Friday, February 09, 2007

An interesting take on the global warmening debate

It'll Be a Cold Day in Hell

Or, perhaps more properly, the regular assertions that the debate, she is over!

From James Taranto’s column of Feb 9, 2007, discussing a noxiously ill-thought-out op-ed by Ellen Goodman in that same day’s Boston Globe.  He has much to say about what’s offensive in her rhetorical approach, and for that, I recommend reading the entire piece.  More generally, however, he explains his take on global warming, and illuminates what’s truly wrong about the attempts to stifle all discussion on the matter (Taranto uses “we” and “our” in the self-referential, “royal” sense):

This columnist is skeptical of global warming. We don’t have enough scientific knowledge to have anything like an authoritative opinion--but neither does Ellen Goodman, who bases her entire argument on an appeal to authority, namely the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. We lack the time, the inclination and possibly the intellect to delve deeply into the science. No doubt the same is true of Goodman.

Our skepticism rests largely on intuition. The global-warmists speak with a certainty that is more reminiscent of religious zeal than scientific inquiry. Their demands to cast out all doubt seem antithetical to science, which is founded on doubt. The theory of global warming fits too conveniently with their pre-existing political ideologies. (Granted, we too are vulnerable to that last criticism.)

Above all, we can’t stand to be bullied. And what is it but an act of bullying to deny that there is any room for honest disagreement, to insist that those of us who are unpersuaded are the equivalent of Holocaust deniers, that we are not merely mistaken but evil?

I remain skeptical (or, if I were British, not that I am, “sceptical").  I have seen nothing that convinces me global warming is a man-made problem, that it has a man-made solution, or, frankly, that it’s even a net problem at all. And I, like Taranto, despise bullies, particularly those who bring highly debatable arguments to the table, and then demand my acquiescence.


Posted by Patton on 02/09/07 at 08:30 PM
It'll Be a Cold Day in Hell • Permalink