Is global warming hysteria going overboard more than ever before?

Question

Along with all the proposed regulations and record tax increases planned by global warming advocates, now new laws are being created on every level of government to "neutralize" global warming growth. For example, the city of St. Paul, Minnesota has proposed a law that would effectively criminalize people who allow their cars to idle longer than 3 minutes which would result in a fine all in the name of global warming. So now, the global warming advocates are intruding on the very act of letting a car warm up in a climate that is literally regularly below zero for 4 to 5 months out of the year. Does this seem that it's going too far and does it even seem necessary? These types of laws tend to turn people on one another by encouraging citizens to report violators who are doing nothing more than allowing a car to remain stationary for an arbitrary amount of time. And isn't this law unecessary since rising fuel prices are already curbing people's consumption habits? What do you think?

Answer 1

global warming is the biggest lie ever

Answer 2

Yep... this is one of those incompetent laws that lack common sense. It's going to be abused by everyone including the police and most government agencies.

Answer 3

I think it's ridiculous.  I live in St. Paul!  One mechanic phoned into a talk radio station I listen to.  A non-warmed up car puts out more pollution.  I don't know the science behind it.  

So when are they going to outlaw Nascar and the Indie-500 races?  Mmm?  When are the Moto-cross races going to go out?  When is it going to be illegal to own a snowmobile?  A powerboat?  A gas powered lawn mower?

What's next?  Seriously?

Edit:

I'm just wondering what they're going to do in traffic jams around here on the interstate.

Answer 4

I saw in the news Friday that they were going to outlaw beach fires.  The problem is that beach fires don't contribute to a net increase in carbon in the atmosphere.  The left wants global warming as a stick they can use to push their agenda.  This is a very minor example of government intrusion and socialism metastasizing in our midst in the name of global warming.  What is coming in the future will dwarf what they are proposing now.  I hope you dig deep into your wallets because they are looking for trillions of dollars.

Answer 5

Should it be a crime for a smoker to follow you around a public area and blow smoke into your face (causing you health problems down the road)?  Or should we merely let the cost of cigarettes discourage him?

One of the primary purposes of laws is to protect each other from the negligence of other peoples actions. So if people let their cars idle endlessly (having family in Minnesota I know you clearly exaggerate the situation) is indeed harmful to others (which global warming appears to be) than a law to limit that irresponsibility is certainly justified.  

3 minutes of idling is sufficient, and police aren't about to write anyone a ticket 3 minutes and 15 seconds after they start their cars.  But the law brings the issue to the forefront of peoples attention and hopefully will have the positive effect of changed behavior.

Answer 6

Yes. And Ken's logic is extremely flawed. I also bet his relatives have their cars in a garage. Since there were times during this past winter I took off too fast and I still had too much ice on my windshield and it started frosting up again on the inside of the vehicle.

Answer 7

There is a natural cyclic atmospheric Co2 increase due to (Malkovich) solar cycles, plus the natural atmospheric Co2 exchange due to photosynthesis (natural and man caused plant biology). These cycles occur on about 120,000 year intervals according to Vostok Antarctic ice core studies (see the graphs). Man’s contribution to the (new) atmospheric Co2 increase has been estimated at less than 5%.  If you do the math, a world wide reduction of fossil fuel use of 10 % would do absolutely nothing to ward off the natural warming cycle, and plunge the world economy into absolute chaos, causing mass starvation and civil unrest. Who wants to be the first to push THAT button??? The liberals just want an excuse to raise taxes and legislate more control over peoples lives.

Answer 8

No.

For one thing it's not "hysteria" it's scientific fact.

For another, the damage it could cause is far worse than the minor inconvenience you're so worried about.

And the "science" above is nonsense.  Natural CO2 is recycled, by plants and the oceans.  It's the CO2 from burning fossil fuels that upsets that balance and causes CO2 to rise.  Scientists have proven that, by using "isotopic ratios".

Answer 9

it is so nice to see sensible people answering this thread. we need to keep pointing out the facts to people.

nascar is big business so it won't be outlawed.

beach fires are for enjoyment of the people, so of course we must get rid of them.

keep the people scared, the government knows best.

you know us stupid people don't know how to take care of ourselves.

sure we should try to us our natural resources wisely, try to pollute as little as possible. be responsible, respectful, thinking human beings.

but come on already, i think that anyone who really takes a look and thinks about it for 5 min. would be able to see that this is big money and that's why the government and big business is on board. if people are scared for their existence they will spend all they have to survive. remember Y2K people went nuts, and some shysters made a lot of money off of frightened people .

it all pretty much pisses me off. i could go on for days.         can you tell?

Answer 10

Well I look at it this way. I do believe in global warming, but to an extent. I also believe the Earth is naturally warming. For people to say this has never happened before is ignorant. I mean we have only had the technology to track the warming of the Earth for a few decades. I believe the Earth is going through a natural warming stage, BUT I do not believe us humans are doing the right thing. We ARE polluting and we ARE taking advantage of what we have. So even if you don't believe in global warming it's still your job as a human being to help the Earth:)

Answer 11

Wait until they discover snow blowers run on gas, or fuel oil use increases during the winter, or that breath you see on cold days is actually concentrated CO2!

Answer 12

No, I think we need to consider the potential damage humankind is causing to the environment quite seriously and take all reasonable steps to minimize our impact on natural cycles.  I think legislation to limit the amount of automobile idle time is stupid, but so is all the 'global warming is a big scam' stuff.  The people that say that don't KNOW...not even the scientists researching the phenomena can say with certainty the amount humankind's contribution to C02 in the atmosphere will effect the process or outcome of global warming.  Anybody who has come to an unshakable conclusion about what exactly is going on with our climate is a fool.  Not necessarily a hysterical fool, but a fool nonetheless.

Answer 13

More stupid stuff to follow I am afraid.  If I wanted my car to idle I would idle for 2:59 seconds turn it off, then start it back up.