Yeah more green stuff… I iead a interesting article at TreeHugger yesterday about Ronald Bailey. He is the science correspondent for Reason Magazine who also edited a book in 2002 titled “Global Warming and Other Myths: How Environmental Movement Uses False Science to Scare Us to Death”. Apparently Ronald has admitted his error in his column here and here.
Take note of the dates on the articles – this is not recent news. But it was the first I’d heard about it. I knew of the 2002 book, but I didn’t remember who edited it or have any knowledge that he’d revised his position.
Why am I bring this up, because within the past year when discussing politics and environmental issues, I have had friends use the defenses previously used by Bailey and the other authors in the book. You know, things like:
- “It’s all part of a trend that always levels out”
- “Even if it was happening, it wouldn’t impact more than a few degrees in our lifetime”
- “Scientists can’t agree, and therefore it’s inconclusive”
It’s time for anyone still hanging on to the inconclusive, natural pattern, or the not within our lifetimes defense(s) to get their heads out of the toilet. The supposed science calling global warming into question has been proven false over an over to the point where people like Bailey have been forced to eat their words.
I’m of the opinion that the situation is so important that environment is easily the most important issue in any election for the foreseeable future. Why bother worrying about our economy or defending ourselves if we put our planet on the course to becoming inhabitable? There is no political issue that matters as much for our short term, and especially our long term than the environment and the global warming reality.
I’ll vote for the more environmental candidate for any political position regardless of party affiliation at this point.