Not just dismissive of global warming...they get downright mad!?

Question

I am always amazed at the reactions of many conservatives, particularly conservative Republicans, to the issue of global warming.
Not only do they dismiss the idea but some of them get angry. I have seen them get so worked up about it. I have seen them literally yelling as they angrily denounce it.
Why such a strong reaction?

Answer 1

Generally speaking, many conservatives get downright mad when discussing many issues. Iraq, health care, global warming, etc.

In the case of global warming, I think they get angry because they're on extremely shaky footing. Those who understand the reality of global warming can cite study after study to back up their position. Global warming deniers have a very predictable set of arguments (a.k.a. talking points, a.k.a. myths and misinformation) which are easily disproven. I could give you a long list of their arguments which I've disproven dozens of times - global warming doesn't exist, it's a natural cycle, it's caused by volcanoes, the sun, cow farts, soda pop carbonation, etc. etc. All very easily disproven.

When your arguments are consistently disproven with scientific evidence, where do you go from there? Either get angry and try to distract from your ignorance, or admit you're wrong. Do you really expect conservative global warming deniers to admit they're wrong?

Here's an excellent website on "how to talk to a global warming skeptic". It lists all the common misconceptions by those who don't understand the issue, and counter-arguments using scientific data.

http://gristmill.grist.org/skeptics

Eventually the anger will subside and conservatives will all realize that global warming is a scientific issue, not a political one. Conservatives are often several years behind liberals on these kinds of issues (i.e. Iraq War).

Answer 2

I haven't witnessed such anger in a conservative. But, as you say you have, and ask the question, then the only answer is, such conservatives have not matured enough to engage in debate without letting their emotions get the best of them--an aspect of many liberals I have come in contact with.

When such liberals are losing a debate, they shut off discussion on the issue by calling the conservative a racist, or homophobe, or sexist, or, in the case of "global warming," a denier. Such goes to prove that "global warming" to a liberal really is his or her newly found religion. Religious fanatics have a proven history of referring to those who don't "believe" as "deniers." Just look back at how "heretics" were labeled "deniers" by earlier Christian religious fanatics, as during the Inquisition. Welcome to the new religious faith of liberalism in the 21st century: Global Warming.

Answer 3

I don't get angry. The earth warms and then it cools. This year, CA had kind of a cold summer. We did not hit even 90 degrees this year very often. It is a colder summer, but do you think Californians made the summer colder by switching to cars powered by ethanol? My window looks out at the parking where about 400 cars are parked. I see no ethanol technology out there, only one hybrid, a lot of trucks and SUVs.

But you tell that to a SF liberal, and they get FURIOUS! "Oh, yeah??? Well. . . Bush lied and people died!!!!"

Global warming is a theory that says, based on hypothetical models, that a 1.6 degree F change in the planet's average temperature over the next 50 years will be disastrous for the planet. Well, the truth is that CA's temperature changes between 6 and 10 degrees Fahrenheit each year, hotter or colder, and yet we are still here.

Tell that to a San Francisco liberal, and they get apoplectic and explode.

Answer 4

I have witnessed that on both sides of the issue. Funny how science can't seem to get a real grip on it or perhaps they do have a grip on global warming but politics is getting in the way of the complete truth. I myself want to hear every debate and all the scientific facts without personal self serving agendas standing in the way. As soon as a personal agenda is discovered by me, I have no use for that person's opinion any more. Al Gore did not help his cause. Kennedy is not helping the global warming cause either by denouncing anybody who offers another viewpoint. However, I have listened to a few scientists who did come up with what appeared to be credible.

Answer 5

They think it's a political issue, rather than an environmental one. It's their own fault frankly. The Greens weren't known as leftists but as centrists back in the 80's, but the logging companies, mine owners and oil barons were staunch right-wing capitalists. They demonized the environmentalists as being anti-progress, pro-communist and generally crazy. The Greens were herded on the left side of the fence and that's where they stayed since.

Answer 6

We Conservatives are aware that climate change is part of a natural cycle. What ticks us off are the insane liberal solutions to a problem that does not exist. Unless we vocally resist having our taxes raised, the prices of goods and services raised, the transfer of wealth from the US to the 3rd world, our liberties curtailed, and our standard of living diminished, liberals will take us down those paths all in an almost primitive worship of the planet(I always picture primitive man throwing a virgin into a volcano when I here liberal solutions to natural climate change. Listening to a liberal drone on about global warming is like listening to a child attempting to make a decision. It's warm because of GW. it's cold because of GW, it rains, it snows, we have a drought, any condition we have is all about global warming, and the only thing childish liberals offer to slay the phony bogyman they have created, is an invitation to join them in their primitive earth worship.

Answer 7

Not all conservatives get angry when talking about global warming. Those of us who are informed know that all that the liberals are trying to 'sell' is not true! We are willing to do our part, but some of the 'suggestions' Gore puts out is just simply ridiculous! He and his Hollywood friends talk out of both sides of their mouth. That is where the anger comes in. Most scientist disagree with Gore anyway. I think Gore just needed 'something' to hang his hat on since he lost the election. If he was serious about his suggestions, I would think he would 'practice what he preaches'.

Answer 8

Actually I have been digging for some way to profit off of the imbeciles who are willing to throw thousands of dollars at it just like the proponents of it such as the Sierra Club and Al Gore are!



It is also worth noting that tens of thousands of interested persons benefit directly from the global warming scare—at the expense of the ordinary consumer. Environmental or-ganizations globally, such as Greenpeace, the Sierra Club, and the Environmental Defense Fund, have raked in billions of dollars. Multi-billion-dollar government subsidies for useless mitigation schemes are large and growing. Emission trading programs will soon reach the $100 billion a year level, with large fees paid to brokers and those who operate the scams. In other words, many people have discovered they can benefit from climate scares and have formed an entrenched interest. Of course, there are also many sincere believers in an impending global warming catastrophe, spurred on in their fears by the growing number of one-sided books, movies, and media coverage.

“Global Warming: Man-Made or Natural?”
S. Fred Singer - Professor Emeritus of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia

http://www.hillsdale.edu/news/imprimis/archive/issue.asp?year=2007&month=08

Answer 9

there is not any worldwide warming purely the worldwide changing like it continually has for millons of years awaken you gullable liberals your sort will have faith something Rodney Ryan 2012 by ability of a landslide sturdy by ability of osama not greater years lmfao

Answer 10

From what I've seen, most don't deny that warming exists. The argument is that manmade causes have little or no effect on it and that the effect is caused more by a naturally occurring climate change.

The people I see get way more indignant are the GW pimps who blame it all on man, most notably George Bush, when you explain to them the fallacies behind climate modeling and the lack of any actual solutions that.