Collectively, the responses to TOMK prove that global warming is a religion, not a science. Science never concludes a matter for the ages, prohibiting further inquiry. Further inquiry is what proper science is all about. That, and a healthy dose of skepticism along the way.

Sometimes I find myself hoping….no, praying, that the issue really were settled

And if you think there’s a causation argument about global warming, the estimates on the near term economic impact of mandating dramatic reductions in CO2 are miles appart. Personally I don’t have much confidence in estimates from folks in Congress who can’t even estimate the cost of a Visitor’s Center with any degree of accuracy.

One final thought on burning carbon-based fuels. Let’s assume the U.S. magically stopped burning oil tomorrow. Do your really think China, India and the developing world won’t continue to burn oil until the very last drop on earth has been used, so long it’s one of the least expensive sources of energy?

It may be fair to say that, in waiting for the proof of deleterious anthropomorphic climate change, that irreversible damage _may_ be done. It’s even fair IMO to say that there shouldn’t be unnecessary waste or pollution on simple ethical grounds. However, when it comes to providing legitimacy for overarching, massive assumption of authority by the state, I’m almost irreconcilably skeptical. Also, the green agenda is shot through with the sort of collectivist, anti-civilization Rousseauian garbage that needs to die, almost as if the communist golem was simply painted green and a fresh copy of some Al Gore book was put in its mouth.

Whammer, you have a reading comprehension issue. I didn’t say global warming ISN’T real. Got it? The scientific argument is about causation, not temperture data.

This is what I find so annoying about debating anyone on the left. If you question man-made global warming, you must somehow be a supporter of Bush’s Iraq policy, or his economic policy. If you offer contradictory arguments from others in the scientific community, you’re an idiot, they’re idiots, or you’re all part of an evil cabal to hell-bent on destroying the planet for the sake of profit.

Keep clapping your hands over the your ears and chanting. Anyone who disagrees with you or offers a contrary opinion is a heretic and must be silenced. Debate cannot and will not be tolerated.

Gee, what a revelation!! There used to be an ice age, and the earth warmed up on its own. Why didn’t anybody ever think of that before???? That proves that the theory of man-caused global warming is a hoax and a religion!!!

Folks, this is exactly the point of the whole agnotology idea. The fact that Tom K hasn’t bothered to read anything that would explain the answer to his question is a testament to how well the whole strategy works. His question actually illustrates a very elementary point — natural changes can and do occur, and have been occurring forever. However, that does not mean man’s activities are irrelevant.

There is nothing wrong with being skeptical. What is wrong is throwing a bunch of poorly-sourced, misleading information out there that is deliberately intended to confuse people. And that is what is happening. And, look, here’s Tom K and pemorris to prove how well it works! It must be Proctor who is the one that is full of crap………

Fred Singer — in 1998, he said that there was no evidence the earth is warming. Then in 2003 he said the same thing. Then in 2007 he started to say “well, the earth is warming, but it is part of a 1500-year cycle”. A cycle that he can’t accurately document.

Fred Singer was also an important guy for the folks who said CFCs don’t influence the ozone layer and who said second-hand smoke is not harmful. I’m not exactly sure why Fred Singer shows up so consistently as the skeptical scientist. I don’t know why Exxon gave him $10,000 either. I’m also not sure why he cooperated so closely with PR firms hired by tobacco companies. I’d hate to think that so many other scientists are wrong and Fred Singer is always right, and the tobacco and oil connections are just pure coincidences.

Frankly, I would be delighted if there was convincing evidence that all this anthropogenic global warming stuff turned out to be wrong. I don’t have a dog in this fight, personally. However, the preponderance of the evidence is that global warming is real. It doesn’t mean that you need to listen to every forecast of every calamity and accept that those are true. But pretending that the whole thing is a myth or a hoax is just irresponsible.

Now that I’m 50, however, looking back on my conjugal life, I sometimes wonder whether she was not an agnotologist , but actually a truth teller.

Where’d you get the global warming quotes?

@spigzone,
Good job agnotologizing.

I also find it funny that the adherrence to the man-caused global warming religion can’t explain how global warming started long, long before the industrial age.

“Tom K,
How’s tinkerbell?”

Periously close to flaming
Let’s lose the ad hominem stuff shall we?
No need to incite the natives.