Of Scientists and Politicians, Revisited

I have to admit, I’m biased. I’m a science guy. I’m not a politician, and like most Americans, I don’t especially care for politicians. So maybe my bias is getting in the way here. Maybe.

I recently read a study that says 97% of climate scientists presently engaged in active atmospheric research believe there is global warming going on, and that humans are a significant cause. Yes, 97%!

Now of course, they’re only scientists. But our representatives in Washington, and a significant portion of our population, think they know better. They think those foolish scientists are wrong. Or maybe they’re all bought off. (Or at least 97% of them apparently) Or maybe they’re all just stupid. Or something.

It reminds me of the woman I heard complaining about how her stupid doctor was making all the wrong choices: diagnosis, treatment, everything. And of course this woman, a music teacher, was convinced she knew better. She had no college, no medical school, no training, and no experience, but she was sure SHE was right on everything, and the doctor was wrong on everything. But what I found even more troubling was that everyone she was talking to, believed the woman. Why, I have no idea. Except that they wanted to.

Now back to the climate. Let me repeat. Ninety-Seven Percent believe global warming is a human problem. But because some guy on the radio or TV or in the senate says it’s not, we believe THEM? Does this make any sense at all?

Well, I suppose you could attack the survey. Maybe the questions were biased. Or maybe they lied about the results. Yeah, I’m sure that’s exactly what happened!

I get it, to a point. I mean, none of us WANT there to be global warming. Because the solutions to it are not easy, they’re not painless, and they’re not cheap. But just because we want something to be, doesn’t make it so. We can all close our eyes and wish real hard that the earth isn’t getting warmer, but that doesn’t make it true.

Argue all  you want. Listen to the politicians, and ignore the climatologists. But really, unless we’re 100% sure greenhouse gases aren’t a problem, do we really want to take a chance? Nobody can predict exactly what’s going to happen with the warming, but none of the predictions are good.

So go ahead. Deny it. Say all the scientists are wrong or lying. Say it’s all some socialist plot. And while you’re at it, next time you need to go to the doctor, save some money and just have some music teacher treat you. That makes just about as much sense.