos in 25 years, stop searching for oil, and generally move us backward economically - I think these ideas are a grand mistake, and would harm our lives.

Dear Enraged Parrot - FYI - I haven't listened to Limbaugh in months and we don't get FOX News Network any more. I read the newspaper and listen to the local news station, which happens to favor the Washington Post.

Answer 1

Considering the way alot of your answers are going I think I need to state some things up front.

I'm a scientist (a geologist) who believes that global warming is real and that man has nothing to do with it.

To your question. I think that there are alot of misguided people who have read alot of questionable material and are prepared to make potentially damaging long term decisions based on this faulty material. Then there are people who are simply opportunists. I think former VP Gore falls into the second category. I think he views the global warming/green movement as a way to get back into political power. At least based on his personal actions I'm inclined to believe that (you do have to give him credit for creativity for buying carbon offset credits from himself).

As to global warming in general: Since the last glacial maximum ended approximately 12,000 ya (Milankovitch cycle), we have seen at least nine warming and cooling cycles occur. The last cooling cycle (the little ice-age) ended in 1850. When you consider that industrialization started at this same time you can see where some people would think that there is a link between the release of CO2 and increasing temperatures. Of course if you look a little further you would see that without warming we would still be in the little ice-age.

Additionally, the time of the largest input of man-made CO2 is immediately after WW-II (late forties, early fifties), yet temperatures actually dropped from 1940-1970 (that's why alarmists in the 1970's where going on about the impending ice-age).

To accept the current "consensus" theories we also have to forget about the Littoral Warming period, the Roman Warming Period, and the Medieval Warming Period (all of which where warmer and had higher CO2 levels than this current warming). These earlier periods where warm enough for the Vikings to settle on Greenland and begin farming (Greenland is currently predominantly an Ice Sheet). Unfortunately there was no industrialization going on for these warming periods to be blamed on man.

Also, the polar ice-caps on Mars are melting at the same rate of warming as what we see on earth. How are we going to blame this on evil conservatives and their SUV's. Is there maybe a small chance that the link between the Earth's positional relationship with the sun is the culprit?

So I accept that Global Warming is happening, but not that it is man-made. One other thing; all of the most productive and prosperous periods of human development and activity have all been during warming periods.

Answer 2

Good point.
While I have no doubt in my mind that global warming is indeed a fact perpetuated by people's abuse of industry, etc.. I do have a problem with people jumping on band wagons waving their hypocrasy infront of our noses. I have no problem with Mr. Gore (I don't know him personally). He's brought our attention to a very serious problem which so many others tried to do decades ago but were ingnored. I'm sure he's well aware that he has put himself under more public scrutiny because of this and will have to be held accountable to the people. He has a lot of enemies so don't be surprized if some of what you learn about him has been tainted. It seems to be common practice among politicians. And I don't want to get into bashing people I don't even know.

I believe we are past the point of no return. Slowing down the emissions and the whole 9 yards only delays the progress of damage. If all the facts and figures portrayed in "An Inconvenient Truth" along with all the other data is accurate (I'm not disputing it isn't) then ... theoretically we'd all have to bring everything to an immediate halt -- industry, everything and go back to the days of horse and buggy and ... you get the picture. Even then, we'd only slow it down. I've noticed that the global warming issue has become quite the industry in itself, generating an awful lot of money, asking for money, getting that money and somebody's getting rich off it. Ain't that the way it goes? I'm still gonna do what I can to contribute as little as possible to the pollution and waste factor, as I've always done, but that's just for my own personal conscience and not because of global warming.

Answer 3

Those people do such things for publicity and to be apart of something that involves a good cause. In turn making them feel better and look important, its all just an act and a piss poor one at that. At the same time I dont believe in global warming.

Yes there are signs of it left and right, but I believe that it is just its cycle. The earth has a cycle, which is where the ice age came from, when the ice age cycled out, it became hotter, melting all the ice and the world became flooded. Which is how the contenents became divided. Graned I think we might loose parts of other places, like the edges of the U.S. and parts of different countries, possibly all the islands as well, but its just part of the earths cycle.

The thing that has been brought up numerous times that I feel will actually have any kind of an impact once this cycle takes full effect is the over population problem. But have no fear, nothing is going to happen for atleast 500 years, youll be long gone by then. But about the over population problem, I do believe they will be doing something about that within this century. Who knows they might outlaw having kids outside of marriage or having one too many of them.

Answer 4

Carson, there is not a single scientist currently working today who does not believe that global warming is real. I have no idea who gave you ideas to the contrary. There is only a very small, select group of climate scientists who currently do not believe that humans are the sole or largest contributor to the current warming trend. Anyone who tells you differently is pushing junk science on you and is simply trying to push a political agenda. In fact, well over 70% of all the 'experts' still denying global warming are nothing more that political hacks, whose sole purpose is to create confusion and spread disinformation regarding the GW debate.

If the person refuses to address the actual science behind GW, and instead tries to attack scientists, liberals, and anyone else who might agree with the claims made by GW theory, you may feel free to dismiss them as a crackpot and irrelevant.

This is not a political issue. It is a scientific one. And idiots like Timothy Ball and Rush Limbaugh need to keep their big noses out of it, and leave the climate science to the scientists.


You also neglected to mention the fact that Mr. Gore purchases Carbon credits, thus reducing his carbon footprint to virtually nothing.

He is also building a newer, smaller, more energy efficient home and will soon be moving his entire family there.

He currently uses hydro electric, wind, solar, and other forms of alternative energy to further reduce his impact, as well as making full use of alternative fuel sources.

So please, take everything Rush Limbaugh says about science with a huge, enormously hefty block of salt.

Edit: Dear Carson, I didn't mean to imply that you did. Only that Mr. Limbaugh was the person who came up with a decently sized portion of the anti-global warming propaganda out there, and was the first person to mention the whole 'Al Gore's energy use' argument.

Answer 5

Yes, yes, I do the same. I can't help it, I think that people should look at thier surroundings and know that thier is alot more change going on than they think. Global Warming cannot be stopped. Unless you go into the brains of everybody in the world and change it, it is unstopppable. I tell everybody about global warming, but how can I or anybody else help stop the earth from getting warmer?!

Answer 6

I believe and I believe we should all contribute. It doesn't have to be horrible (like the results of global warming would be). We need to:

Conserve energy. Not stop doing things, just do them more efficiently.

Develop alternative energy; nuclear, solar, wind, biofuels, clean coal. A fringe benefit will be reducing the use of expensive and insecure oil supplies.

Develop tecnologies to capture (sequester) carbon.

The country that does these things soonest and best can make a lot of money selling stuff.

Answer 7

Be careful about generalizing about any group of people. Do you really think nobody who cares about global warming is doing anything to try to reduce their own contributions? I certainly am! I take public transportation, bought a hybrid car, replaced an old (inefficient) refrigerator, etc. Al Gore seems to care very much about this issue, and is doing what he can to to alert the public to the danger and affect national policy. He probably reasons that this is a bigger contribution to solving the problem than simply staying home and saving energy himself, and I'm inclined to agree with him. Of course, he should take steps to save energy at home, too.

Answer 8

Ah, but His Honor Mr. Gore buys carbon credits which absolves him of his responsibility to practice what he preaches. If you have the money, you can use all the fossil fuels you want.

Answer 9

I agree with you 100%. I don't believe in human control over global warming, and if it is happening, it is just the time of it's cycle for it. God is in control, whether people like it, or not. Amen. Furthermore, either for money or power or both is the reason people like Al Gore tout it.

Answer 10

hot polutents will rise just so far, then will cool off and fal lback to earth.
Restrictions wont work, cause not all will follow them.

when I was a kid, I remember weather like this. there was not one person crying about severe weather or causes back then.

Some one has brought this huey to light, and the week minded blindly follow him.