Thatcher economist de-hypes climate debate

American Thinker ^ | December 05, 2006 | Peter C Glover

[Still Thinking]

I think rather than being classed as "deniers" many Freepers agree with what driftless2 and syriacus were saying up the thread, that when people try to shut down debate of a controversial topic, criminalizing opinion on the other side, and refuse to answer pertinent objections, their belief cries out for increased scrutiny. Those aren't generally the actions of someone who has the facts on their side.

[syriacus]

Those aren't generally the actions of someone who has the facts on their side.

Exactly!

[Paradox]

I think rather than being classed as "deniers" many Freepers agree with what driftless2 and syriacus were saying up the thread

I'm one of those, a skeptic of GW, but also a skeptic of the skepticism.

[cogitator]

I'm going to think about writing a lengthy rebuttal. Time may not permit it, but I'd like to.

[Still Thinking]

I guess you can count me in that camp as well. I'm skeptical of both, though probably more so of anthropogenic GW than of the skepticism. On GW per se, I don't have a strong opinion.

[-YYZ-]

Exactly. Like the man says in the article above, the best (and most honest) answer to many of questions we have about the climate today is "we don't know." Human-caused global warming may be real, or not. But if it is real and the projections (even the more moderate ones) are correct, can, and should, we try to do anything about it? And how much are we willing to spend to deal with something that only might be true?

[cogitator]

Put it right behind the extinction dissertation. ;-)

Yeah, I know. I lost that thread. Do you know where it is? The extinction explanation wouldn't take as long as addressing this thread.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Please ping me when your write your rebuttal. Thanks.

[SunkenCiv]

blast from the past:

Caves reveal clues to UK weather
by Tom Heap
Saturday, 2 December, 2000

At Pooles Cavern in Derbyshire, it was discovered that the stalagmites grow faster in the winter months when it rains more. Alan Walker, who guides visitors through the caves, says the changes in rainfall are recorded in the stalactites and stalagmites like the growth rings in trees. Stalagmites from a number of caves have now been analysed by Dr Andy Baker at Newcastle University. After splitting and polishing the rock, he can measure its growth precisely and has built up a precipitation history going back thousands of years. His study suggests this autumn's rainfall is not at all unusual when looked at over such a timescale but is well within historic variations. He believes politicians find it expedient to blame a man-made change in our weather rather than addressing the complex scientific picture... He said he wanted greater awareness to ensure "future decision-making could be made based on scientific data and not on political expediency".

I like that closing sentence -- "future decision-making could be made based on scientific data and not on political expediency". I wouldn't count on it, but that would be great.

[Fred Nerks]

"future decision-making could be made based on scientific data and not on political expediency".

HA! That'll be the day. Won't happen until polititians are chosen for the wealth of their scientific/historical knowledge.

Name one you know that has any?

[Seadog Bytes]

Hmmm... I guess I gotta ask.  ...Does this really look like the face of someone who eschews 'political expediency' in favor of  'scientific data'...???

[SunkenCiv]

:'D

[Rocky]

Great post!