Well, as you know, I am niether one.

You're getting there, at acting that is. :lol:

 

j/k, you're doing just fine on the old starvation box.

I would just like the world to quit laying the blame and responsiblity on the United States.

Interesting opinion piece in today's WSJ.

 

Article points out that its recently been claimed that 1934, not 1998 or 2006 was the hottest year on record in the US. If true, what were we humans doing wrong way back then to make it so hot?

 

Author points out that even if global warming is occuring and it causes some problems, there are lots of advantages caused by warming. While droughts may occur in some areas, increased rain and longer growing seasons will occur in other areas.

 

Some wildlife may be harmed; other wildlife will benefit from an increasing temperature.

 

He asks the question of whether we know if the net losses will exceed the net gains caused by global warming. I've yet to hear the proponents of the sky is falling camp even address the benefits of global warming. But I think I know the reason for that.

 

He references the emotional photograph of the polar bear on the seemingly stranded ice pack and then asks why those proponents don't tell you that polar bear population has risen five fold since the 1960's?

 

As to the Antartic ice pack shrinking, why no mention by the proponents that the termperatures at the South Pole have actually been going down for the last 50 years?

 

Finally he asks the question at just what economic cost do we stop whatever human activity that is playing such a minimal role in global warming? Just what is the cost and impact of no longer burning coal (got a feeling my brethren in eastern and western Kentucky won't like the consequences of that)? Of no longer raising cattle because of the methane? What is the effect on poor people in third world countries when we tell them they can't cut down forests to grow crops to survive or make money in paper industry jobs? Al's perfect world might be perfect for him and the allegedly stranded polar bears (they can swim for miles by the way), but I'm not to sure that a lot of humans are going to like it. And all for what? To alter human activity that is playing an extremely minor role in global warming to begin with? We have to slow this political train down and think things through rationally.

 

Look, I love the outdoors as much as anyone I would think. But I have to admit, there is a point of going overboard trying to protect the environment. I love pointing out to the environmentalists that complain about cattle waste washing into the Ohio causing so many problems. Just what do they think the Ohio was like before we pollution causing humans even set foot in the Ohio valley and 10s of thousands of bisons crossed it all the time? I'm sure they weren't wearing diapers or "holding it" until they got across.

 

Until we take the time to ascertain all the facts about global warming (and heaven forbid, see just what benefits it may provide), and then ascertain how much of a role human activity is actually playing in global warming, and then ascertain how much of an economic cost it would take to alter such human activity to eliminate it from playing a role in global warming, we should stop all the sensationalism surrounding the problem.

 

BF, I somewhat agree with your analogy about smoke outside of the house. But until I'm sure that its my house on fire, I'm not going to start carrying my treasured possessions out the front door; I'm not going to take an ax to the roof to punch a hole through it; heck, I'm not even going to put down my beverage of choice until I make sure the smoke isn't coming from my neighbor's grill.

BF, I somewhat agree with your analogy about smoke outside of the house. But until I'm sure that its my house on fire, I'm not going to start carrying my treasured possessions out the front door; I'm not going to take an ax to the roof to punch a hole through it; heck, I'm not even going to put down my beverage of choice until I make sure the smoke isn't coming from my neighbor's grill.

And sitting around doing notihing will help find the answer...how, did you say?

 

This reminds me of the story called "The King Has No Clothes". Or maybe it's "The Three Little Pigs". One of the two...

And sitting around doing notihing will help find the answer...how, did you say?

 

This reminds me of the story called "The King Has No Clothes". Or maybe it's "The Three Little Pigs". One of the two...

 

 

I don't recall me saying we should sit around and do nothing. If I did, kindly quote it and I'll apologize. If you can't find it (and you won't), please do not put words in my mouth. Thank you.:laugh:

 

On the other hand, we don't need to say we are facing some type of environmental catastrophe, when we haven't really examined the possible benefits of global warming or analyzed what real effect it would have on global warming if we took all the actions that Al and Co. want us to take. If, as others have postulated, human activity is only a very small part of global warming, what will be the economic costs of stopping that action? Haven't seen anything written about that in detail. How many jobs will be lost and in what industries? How much in additional taxes will we need to pay? Is it simple as driving personally owned vehicles less or are more comprehensive and drastic measures required, and if so what are they? Are we sure that even if we take those actions, that global warming will be stopped to some appreciable degree? All questions that I think we should have answered.

 

Before I climb on board the train, I want to make sure its on the right track and there's not an oncoming train headed my way. I'm not there yet. Perhaps you are and good for you.

I don't recall me saying we should sit around and do nothing. If I did, kindly quote it and I'll apologize. If you can't find it (and you won't), please do not put words in my mouth. Thank you.:laugh:

I won't have to put words in your mouth. These, which were already in there, should do nicely thank you. :banana:

 

 

I'm not even going to put down my beverage of choice until I make sure the smoke isn't coming from my neighbor's grill.

 

I don't believe in getting carried away with measures that will be inordinately burdensome and/or of no effect. But I also know that covering our eyes, holding our ears, and hoping the 800 lb. gorilla will just go away, is not a very logical choice either. The prudent thing to do would be to start taking measures that will decrease our effect on the environment. It makes since, economically, strategically, politically, and just plain logically.

I won't have to put words in your mouth. These, which were already in there, should do nicely thank you. :banana:

 

 

 

 

I don't believe in getting carried away with measures that will be inordinately burdensome and/or of no effect. But I also know that covering our eyes, holding our ears, and hoping the 800 lb. gorilla will just go away, is not a very logical choice either. The prudent thing to do would be to start taking measures that will decrease our effect on the environment. It makes since, economically, strategically, politically, and just plain logically.

What are you supposed to do when the 800 lb. gorilla is the sun?

I won't have to put words in your mouth. These, which were already in there, should do nicely thank you. :banana:

 

 

 

 

I don't believe in getting carried away with measures that will be inordinately burdensome and/or of no effect. But I also know that covering our eyes, holding our ears, and hoping the 800 lb. gorilla will just go away, is not a very logical choice either. The prudent thing to do would be to start taking measures that will decrease our effect on the environment. It makes since, economically, strategically, politically, and just plain logically.

 

 

You can respond to this my friend and have the last word as I am done with this tangent. But the words "making sure the smoke isn't coming from my neighbor's grill" means taking action to determine if the smoke is coming from the grill. Sorry if you didn't understand that. I'll try better for you the next time.

You can respond to this my friend and have the last word as I am done with this tangent. But the words "making sure the smoke isn't coming from my neighbor's grill" means taking action to determine if the smoke is coming from the grill. Sorry if you didn't understand that. I'll try better for you the next time.

Here's the part you forgot:

 

I'm not even going to put down my beverage of choice...

 

 

Try to refrain from suggesting that I wouldn't "understand" your comment. That has never been a problem, I assure you. And this (at least on my part) isn't about having the last word. It's about being willing to face an issue, and accept responsibility.

 

Whether we're a big part, or a tiny part of global warning, we should be doing all we can to take care of our home. It's not just about global warming. The environmental preoblem is far more complex than that.

 

Those that don't want to take the difficult steps, or have political motivations, will close their minds and dig in their heels like children who don't want to go to the dentist. Hopefully, there are enough people in this country and around the world who are willing to change those things that we can. But it's really not about "can". It's about "will".

If something isn't done about the Chinese, nothing we do will matter.

If something isn't done about the Chinese, nothing we do will matter.

That's for sure! They're consuming, wasting and polluting, at an alarming pace.

About 40 years ago, Andy Offutt (of Haldeman, KY; father of Chris Offutt, I believe) wrote a short story entitled "Population Implosion".

 

As best I can recall, the premise was that the third rock from the sun had a finite allotment of souls. Once the planet's population eclipsed that number, all of the elderly started dying unexpectedly. As more and more people were born, the age at which prople died en masse got lower and lower. Nations got together to adopt worldwide population control measures to fix the problem.

 

However, China secretly flaunted the new rules and increased breeding so as to "corner the market" on available souls. I'm probably not remembering it exactly as written, but I thought it was a pretty interesting concept and story.

 

Just goes to show that you can't trust the Chinese.

Those that don't want to take the difficult steps, or have political motivations, will close their minds and dig in their heels like children who don't want to go to the dentist. Hopefully, there are enough people in this country and around the world who are willing to change those things that we can. But it's really not about "can". It's about "will".

Changing things we can is one thing, trying to change things we can't is another. It has nothing to do with being close minded, not wanting to take difficult steps or digging our heels in like children who don't want to go to the dentist. It has to do with truth, and the truth is we don't really know if there is anything we can do or if we really cause global warming or not. So until we know, what's the point? Would you spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to have your car worked on just because someone that's not a mechanic said they think it needs repairing?

With all the comments about Al Gore and the environment and the astute observations of several BGPers views on the Republicans and the abortion issue, I wonder if global warming is not the Democrats issue that they like to wave about and scare people into voting for them while truly hoping nothing is really done to get rid of their political issue that garners them votes.

Changing things we can is one thing, trying to change things we can't is another. It has nothing to do with being close minded, not wanting to take difficult steps or digging our heels in like children who don't want to go to the dentist. It has to do with truth, and the truth is we don't really know if there is anything we can do or if we really cause global warming or not. So until we know, what's the point? Would you spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to have your car worked on just because someone that's not a mechanic said they think it needs repairing?

 

I consider our work to reduce the speed at which global warming occurs akin to having tune ups and oil changes, etc. It's all preventative maintenance and keeps a much bigger problem from occuring.

 

You wouldn't go without an oil change or tune up because your car would breakdown eventually.

 

I mean, it's possible you'd never have a problem, but I don't think you'd say "until we know, what's the point?"

 

You protect your investment in your car. Why not protect the human investment in our planet?