"Climate Change" is the current catch phrase for what was once called "Global Warming". This way man can be blamed for whatever happens.

 

Do I believe "Climate Change" is a hoax? No.

 

Do I believe "Climate Change" is man made? While I think man may have contributed to it, the contribution was extremely minute, at the most, and my belief is that this event is primarily a natural thing and there is nothing man can do to reverse it.

 

Do I believe my government has used this event to grab more of my money, reduce my freedom, and gain more control over my life? Absolutely!

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!!!

"Climate Change" is the current catch phrase for what was once called "Global Warming". This way man can be blamed for whatever happens.

 

Do I believe "Climate Change" is a hoax? No.

 

Do I believe "Climate Change" is man made? While I think man may have contributed to it, the contribution was extremely minute, at the most, and my belief is that this event is primarily a natural thing and there is nothing man can do to reverse it.

 

Do I believe my government has used this event to grab more of my money, reduce my freedom, and gain more control over my life? Absolutely!

Arctic explorers in the late 19th century already were making a connection between man-made emissions and climate change.

 

Also, ran across an interesting news story yesterday about the discovery of a new species of porcupine in Brazil. Story pointed out that Brazil's Northeastern Atlantic Forest "has experienced severe degradation, with only two percent of its original forest remaining intact."

 

Is such deforestation altering the world's climate? You betcha.

Arctic explorers in the late 19th century already were making a connection between man-made emissions and climate change.

 

Also, ran across an interesting news story yesterday about the discovery of a new species of porcupine in Brazil. Story pointed out that Brazil's Northeastern Atlantic Forest "has experienced severe degradation, with only two percent of its original forest remaining intact."

 

Is such deforestation altering the world's climate? You betcha.

 

In my humble opinion, arctic explorers did not have enough empirical data or tools to make a valid comparison during that period. Given the failures to navigate the Northwest Passage during that century, the inability to accurately measure the ice flow makes the data gathered questionable, too. I find conclusions made from studies in that era suspect.

 

Deforestation I can agree with. Oddly enough, the country that uses the most ethanol base fuel is the country burning down the forests to produce it. Funny how that works, ain't it?

The word "hoax" is problematic for me here. I'll accept that 37 percent of Americans don't accept that global warming science is accurate that therefore all political action with regard to climate change is wasteful nonsense...

 

But I flat-out refuse to believe that 37 percent of Americans are beef-headed enough to think that the scientific community and the United States Congress have perpetrated a willful fraud on the American people for no reason. What's the question here?

 

Am I missing something?

"Climate Change" is the current catch phrase for what was once called "Global Warming". This way man can be blamed for whatever happens.

 

Do I believe "Climate Change" is a hoax? No.

 

Do I believe "Climate Change" is man made? While I think man may have contributed to it, the contribution was extremely minute, at the most, and my belief is that this event is primarily a natural thing and there is nothing man can do to reverse it.

 

Do I believe my government has used this event to grab more of my money, reduce my freedom, and gain more control over my life? Absolutely!

Bingo! Natural cycle, noting we can do to change it.

To the original question as to where we stand.

 

I believe that the earth is warming. I believe that man contributes something to that, although natural climate changes are more significant.

 

I believe we should still be good stewards of the environment. Whatever we can do within reasonable, common-sense limits, we should do. I'm old enough to remember smog EVERYWHERE and the Cuyahoga River on fire; I'd just as soon not revert to those good old days.

And while I respect the opinions of those posting in this thread, the various "gun control" threads, etc.; I sure hate to see the "throw up my hands and shrug my shoulders because there's nothing we can do" mentality that is so pervasive these days.

 

The trick is to get things done in a fashion that does not hamstring our liberties and unreasonably pinch our pocketbooks. Tricky tightrope to walk to be sure, but I'm a glass half-full kind of guy.

To the original question as to where we stand.

 

I believe that the earth is warming. I believe that man contributes something to that, although natural climate changes are more significant.

 

I believe we should still be good stewards of the environment. Whatever we can do within reasonable, common-sense limits, we should do. I'm old enough to remember smog EVERYWHERE and the Cuyahoga River on fire; I'd just as soon not revert to those good old days.

 

And while I respect the opinions of those posting in this thread, the various "gun control" threads, etc.; I sure hate to see the "throw up my hands and shrug my shoulders because there's nothing we can do" mentality that is so pervasive these days.

 

The trick is to get things done in a fashion that does not hamstring our liberties and unreasonably pinch our pocketbooks. Tricky tightrope to walk to be sure, but I'm a glass half-full kind of guy.

Look, I agree on being good stewards, I'm all for a clean earth. I don't agree with bull-crap politicians pushing something simply to line their pockets or because it's some worthless (yet expensive to the taxpayer) feel good legislation. A perfect example of worthless, feel good legislation would be the proposed gun bans you inadvertently pointed out when you mentioned "gun control" threads.

I am an independent. I believe that there are cyclical climatic tendencies, but I believe that man is contributing to an overall warming. The climate may have warmed anyway, but man's influence is speeding that up. People also used to think you could dump any chemical anywhere, and earth would absorb it without any impact. Where did that get us?? Dead Lake Erie for a while, massive pollution in New York state, etc. Finally, we got smarter to that. We need to get wise to what we are putting in the air.

I am an independent. I believe that there are cyclical climatic tendencies, but I believe that man is contributing to an overall warming. The climate may have warmed anyway, but man's influence is speeding that up. People also used to think you could dump any chemical anywhere, and earth would absorb it without any impact. Where did that get us?? Dead Lake Erie for a while, massive pollution in New York state, etc. Finally, we got smarter to that. We need to get wise to what we are putting in the air.

 

 

How does man's influence speed it up?

 

Also, we have massive pollution to this day in New York City. Its called New York City.

How does man's influence speed it up?

 

Also, we have massive pollution to this day in New York City. Its called New York City.

 

CO2 emmissions are a high contributor along with other gases and particulate matter. This creates the greenhouse effect where heat is held in lower in the atmosphere.

CO2 emmissions are a high contributor along with other gases and particulate matter. This creates the greenhouse effect where heat is held in lower in the atmosphere.

 

CO2 levels have correlated to the temperatures for 400,000 years. The theory that CO2 concentration is a cause vs effect is still very much in debate.

 

http://cdn2.collective-evolution.com/assets/uploads/2013/02/Vostok.png

 

 

http://geology.rockbandit.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/vostok-ice-core.jpg

CO2 levels have correlated to the temperatures for 400,000 years. The theory that CO2 concentration is a cause vs effect is still very much in debate.

 

http://cdn2.collective-evolution.com/assets/uploads/2013/02/Vostok.png

 

 

http://geology.rockbandit.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/vostok-ice-core.jpg

 

Yes in history, CO2 has been elevated by cataclysmic events, volcanoes for example with sometimes extreme results. Our contribution is not as short term severe, but creating a long-term issue nonetheless that we are realizing. You are free to be skeptical. Unfortunately, a lot of people, probably the 37% need to be hit in the head with a hammer before they'll believe someone actually has one.

Yes in history, CO2 has been elevated by cataclysmic events, volcanoes for example with sometimes extreme results. Our contribution is not as short term severe, but creating a long-term issue nonetheless that we are realizing. You are free to be skeptical. Unfortunately, a lot of people, probably the 37% need to be hit in the head with a hammer before they'll believe someone actually has one.

 

The pattern in those charts are not volcanoes or random events. That is what would be called a periodic function in mathematics. Unfortunately it shows that the earth is usually much colder that it is now. We are living in one of the very brief warm periods. And that time is likely almost done.

The pattern in those charts are not volcanoes or random events. That is what would be called a periodic function in mathematics. Unfortunately it shows that the earth is usually much colder that it is now. We are living in one of the very brief warm periods. And that time is likely almost done.

 

Well, we can hope that is the case, and/or we can take steps to assure we minimize our negative impact. I know the company I work for (which is German-owned) has aggressive CO2 reduction goals for each plant. We invested in our utility infrastructure last year, and we are enjoying: 1) a reduction in our gas and electric costs; and 2) a reduction in our carbon footprint. Seems like the smart thing to do.