Why has global warming become a political issue?

Question

Why are politicians debating global warming? Shouldn't we leave it up to the scientists?

Answer 1

They had to create a new issue to run on that would win over the popularity in the country.. The war in Iraq is to divided and a touchy subject, The Mexican boarder they don't want to tackle because they have no answers for it. And all the other issues, abortion, gay marriage, taxes and healthcare are just not agreed upon by the public enough to know which way to swing.. So they use Global Warming as a way out of the other issues.

Answer 2

It's called grasping at straws... they need to find something that has minimal relevance to ones life, make it sound like it will kill everyone and then push it through the lib media to try and scare the lemmings. The idea has to be simple enough that the lemmings will think it makes sense. Then they figure out how to capitalize on it (even though they hate capitalism), then they use the funds to buy power. The burden is placed right on their "base" as they will have to pay the cost of the social programs that will result from the exaggerated situation. They are bankrupt of any real ideas that might actually impact society. Global warming is a way to get headlines. Have you ever seen a conservative go through the trouble of making movies to trick uneducated youth into their beliefs? Go AL and Michael! Your fukeumentaries are simply retarded.

Answer 3

Obviously you don't understand history. Global Warming and Global Cooling have been political hot buttons for over 100+ years. Ever since the industrial revolution, this debate has been going on.

There are many articles, by scientists, who doubt that global warming is real. There are many by scientists who think it is real. In my opinion, the whole issue has to do with money.

For example, take a look at carbon credits. One company can sell its carbon credits to another so that they meet zero carbon output. So basically it is a tax on manufacturing. This is what the Chicago Climate Exchange is all about. Check it out at http://www.chicagoclimateexchange.com

Al Gore really brought the global carbon credits to light by saying that he was buying them to be carbon neutral. It has come out that he owns the company that he invests in, so basically he is investing his money in his own business so that he can say he is carbon neutral.

Environmentalist have also proposed that the government levy a carbon tax on every citizen of a country and give it to their organizations so that they can pay for the production of green energy. If these projects cannot support themselves financially, why would you invest in them?

However there is conflicting science on whether "green energy" such as ethanol really benefits us. There was a article yesterday on Yahoo, titled NEW STUDY: Ethanol causes more smog, deaths. It can be found at

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070418/ap_on_sc/ethanol_health_risks;_ylt=AoT1qclpBRGoVOG6IxRLrmEiANEA

This debate is not over and I don't think I will see a resolution to it in my lifetime.

Answer 4

Wow, where to start? This is a political issue because any and all societal solutions will be implemented by politicians. Any government spending will be authorized by politicians, any restrictions on private property rights, or personal conduct will be made by politicians, any new taxes and fees will be raised by politicians, any surrender of national sovereignty will be the work of politicians. If all this was was a debate among scientists there would be little interest in this issue among the general public, but because ever measure suggested by the left to curb raising temperatures includes higher prices for basic energy and commodities, less personal freedom, restricted private property rights, enforcement of multi-national treaties which harm the US economy, and an exemption from these measures for themselves and their Friends. It is in the interests of freedom loving Americans to become involved politically in this issue

Answer 5

Because the scientist need money for research...if there is nothing research, then they do not get those big salaries...and if there is no proof that humans are causing Global Warming, AL Gore's company and friends can not sell Carbon Credits and get rich...

Answer 6

Global warming is the biggest farce ever. Al Gore is a moron.

Answer 7

Money. Attention. Grandstanding.

Answer 8

Absolutely. You don't ask a politician about teeth. You ask a dentist. If you want to know about plumbing you ask a plumber. If you want to know about space exploration, you ask an aerospace engineer, etc, etc.

You ask the experts, not the pundits.

Cons can't seem to understand that.

Answer 9

Because it will take government backing to do anything about it!
Scientists can sit there and prove it or dispute it or whatever, but unless the government steps in with some environmental reforms, nothing major can be done about it.

Answer 10

There are those (such as Rush Limbaugh) who have desperately tired to make it so. But it isn't very difficult to tell political hacks from real scientists.

And to the people mentioning scientist's salaries. I feel that I should point out the fact that research scientists are not paid from grant money. So they don't give a fluff if it increases or not. Sorry to burst your collective bubbles.