Friday, March 02, 2007
The Rightwingosphere
Taking the Temperature of the Rightosphere
I linked to this through Poliblog. Most of the responses are a little right of what I expected. The answer that shocked me the most was question 4.
Umm...wow. That's pretty amazing. I guess what I don't understand is if these guys think that global warming isn't caused by humans, then what IS causing it? What is causing all these glaciers to melt? What is causing the seasons to change. What is causing to apparent uptick of unusual weather phenomena that we have been seeing for the last five years. I've lived in this area of the nation for more than twenty years and I have never seen a winter like this one. It's just weird.
But that is all just anecdotal evidence. What I trust even more than that is the cadre of scientists that say global warming is happening and it's caused by humans. Why is it hard to believe people who have spent their entire lives studying the earth's climate, but easy to believe people who have studied outer space or biology or physics? We all accept the theory of relativity, or the central dogma of biology, or that we are a tiny part of a much vaster universe, but we can't accept it when the leading scientists say we are causing global warming. That's just arrogant not to mention stupid.
Just one more reason conservatives piss me off.
I linked to this through Poliblog. Most of the responses are a little right of what I expected. The answer that shocked me the most was question 4.
4) Do you think mankind is the primary cause of global warming?
Yes (0) -- 0%
No (59) -- 100%
Umm...wow. That's pretty amazing. I guess what I don't understand is if these guys think that global warming isn't caused by humans, then what IS causing it? What is causing all these glaciers to melt? What is causing the seasons to change. What is causing to apparent uptick of unusual weather phenomena that we have been seeing for the last five years. I've lived in this area of the nation for more than twenty years and I have never seen a winter like this one. It's just weird.
But that is all just anecdotal evidence. What I trust even more than that is the cadre of scientists that say global warming is happening and it's caused by humans. Why is it hard to believe people who have spent their entire lives studying the earth's climate, but easy to believe people who have studied outer space or biology or physics? We all accept the theory of relativity, or the central dogma of biology, or that we are a tiny part of a much vaster universe, but we can't accept it when the leading scientists say we are causing global warming. That's just arrogant not to mention stupid.
Just one more reason conservatives piss me off.
Comments:
<< Home
I'm a conservative, and I'm REALLY sorry I piss you off. (Ya need to try to keep your blood pressure down, guy. Bein' pissed off is not good! And actually, I kinda get a kick outta the fact that you're so easily pissed off!)
A question for you:
The earth has gone through many heating/cooling cycles. Mankind has only been on earth in numbers of note for what... 75,000 years?
What caused all the ice ages and recoveries before mankind was even a factor?
Also, did you know the atmosphere is also heating up on Mars?
Wonder what could be causing that?
We can't very well blame mankind.
Let's see... NASA thinks... maybe the SUN?
A question for you:
The earth has gone through many heating/cooling cycles. Mankind has only been on earth in numbers of note for what... 75,000 years?
What caused all the ice ages and recoveries before mankind was even a factor?
Also, did you know the atmosphere is also heating up on Mars?
Wonder what could be causing that?
We can't very well blame mankind.
Let's see... NASA thinks... maybe the SUN?
The point of my post is that I have no idea what is causing global warming, but the vast majority independent researchers and government scientists believe that it is anthropogenic. Just because you can quote an outlying study or theory does not change my general trust that these people know what they are talking about. I don't have time to go read the literature myself, so I trust the experts.
Second, no I'm not going to keep my blood pressure under control. I get pissed about these things because they matter...a lot. You recently had a rant about the deteriorating state of our country. How you want more personal responsibility, less government, less corruption, so on and so forth. When you see a government run by socialists, I see a government lead by a bunch of incompetent idiots who have dragged us into an unnecessary conflict in which hundreds of thousands of people have died and millions have fled their homes. A conflict which has sent the US government spiraling back into debt at a time when it can least afford to be in debt. A conflict which has made our country weaker in the face of real threats like natural disasters and the growing muscle of China. A conflict which has destroyed the good name of the United States and strengthened the cause of those who took down the Twin Towers.
I guess the real reason I get pissed at conservatives is because they seem to always make the stupid play. In terms of strategic decisions, Iraq was a real bonehead move. And we didn't get to where we are today by making too many boneheaded moves. We became the world's superpower because we always made the smart play. We outsmarted the British when they tried to invade. We outsmarted Germany at D-day. We outsmarted Axis scientists with the first atomic weapons. We outsmarted the Russians by beating them to the moon. We outsmarted almost everyone with the development of computers and the internet. Our status relies on our technological prowess. Don't ever let yourself be fooled into thinking it doesn't. It's been the pattern of humanity since the beginning of time. The Romans had better weapons and more advanced tactics. The Europeans had guns. We had atomic weapons.
I'm not scared of men in caves with turbans on their heads with Ak-47's. I'm scared of the day when China's scientists develop quantum computation and can defeat all our government's attempts at encryption. I'm scared of the day when they can develop a strain of flu that is only deadly to Americans and Europeans. I'm scared of the day when China steps onto Mars first.
So try to think a little further ahead than just "I want it to be the way it was." It's not ever going to be the way it was. Change is the only constant. I still want America to be the dominant superpower in 50 years. Otherwise this planet is going to be a lot uglier place to live.
Second, no I'm not going to keep my blood pressure under control. I get pissed about these things because they matter...a lot. You recently had a rant about the deteriorating state of our country. How you want more personal responsibility, less government, less corruption, so on and so forth. When you see a government run by socialists, I see a government lead by a bunch of incompetent idiots who have dragged us into an unnecessary conflict in which hundreds of thousands of people have died and millions have fled their homes. A conflict which has sent the US government spiraling back into debt at a time when it can least afford to be in debt. A conflict which has made our country weaker in the face of real threats like natural disasters and the growing muscle of China. A conflict which has destroyed the good name of the United States and strengthened the cause of those who took down the Twin Towers.
I guess the real reason I get pissed at conservatives is because they seem to always make the stupid play. In terms of strategic decisions, Iraq was a real bonehead move. And we didn't get to where we are today by making too many boneheaded moves. We became the world's superpower because we always made the smart play. We outsmarted the British when they tried to invade. We outsmarted Germany at D-day. We outsmarted Axis scientists with the first atomic weapons. We outsmarted the Russians by beating them to the moon. We outsmarted almost everyone with the development of computers and the internet. Our status relies on our technological prowess. Don't ever let yourself be fooled into thinking it doesn't. It's been the pattern of humanity since the beginning of time. The Romans had better weapons and more advanced tactics. The Europeans had guns. We had atomic weapons.
I'm not scared of men in caves with turbans on their heads with Ak-47's. I'm scared of the day when China's scientists develop quantum computation and can defeat all our government's attempts at encryption. I'm scared of the day when they can develop a strain of flu that is only deadly to Americans and Europeans. I'm scared of the day when China steps onto Mars first.
So try to think a little further ahead than just "I want it to be the way it was." It's not ever going to be the way it was. Change is the only constant. I still want America to be the dominant superpower in 50 years. Otherwise this planet is going to be a lot uglier place to live.
I'm reading your response, and I don't think I see the answer to my queries there.
And, please point out to me where I said "I want it to be the way it was." I can't find that statement anywhere in my comment.
"To scientists, these seemingly disparate incidents represent the advance signs of fundamental changes in the world’s weather. The central fact is that after three quarters of a century of extraordinarily mild conditions, the earth’s climate seems to be cooling down."
That quote comes from this Newsweek article of 1975. The "majority" of scientists then believed we were headed precipitously toward a new ice age. They were wrong then... many accredited scientists today think the "global warmers" are just as wrong.
Get all worked up if you wish. The fact of the matter is that 1 billion Chinese are gonna burn dung, wood, and coal, and there isn't a damn thing we can do to stop them. In comparison, what 300 million Americans do in their cars doesn't amount to a hill of beans.
And, please point out to me where I said "I want it to be the way it was." I can't find that statement anywhere in my comment.
"To scientists, these seemingly disparate incidents represent the advance signs of fundamental changes in the world’s weather. The central fact is that after three quarters of a century of extraordinarily mild conditions, the earth’s climate seems to be cooling down."
That quote comes from this Newsweek article of 1975. The "majority" of scientists then believed we were headed precipitously toward a new ice age. They were wrong then... many accredited scientists today think the "global warmers" are just as wrong.
Get all worked up if you wish. The fact of the matter is that 1 billion Chinese are gonna burn dung, wood, and coal, and there isn't a damn thing we can do to stop them. In comparison, what 300 million Americans do in their cars doesn't amount to a hill of beans.
greybeard, if you had written your post in 1973, perhaps you would have been right about the earth's heating/cooling cycles, but the last 34 years have clearly shown an uptrend (look at the data) in global temperatures and CO2 that has never before been documented in history, dating back thousands upon thousands of years by modern methods of analyzing frozen specimens from the North and South Poles. This rise coincides with the rise of industrialization around the world.
As for the War in Iraq, I suggest a book for you, Premedpilot. "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man," by John Perkins. It will open your eyes to the true purpose of the US World policy for the last half century. After you read that, research Dick Cheney, Halliburton, and their role in the War in Iraq. The government is both spending and benefiting (through large corporations that are closely tied to its operations) from the war. The unfortunate casualty are the young soldiers that are out there defending a dream in a country they hopefully still believe in.
As for the War in Iraq, I suggest a book for you, Premedpilot. "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man," by John Perkins. It will open your eyes to the true purpose of the US World policy for the last half century. After you read that, research Dick Cheney, Halliburton, and their role in the War in Iraq. The government is both spending and benefiting (through large corporations that are closely tied to its operations) from the war. The unfortunate casualty are the young soldiers that are out there defending a dream in a country they hopefully still believe in.
MM:
Please re-read my comment.
I think few are denying that temps are warming. The question is why it's happening.
FF's stance is that it is caused by humankind. So why is the temp on Mars also increasing...
maybe because of our lander?
Please re-read my comment.
I think few are denying that temps are warming. The question is why it's happening.
FF's stance is that it is caused by humankind. So why is the temp on Mars also increasing...
maybe because of our lander?
Sorry!
It's me, sorry about the Global Warming and wot not. Just I am a tad hot at the moment. don't panic though I will cool down in due course.
Sorry you little chaps are getting the blame, not sure why really as you humans are nothing in the bigger picture of things. I sometimes believe you think you can control me lol!
Anyway, continue the good work
Yours
Sol
It's me, sorry about the Global Warming and wot not. Just I am a tad hot at the moment. don't panic though I will cool down in due course.
Sorry you little chaps are getting the blame, not sure why really as you humans are nothing in the bigger picture of things. I sometimes believe you think you can control me lol!
Anyway, continue the good work
Yours
Sol
# posted by 
: 2:13 PM
: 2:13 PM
Naw, can't be that nuclear furnace that is temporarily in a sunspot hiatus causing any change - gotta be something AlGore can save us from while turning a profit. BTW - did you know that water vapor is a FAR more efficient greenhouse gas than CeeOhTwo? And let us not point out the terrible siting for a lot of the temperature-pollution monitoring stations.
Since when has science been done by consensus rather than theorizing and then rigorous testing? Are you positing some sort of Delphi Effect (i.e., the whole is smarter than the individual)? Rots o' ruck there, dahlink. Just remember that one medium-to-large-sized volcano will emit more particulates and carbon dioxide in one massive eruption than mankind has emitted in its history.
Post a Comment
Since when has science been done by consensus rather than theorizing and then rigorous testing? Are you positing some sort of Delphi Effect (i.e., the whole is smarter than the individual)? Rots o' ruck there, dahlink. Just remember that one medium-to-large-sized volcano will emit more particulates and carbon dioxide in one massive eruption than mankind has emitted in its history.
<< Home
