The Truth About Denial

Member Comments

• • Reply
  • Report Abuse

  Posted By: Topeka57 @ 09/28/2009 2:45:31 AM

  I do not understand the continual push-back on the issue of global warming, and I am fascinated and disturbed by how the question of our survival has become a partisan issue. I work in the medical research area and one characteristic of science is that there is often very little certainty, yet we move forward with the best knowledge we have available -- usually that which is accepted by the majority of scientists. There continue to be disputes about biomarkers and treatment of heart disease, for example, but we don't withhold treatment while we continue the research. To continue with the comparison, there may be questions about the causes -- the condition might be caused by "human activity" (or bad habits, in the case of the heart patient). The cause might also be genetic, or a combination of factors. Yet in each case we expect the patient to participate in their recovery, if they want to survive.
  
  Our planet seems to be suffering from "inflammation", and its inhabitants will need to participate in its recovery, regardless of the cause. We can continue to argue about and research the causes, but as with heart disease, the longer we put off treatment, the less likely we are to recover.
  
  There is more than enough evidence that our collective habits are at least part of the problem. It is almost certainly the cause of the increased acidity and growing dead-zones in the oceans, and the alarming number of species extinctions. That alone should be a wake-up call.
  
  There has also been the argument that it would be unfair to our national interests if we take action, while developing countries balk. Yes indeed, China and India must be a part of the solution. But we can no longer afford to wait for others. We certainly weren't willing to wait for others when we went to war with Iraq. And (regardless of one's position on the war) I think it is fair to say we went to war with less certainty than we have about the threat of global climate change.

• • Reply
  • Report Abuse

  Posted By: marilopez @ 08/29/2009 4:24:10 AM

  Deniers are the worst! I can't believe they are so dumb. Seriously. The best way to find out the trust is to just look at what everyone else thinks. Deniers are like those people that deny the holocaust. I think that's even why they are called deniers. I bet that if the people in Germany had just listened to their most peer reviewed scientists about different races the holocaust wouldn't have even happened.

• • Reply
  • Report Abuse

  Posted By: Proudrushie @ 08/17/2009 2:42:00 PM

  My comment is, that the natural cycle of this planet has been to war, then cool, then warm again, at least three times that can be proven by Geological studies of deep rock, and some surface rock. The reason this debate continues at this pace can be traced to just this article. The annointed Gore and Boxer saying its happening and the people like me that reserve very strong doubts about computer models. The complaint in the story by Boxer that ExxonMobil would pay $10,000 dollars for a valid dispute was the only one that angered me. Why? Because the book by Gore was proven to contain as many lies and falshoods as a Michael Moore movie, Gore was just being "officially" outed as the God of Liberals. The results will only display the facts as the funder of the studies want. We all know that opposing Global Warming is and was the "death knell" of many fine scientific cariers and grounds for absolute refusal for funding by anyone, especially the U.S. Government. Not one study against warming has ever been suppported or funded by the U.S. or made publically available.