An Inconvenient Price

A logical guide to dealing with climate change. Since we actually know so little about what is causng the climates to change and whether we are really getting colder or hotter, the best thing at this poist would be to do nothing. It would be foolish to do something so radical that would destroy a large segment of our economy and force millions of people into poverty. George Will isn't telling the leaders of the Green movement anything they didn't already know. Gore and company know climate change is a scam because its their scam. This is all a way for the Elite like Gore, Obama, Soros, Ban K moon, Gates and other left-wing rich to confiscate the worlds wealth and not allow any new members in. They've already got theirs so we can go to hell. People who believe in Global Warming are either rich Elite which will prosper from the Carbon Taxes or fools.

Hey George, read "The Weather Makers" by Tim Flannery

What about the book: Not by Fire but by Ice? Author claims we are in an ice age like every 11,500 years. Jane

I support good public transport systems where the energy used, benefits more people. Examples: subway and light rail.
I encourage commentators to provide a realistic alternative to balance their criticisms.
-chris mansonc(at)usa.net

Yes, it would be cheaper in the developed world to protect people living near the coasts from hurricanes than to change climate affecting habits. But what about the third world, such as the recent disaster in Bangladesh? These countries cannot afford to move or protect millions of people from the effects of warming, as the US can. Their low lying coastal areas will, over time, end up under water and they will have massive political and social convulsions as millions of poor people are forced to move inland and compete with locals for arable, livable land and water. What is an inconvinience for the comfortable is a disaster for the poor of the world.

Its just ol' yellowstone saying "im back......"

Anyone heard of the Global Warming Period or the mini ice-age. The Earth has always been and always will be in a state of temperate flux. While global warming is as real the air we breathe, it is not so surely caused by man. How else can we explain warming and cooling periods prior to the industrial revolution (magical carbon emissions?) as well as emissions on mars that are nearly identical to emissions from earth that earth blamed on warming. The best strategy for dealing with the current "warming crisis" is not going to be best achieved by trying to stop a process that can't be, but rather by adapting to live with the inevitable conditions. Strategies for agriculture and water resources are necessary to defeat the human suffering, money and resources should be given to helping such causes rather than wasted trying to "recool" the earth.

Ever heard of the middle age warming period? It didn't take thousands of years... And last time I checked the middle ages were prior to the industrial revolution. Is global warming real?? Absolutely. Is it caused primarily by humans..... I doubt it.....What can we do about it? Very little....coping is a better strategy than reversal which is not gonna happen....So, learn to live with it...strategies to cope are the only logically answer.

If George Will actually watched "An Inconvenient Truth" he would see how ridiculous many of his statements are. There are plenty of things we can do to decrease emissions without crippling the economy. Sure, just throwing money at a problem would be a waste, but it doesn't need to be addressed that way. And closing with a line about Hitler, Stalin, etc., is just sensationalistic.

Regarding species diversity - the increase of species in certain areas due to global warming doesn't offset the eminination in other areas. That's like saying that it's ok to kill someone becase two other people are about to be born. Also, wouldn't it be better to be stewards of the environment, rather than using it like an exhaustable resource. The human species got where it is because we learned to manipulate our environment for the sake of development, but once we start to see dramatic changes in our climate (which massive changes in special diversity certainly counts as), it's time to question the impact we're having.

Lastly, it's not just a matter of accomodating a global increase in temperature of 1 degree in 100 years (something that use to take thousands of years). If that was it, we could probably accept it an move on. The point is that this could be cummulative - ongoing, increasing climate changes that escalate with an increasingly difficult task of stopping it.

I dont know about the rest of America, but I think its pretty cool that a few species of Magnolia can survive a south east Idaho winter and bloom in the spring. Something that was not possible in the last ten or so years.

This is the ultimate in political correctness - allowing someone who knows absolutely nothing about climate science to have "the last word." George Will distorts the facts to fit his perspective. He says things that are simply untrue and the editors of Newsweek publish this stuff. Why? Are they afraid of being accused of censorship? Are they afraid of being accused of not being "fair and balanced?" This is political correctness at its most dangerous level. Allowing George Will to distort and confuse the issue is dangerous - Shame on the editors for allowing this to happen.

James F. Casey
Professor of Economics
Washington and Lee University

This is the ultimate in political correctness - allowing someone who knows absolutely nothing about climate science to have "the last word." George Will distorts the facts to fit his perspective. He says things that are simply untrue and the editors of Newsweek publish this stuff. Why? Are they afraid of being accused of censorship? Are they afraid of being accused of not being "fair and balanced?" This is political correctness at its most dangerous level. Allowing George Will to distrt and confuse the issue is dangerous. Shame on the editors for allowing this to happen.

James F. Casey Professor of Economics Washington and Lee University

This is the ultimate in political correctness - allowing someone who knows absolutely nothing about climate science to have "the last word." George Will distorts the facts to fit his perspective. He says things that are simply untrue and the editors of Newsweek publish this stuff. Why? Are they afraid of being accused of censorship? Are they afraid of being accused of not being "fair and balanced?" This is political correctness at its most dangerous level. Allowing George Will to distrt and confuse the issue is dangerous. Shame on the editors for allowing this to happen.

James F. Casey Professor of Economics Washington and Lee University

This is the ultimate in political correctness - allowing someone who knows absolutely nothing about climate science to have "the last word." George Will distorts the facts to fit his perspective. He says things that are simply untrue and the editors of Newsweek publish this stuff. Why? Are they afraid of being accused of censorship? Are they afraid of being accused of not being "fair and balanced?" This is political correctness at its most dangerous level. Allowing George Will to distrt and confuse the issue is dangerous. Shame on the editors for allowing this to happen.

James F. Casey Professor of Economics Washington and Lee University

Never mind the conflation of environmental conservation with "trying to fine tune the planet's climate", or of "global economic growth" with "millions of deaths from AIDS..." And never mind that unsafe drinking water and other "clear and present dangers" may have environmental roots. At least he didn't try to send us off to fight terrorism. "The Last Word" indeed.

As a member of the Kent (WA) Bicycle Advisory Board, I have been involved in issues with bike-car impedence. My first proposals were to separate the two, now I moderate my view to say that cars in dense areas need to slow down, as you propose. There is so much we can do to lower CO2, save money and make life more pleasant. Moderation, says Horace, is the Golden Mean.

Those that speak truth to power are often attacked by those unwilling to hear, even consider, that the truths they believe may not be truths at all. Thank you for George Will for speaking truth to power.