Scientists , yes greenies , scientists have now stated that growing more corn for ethanol/alternative fuels is causing global warming by elevating dew points in regions where it's grown !! Yep !!
Their research indicated a direct-link with dew points and the influx of more corn fields . Apparently , corn stalks are responsible for releasing moisture in the air and thereby holds heat and humidity in those regions . More corn for alternative fuels . . . more heat !!!
Well now , will any of you now admit that we simply don't know enough about global warming and it's causes ?
You guys do like scientists , doncha ?
Source : WGN-TV News .
2007-07-23 05:52:23 · 32 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Really, you mean Al Gores Global Warming Plan is Flawed and that we might actually be doing more harm then Good. Please tell me it aint so Mister. I mean we have scientist looking into this 600 million year old global warming thing. Why can't we just believe Uncle Al and be Happy!
2007-07-23 05:58:12 · answer #1 · answered by libsticker 7 · 7⤊ 3⤋
Speaking only for myself, I'd say don't use ethanol. But then, that's what I've been saying all along. The U.S. already uses corn as a virtual monoculture. We're by far the corniest country in the world. Finding yet another need for the poor, overburdened crop is IMHO a big mistake. How 'bout solar power? It's free and virtually limitless. I agree we don't know enough about global warming and it's causes which is why we would all do well to study the matter and keep up with the latest scientific findings. I also think it's safe to say that the continued U.S. dependence on oil (especially foreign oil) is a dead end politically, economically, and environmentally. All oil subsidies should be diverted to clean, green energy alternatives. That means, solar, wind, hydroelectric, tidal, geothermal, electromagnetic...etc, not nuclear, ethanol or other bio fuels.
2007-07-23 06:09:59 · answer #2 · answered by socrates 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Earnest, you are so hateful! Well, I guess it is hateful to question Liberals double speak.
Many of your posters don't seem to understand why ethanol is suddenly being used in gasoline. It is NOT to lower reliance upon foreign oil sources, but to raise the octane to match present day automobiles. You see they had this product called MBTE or MTBE something like that and the trial lawyers had come to the conclusion that they could sue the pants off of oil companies for this additive causing cancer. Never mind that there was no real way to link this additive with the cancer, sort of like John Edwards suing Dr.s who had delivered babies with Muscular dystrophy. There appears to be plenty of evidence that the Dr.s didn't cause the ailment, but that never stopped Edwards and the other ambulance chasers from lying to juries about it and making millions.
Well, Republicans want to pass a law exempting the makers of MBTE or MTBE from lawsuits, but since the Democrats get a sizeable chunk of their campaign donations from the sleezy lawyers, they refused. As a result, the oil companies abandoned the additive and ethanol was substituted. Ethanol is MUCH more expensive than MBTE, but if you talk about it real fast and don't allow any questions, it sounds like a good program.
There was a program on the History Channel the other night about the Little Ice Age. The scientists found several possible causes for it, one of which was very low sunspot activity during that time or decreased radiation from the sun. The polar ice cap on Mars is melting, so Mars is also experiencing global warming as well. Sure sounds like Solar radiation is involved to me, but then I am not a scientist, nor did I invent the internet. My mother never sang me to sleep with "Look for the Union label" and my wife and I were not the model for love story.
2007-07-23 07:31:51 · answer #3 · answered by plezurgui 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Not to mention the cost and fuel used to plow and plant extra acreage for the corn, driving the cost of corn up, causing cattle feed to go up, and the spiral goes on and on.
They built a brand new ethanol plant in South Louisiana several years ago and yes, its there, but not open. Seems the cost of ethanol was by far more than the gas people were using.
2007-07-23 06:13:43 · answer #4 · answered by bigmikejones 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I watched this little ice age show on the History Channel last night. Two significant things struck me. The first one was as a scientist supporting man made global warming you cannot be wrong for whatever climate change occurs. it's going to get hot. it's going to get cold. The second one was the power of a volcano. It makes anything we have going on in this world look puny. The volcano which caused one of the mini ice ages produced chaos around the world. Scientists described the power of this thing by comparing the Mt. St. Helens explosion as that of a firecracker.
I think as Humans living on Earth, in the middle of a universe where we are nothing more than a drop of water in a large ocean, we tend to be a little arrogant. We think by blowing up all our weapons and driving SUVs we can kill this planet. I don't think so. The Dinosaurs disappeared without SUVs being driven. Other life replaced them. Same thing with us. We'll all be gone someday, but some other life form will take our place. Until the sun dies, life goes on.
2007-07-23 08:26:18 · answer #5 · answered by Matt 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
All I know is, my family has been trying to make alcohol out of corn for the last 150 years or so. Seems like every time one of us ran a batch of corn alcohol, some revenuer from the government would come around and bust up the still. I wish the government would make up its mind already. We had points all over the hills where we made "dew" and it would warm you up. Don't take no scientist to know that.
2007-07-23 07:29:42 · answer #6 · answered by dr strangelove 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yes, so that lines up with the concept that certain behaviors are bad for the environment. Based on scientific evidence.
Most of the people advocating alternative fuels were never seeing bio-fuels as the long-term replacement. Many didn't even consider it a viable short-term replacement.
Bio-fuels -- including ethanol or fuels made from 'switch grass' -- are too inefficient as energy producers and much too inefficient as energy storage.
So, yes, thank you for point out what most "greenies" have known for a long time.
2007-07-23 06:17:15 · answer #7 · answered by coragryph 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
In my town the grocery stores have signs saying that because of ethanol production the price of corn is going up, so it costs more to feed the diary cattle, so thats why the price of milk is so high. Correct me if im wrong, but dont diary cows eat grass? Arent beef cattle the only ones who eat grain?
2007-07-23 07:38:09 · answer #8 · answered by ronedon 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you wanted to meet the energy demands of America with fuels derrived from corn, you'd have to cover 98% of America with corn fields. It's never been a practical idea.
2007-07-23 06:20:27 · answer #9 · answered by B.Kevorkian 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Ethanol is a scam. I hope that we come up with a better plan then giving the Middle East all our $$$$ for their oil though. I am more concerned with our purchasing of oil that supports radical Islam then green house gasses warming the atmosphere.
2007-07-23 10:28:37 · answer #10 · answered by Mother 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's the problem with the political environmentalist we have each solution never meets their needs. Why don't we try wind turbines where they are possible. First in an area like the shores of Massachusetts the Kennedy clan are against it and now there are other politicals who are concerned wind turbines will kill birds who fly into them so we have to design them to protect the birds. Whats next solar power panels will have to not become heated so flys aren't put in peril when landing on them.
2007-07-23 08:27:42 · answer #11 · answered by ALASPADA 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋