The Uncomfortable Truth

Is the earth getting warmer?
Absolutely!
That’s not the problem
Is mankind at least partially at fault for global warming?
Absolutely!
That’s not the problem either.
The problem is the people—usually self-identified as “conservative”--who refuse to admit man’s role in global warming.
The method they use to obscure the truth is a classic one—complicating the issue.
An oft-cited study from ice cores taken in the Antarctic shows a cause-and-effect relation between the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere and Earth’s temperature. Sure as night follows day, an increase in CO2 leads to an increase in temperature. This doesn’t happen overnight, there is a lag time of years.
That’s not too complicated.
Unfortunately, it’s been happening for thousands and thousands of years—long before man ever appeared. And, there is good evidence this cycle has repeated for hundreds of millions of years.
That’s where people start complicating the issue.
“If it was goin’ on before man got here, then man CAN’T be responsible for global warming.”
Not true.
Nobody can say with any certainty what caused natural increases in CO2 levels. Nevertheless, increased CO2 has always led to increased temperatures. CO2 levels are rising now. On this, there is no argument.
“There are scientists who can PROVE that global warming is not the result of human activity.”
I’ve heard the scientists myself, but they seldom mention that simple, little piece of evidence and over-complicate the issue. Unfortunately, this confuses people who are not scientists.
A long time ago, a scientist named Ptolemy (TAW-luh-me) “proved” that the earth was the center of the solar system and he used mathematics to do it. He confused a lot of people by complicating what was really a simple concept. The confusion lasted for almost 2,000 years.
One way to complicate the issue is to bring up other theories. Those same ice core samples reveal certain particles deposited only during times of increased solar activity. However, their deposition in the ice does not correlate with increased temperatures as neatly as an increase in CO2 does.
In my short life, CO2 levels have increased eight-and-half percent. I don’t believe one needs to be a scientist to see the connection between mankind pumping billions of tons of CO2 into the atmosphere and the corresponding increase in CO2 levels.
I mean, DUH!
Unfortunately, there are too many people who either can not or will not do their own thinking. They listen to people who say, “I will tell you what to think.” Ignorance is bliss, I guess. Until a hurricane destroys everything you have.
I will not argue the fact that there are natural forces at work that are causing the earth’s temperature to rise. However, to rule out the role man plays is idiotic. To argue over “how much” man contributes is lunacy. If we were to suddenly lower CO2 emissions, it would take years to have an effect. Waiting to reduce emissions will increase the severity of any temperature increase when it happens. Prolonging the inevitable is insane.
So why do they do it? Why do so-called conservatives confound the issue and confuse people?
That’s easy. Money! That is to say, greed. Pure, unbridled greed.
And therein lies a solution.
Next: the solution.