Global Warming - Follow the Money

[shalym]

This is pretty much how I feel about the whole global warming argument.

http://www.cheetahpower.net/2009/02/global-warming-follow-the-money/

Global Warming - Follow the Money
I have had major gut dissonance over the global warming issue as a driving factor in becoming energy self-sufficient. And it is NOT because of the scientific basis of if global warming exists of if it does not exist. Becoming energy self-sufficient is an economic and a national security decision. It is not a decision to save the planet as I have no idea of the long term ramifications of present day alternative energy solutions I am considering. The :environmentalist” arguments are not made based on economics or defensible scientific data but on a policy of fear and manipulation that will drive significant economic gain for the ones promoting their agenda. This diagram from http://www.boingboing.net/2009/02/04/climatic-heresy-3.html outlines the politics of fear on global warming.

http://www.cheetahpower.net/wp-content/uploads/pic-07-plattblog_follow_the_money_2.png

[Fiddlerdave]

The :environmentalist” arguments are not made based on economics or defensible scientific data but on a policy of fear and manipulation that will drive significant economic gain for the ones promoting their agenda. What a silly "chart". Al Gore "speaker fees"? "Fear meme's"? ALL the money represented by that chart is the tiniest fraction of the daily money expended in current fuels and methods, an industry that is getting ready to reap ever more massive increases as more energy demand and less available enrgy make their position ever more profitable and powerful.

It fascinates me that , somehow, the "personal gain" of AGW makes the conclusion of all of current science invalid, but the trillions of income for entrenched interests in the way we do it now makes the odd, fringe science spouted by these fossile fuel proponents "valid" but the world's major scientific output questionable because of some speaker fees and studies and reviews?

Hogwash.

[shalym]

What a silly "chart". Al Gore "speaker fees"? "Fear meme's"? ALL the money represented by that chart is the tiniest fraction of the daily money expended in current fuels and methods, an industry that is getting ready to reap ever more massive increases as more energy demand and less available enrgy make their position ever more profitable and powerful.

It fascinates me that , somehow, the "personal gain" of AGW makes the conclusion of all of current science invalid, but the trillions of income for entrenched interests in the way we do it now makes the odd, fringe science spouted by these fossile fuel proponents "valid" but the world's major scientific output questionable because of some speaker fees and studies and reviews?

Hogwash.
Where in the article does it say that "somehow, the "personal gain" of AGW makes the conclusion of all of current science invalid"? The author is saying that using alternative energy is something to do for economic reasons, rather than solely for environmental reasons. The environmental issues exist, but pushing those down people's throats using fear is just causing more and more people to NOT want to listen.

If you really want to get people (and governments) to start using alternative energy and cut their "carbon footprint" you have to sell them on the idea that they will save money. It would be nice if everyone were so enlightened that they would be motivated by "saving the world", but...unfortunately, they're not. Fear was working for a while, but with all of the (much more immediate) economic doom and gloom these days, something that *may* happen in 20-30 years isn't going to motivate people or governments. Push the economic aspects of energy saving strategies, and of developing/using alternative energies, and people will be much more likely to listen.

Shari

[Kassy]

There's no Fear Meme from the Government to the General public or the other way around which indicates nothing will happen but someone had fun coloring. :beer:

[Ought Six]

Yeah, nobody is fear-mongering on AGW; not the government, not the media, not the IPCC, not the 'green' lobby, and not Al Gore. :rofl: