Is allegiance to a political party and a fixed ideology our biggest problem with fixing Global Climate Change?

Question

Here's a great article from the NY Times that shows what both sides of this debate looks like in small town America...

Enjoy!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/17/us/17climate.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Answer 1

It would be nice if politics were the biggest problem.  I don't think it is.  The biggest problem is probably population growth. With fewer wars, less disease, and better farm production and distribution, human population is rising rapidly.

In a peaceful, global economy most people will want to achieve the standard of living Americans and Europeans enjoy.  That implies burning large amounts of oil and gas, to power vehicles, heat and cool homes, and generate electricity.

I don't believe the problem can be solved. Instead the way of life of future generations will be very different from our luxurious experience.  Let's hope I'm wrong about that.

Answer 2

No.  Plenty of Republicans know it's real and mostly caused by us.

"Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich challenged fellow conservatives to stop resisting scientific evidence of global warming"

"National Review (the most prestigious conservative magazine) published a cover story calling on conservatives to shake off denial and get into the climate policy debate"

"Pat Robertson (very conservative Christian leader) 'It is getting hotter and the ice caps are melting and there is a build up of carbon dioxide in the air.  We really need to do something on fossil fuels.”

"I believe there is now more than enough evidence of climate change to warrant an immediate and comprehensive - but considered - response. Anyone who disagrees is, in my view, still in denial."

Ford Motor Company CEO William Clay Ford, Jr.

"The science of global warming is clear. We know enough to act now. We must act now."

James Rogers, CEO of Charlotte-based Duke Energy.

"Republican governors team up against global warming"

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Republican...

"the overwhelming number of scientists now believe that there is significant human cause,'' Giuliani said, adding the debate on the existence of global warming "is almost unnecessary ... ''

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=...

"(from Republicans for Environmental Protection) The consensus of almost all climate scientists is that global warming is already happening, that human actions are causing it, and that it will cause major problems for our planet."

http://www.rep.org/news/GEvol5/ge5.1_glo...

Answer 3

It riles me to think that a Government  will spend trillions of dollars to invade another nation on a lie but will dilly dally and argue on a consensus of global warning thus risking our lives and those of our descendants. Under such an ominous threat any responsible government would act to protect its citizens first and their own personal interests secondary.

Answer 4

It's certainly a sad day when parents won't let a Nobel laureate scientist speak to their kids for political reasons.

The biggest problem with fixing global climate change is ignorance.  The biggest cause of ignorance is due to people forming political opinions about the issue before they understand the science (and apparently also forcing their children to remain in ignorance).

I'm getting pretty tired of the Republican war on science.  Republicans claim to be patriotic, and yet they have this tendency to make our country worse and attack anyone who tries to improve it.

Answer 5

For more information on this, everyone should read "The Republican War on Science".

http://www.amazon.com/Republican-War-Sci...

Summary:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/18/books/...

Answer 6

Ignorance is a form political power! Keep everyone stupid,and no one will ever agree with anybody else.  The main reason that global warming is such a thorn in the side of the neo-cons is because it's not a 'wedge' issue. People tend to unite in the face of extinction! We only have this one tiny little wet rock spinning through space,lets not s***w it up!

Answer 7

Rigid ideologies and lock-step adherence to what each groups "prophets" declare is the problem behind many of the issues we face (not just climate change).  As a nation we are too politically polarized to actually take the time to examine evidence and come to mutually agreeable solutions.

With arrogant idiots behind microphones 24x7 (I include conservatives and liberals in this group) obfuscating every issue and intentionally polarizing people (getting rich with their ratings as they do it), far too many never take the time to sit back and think for themselves.

I'm a raving moderate who's sick and tired of the idiots on both ends of the spectrum battling their ideologies while never facing reality and fixing anything.

Answer 8

Gee, this seems awfully familiar... Dover, Pennsylvania, anyone?

I'm struck by the growing similarities between AGW denialists and cdesign proponentsists.

Answer 9

No, because all they do is put tax on stuff and make you pay for it.

Answer 10

Vote Obama

Answer 11

Steve Running was not there to give a science lecture - he was there to deliver a political message which is generally not acceptable in schools.  

'The five stages of climate grief' represent his personal beliefs rather than real scientific research.  He's claiming to be an authority on the psychology of people who don't share his beliefs.  That's not science and neither is blind faith in AGW.

Answer 12

No.. politics will play a part.. but the biggest issue is the uncertainty..  if we knew it all 100% without any questions or doubts we would have an opportunity to fix it..

Now the uncertainties are..

Some are uncertain that there is such a thing as global warming..

Some are uncertain that it is man made or that man's activities play a significant part in global warming, i.e. that it is a natural cycle..

Some are uncertain that it can be fixed/stopped/mitigate at whatever it will cost

Some simply believe that it will cost too much and bankrupt us so it is not worth worrying about..

I have to admit.. I do not know the answers.. However,  I think it will be best if we all do our part to conserve and to limit greenhouse gasses ..

Answer 13

The biggest problem is not seeing climate change personally.  Northern states are still freezing and getting record snowfall.  Ski resorts are having some of the heaviest snowfall in history.  Southern states didn't have major hurricanes last year.  Louisiana had sub-zero weather several weeks ago.  The ice packs at both poles fluctuate as they have since records have been kept.  Nothing has changed.  As for "fixing" global climate change, that is impossible except in the media's and politicos' imaginations.