by Jonathan » Fri Feb 19, 2010 10:02 am
One positive that can come out of this whole kerfuffle is that we have had the opportunity to review the concept of causality. The sound bite culture that we've developed has nearly rendered the well crafted argument and reasoned debate a thing of the past. One need not actually prove anything anymore as long as one can point to a large group of people who are currently nodding their heads at the assertion in question. We've seen this in politics, in denominational work, in local churches, in schools, and on discussion boards. As an aside, I've been re-reading Adam Smith and have, at several points, have laughed out loud when I've come across something that he wrote that has been quoted here, and elsewhere, to make a point contrary to the point that Smith was actually making. In spite of being the generation with the greatest access to written material in the history of man, we may be among the worst readers in several generations.
Credibility of the data collection and reporting system (or "chain of evidence" if you are a fan of those cool cop shows like Law & Order, CSI, NCIS,...) is the first hurdle that the AGW folks have to climb in order for me to take their arguments seriously.
Once the chain of evidence question has been settled, they have to make the argument that humans are responsible for the change in climate. Sorry, but I'm not just going to accept an argument that essentially states that the temperature rise has occured as human industrialization has intensified; therefore, climate change is the result of man.
The third problem with the AGW argument is the response to those who are not predisposed to give immediate and blanket authority to all those cute charts and graphs. Rather than seeking a careful debate, the AGW group dismisses, rebukes, and attacks with all of the fervor of tent revivalist. Sorry, but if you attack me personally for not completely accepting your argument, the problem is likely with your argument.
"There is a simple way to get corporate money out of politics: get the government out of our lives and economic affairs. If government has no favors to sell, no one will spend money trying to win them." - John Stossel