Originally posted by: Moonbeam
Originally posted by: PJABBER
I've been thinking about this article all day, and, you know what? I like the ideas well enough that I want to let the people in Washington who are making decisions on my behalf to think about these ideas as well. I am editing my original post with contact info for the government representatives that are pushing to spend more of my tax dollars, and yours, on what I believe to be worthless programs. If you like these ideas too, send a letter or an email to them and let them know.
Why would you let your tastes determine what you think is truth. I like the idea that I am the greatest person in the world, but I know the difference between what I want to think and what actually is. You are a finance guy. You aren't a trained scientist, or a climate specialist, or a student of any of the other disciplines that go into being able to impartially and scientifically weigh the evidence for global warming. Why are you so egotistical as to imagine that your opinion is worth something. You are climate know nothing. Climate change is serious business with potential disastrous consequences for the people of this planet if we wrongly interpret the threat. You want to twist politicians arms to do what you like without regard to the data that is being gathered on this subject and the preponderance of evidence so far in as evaluated by our best scientific minds. Your ignorance compounded by millions of other fools who judge matters by their tastes could kill me and the children of the future. Have some humility and keep your mind open and your huge mouth closed. You don't know shit about what is happening. You bring ignorance and polarization to a vital issue that our best scientists need to solve.

True, I am no scientist.
But I am intellectually, and to a certain extent emotionally for I have a family and a hope for the betterment of humanity, engaged on a wide variety of societal issues, including environmentalism, and have been since I was in my teens. I was part of the environmental, then called ecology, movement that swept the country around the time of Ralph Nader coming into national prominence with a spotlight on the control of air and water pollution and I have kept up with the discussion of the science through reviews of a wide variety of journals and the kind indulgence of numerous scientists and other specialists. My specialty for many years was technology investment in areas such as IT, biotech and, yes, even environmental science ventures. I've done recent work in national economic development and microfinance so I also know a bit about societal impact from those angles.
Money makes the world go round, my friend, and I want it to be used wisely as well as offer a good return to those who risk their capital to grow something wonderful. So they can do it all again. Tastes don't really come into it at all.
Let me assure you, as much as I would like intellectual certainty in this matter, I find there is no definitive science as to human factor climate change at this time and that makes any claim to a definitive solution highly suspect. It is too complex a model and the scientific jury is still out. You may disagree on this, many do.
Moving on to governmental policy, perhaps an argument map will provide some clarity as to specific logic/factual errors in the Obama administration's climate policy -
A Logic Challenge To Barack Obama's Climate Policy
Whether or not there is significant human climate impact has a corollary - can we do anything to modify climate change,
particularly if the change is occurring due to impact factors beyond population, industrialization levels and resource usage? The further follow-on question is, even if we can, and that is truly a doubtful proposition, are the trillions of dollars (representing the labor and efforts of all people) that would be required for minimal impact, a fraction of a temperature degree of impact, the best use of that level of investment? Both Lomborg and Klaus and many others whose thoughtful and learned opinions you may disagree with, without examination, argue otherwise. I happen to see their point.
Economists are experts in prioritization. The massive media hype about certain problems is irrelevant to them; they focus simply on where limited funds could achieve the most good.
Do you recognize this quote from Lomborg's article? (Have you even read the article?)
This is
not an issue that is being decided by some ivory tower scientists pronouncing a well thought out and perfected solution to the unwashed masses and holding the ear of learned and wise politicians as much as you might wish this to be the case. None of the major issues of our day - health care "reform," the "stimulus," the "bailout," the global warming "crisis" - are. These actual and proposed seismic shifts in our economy, with all of the attendant societal impacts, are being decided by the application of, and in furtherance of, raw power and influence in politics.
The Climate-Industrial Complex - also by Bjørn Lomborg
Have you heard much learned debate as legislative initiatives are passed without due consideration of even a few days or even the reading, much less comprehension, of legislation by voting members of the U.S. Congress? Of course not, this is a time for payoffs and paybacks and the myriad details are irrelevant except to those who will most be impacted, and impacted for years to come.
Other than having the slight weakness of enjoying a modicum of satisfaction in being somewhat of an influence leader in my little circle of friends and colleagues, I have no wish to engage in the destructive spotlight of running for and holding elective political office. I do, however, believe we still live in a representative democracy and thus as a citizen I have a right and even an obligation to express my views and personal interests to my elected representatives both directly and indirectly. If I don't, I have no one to blame but myself should they make decisions that have adverse effects.
Now, you yourself may not trust my judgment - you have no reason to based on a few posts I make here out of amusement - and you may prefer to rely on the judgment of others who hold some academic credential or another. That is your privilege and I wish you the best with whatever outcome transpires. I on the other hand, do care enough to be a bit more engaged, you don't mind if I exercise my rights do you?
I believe you are a smart guy, but being smart sucks if you are not ready to outgrow this manifest stage of cynicism and start making a worthwhile contribution to the debate going on in the real world and not just inside the cocoon of these forums.