The Sun is "dead", What does that mean for us?

Question

http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2008/06/the-sunspot-mys.html

The Sunspot Enigma: The Sun is “Dead”—What Does it Mean for Earth?

Dark spots, some as large as 50,000 miles in diameter, typically move across the surface of the sun, contracting and expanding as they go. These strange and powerful phenomena are known as sunspots, but now they are all gone. Not even solar physicists know why it’s happening and what this odd solar silence might be indicating for our future.

Although periods of inactivity are normal for the sun, this current period has gone on much longer than usual and scientists are starting to worry—at least a little bit. Recently 100 scientists from Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa and North America gathered to discuss the issue at an international solar conference at Montana State University. Today's sun is as inactive as it was two years ago, and solar physicists don’t have a clue as to why.

"It continues to be dead," said Saku Tsuneta with the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, program manager for the Hinode solar mission, noting that it is at least a little bit worrisome for scientists.

Answer 1

Considering they have very inaccurate measurements prior to the last 100 years if that, they have no idea what the normal activity of the sun is.

Answer 2

I think you should keep in mind that we've only been observing sunspots for a very short time?  Is this common or unusual?  We don't even know.

Answer 3

That is very interesting and just goes to show how little we know of climate change.  I have seen other data that seemed to correlate with droughts being caused due to the sunspot cycle too.  Very interesting.  Thanks.