Global-warming doubters
"And the political realm in turn fed money back into the scientific community. By the late 1990's, lots of jobs depended on the idea that carbon emissions caused global warming. Many of them were bureaucratic, but there were a lot of science jobs created too. I was on that gravy train, making a high wage in a science job that would not have existed if we didn't believe carbon emissions caused global warming.Thus spake Dr. David Evans, who did carbon accounting (sounds nasty) for the Australian government. He is one of a group of people who were once global-warming True Believers but who, as befits scientists, or should befit scientists, changed their views when the facts changed. An article here and don't be put off by this being on the Senate website. It actually doesn't seem to be just the self-important promotion that I in my nasty little mind would suspect. Of the Senate. Of government.
Global Warming™ is nothing but one Current Truth; the Current Truth is defined not by what is in fact true but by what it is expedient to believe because some pressure groups with leverage demand it, and therefore the Current Truth is nearly axiomatically defined to be a lie. When the Current Truth intersects the true truth, which exists without egos or money, it is only happenstance. But the true truth--how sad to have to qualify "truth"--doesn't fund fellowships or research grants or posh symposia on Bali or even the rubber-chicken circuit. The true truth has no room for egos and tax lice with interested motives. Or hack pseudo-scientists like Nicholas Stern, who delivered himself of a report on Global Warming™ which is much loved by Tony Blair. And which was, like most of the "literature" of these other green alarmists, not peer-reviewed and is therefore pamphleteering and alarmist rubbish. Nigel Lawson rubbishes Stern here. It is obvious that the Current Truth is always a religion and Stern is cashing in on it, like the Holy Gore. And it is a Sin to doubt it.
As I age, and not at all gracefully, I seem to see nothing but interested motives everywhere. Well, duh. As usual, W. S. Gilbert was the most acidulous and a century ago. Here's King Gama from Princess Ida, one of my favorites, perhaps favourites, from college--a true progressive avant le lettre:
If you give me your attention, I will tell you what I am:
I'm a genuine philanthropist -- all other kinds are sham.
Each little fault of temper and each social defect
In my erring fellow-creatures, I endeavour to correct.
To all their little weaknesses I open people's eyes;
And little plans to snub the self-sufficient I devise;
I love my fellow creatures -- I do all the good I can --
Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
And I can't think why!
To compliments inflated I've a withering reply;
And vanity I always do my best to mortify;
A charitable action I can skillfully dissect;
And interested motives I'm delighted to detect;
I know ev'rybody's income and what ev'rybody earns;
And I carefully compare it with the income-tax returns; But to benefit humanity however much I plan,
Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man! And I can't think why!
Nowadays no one says a scold is a disagreeable man; we take our dressing-downs and self-abasement in the secular realm instead of the pew. You might think him disagreeable, but all progressives aspire to be an Elmer Gantry. Just with a different sacred text. In fact I wonder if the patron saint of progressives isn't really Elmer Gantry.
But this is not only in the eco-loony area. Look at the hysteria over drugs. I am not for a moment suggesting that you go out and do bong hits or snort a line and there's no question that meth is nothing but bad. But there is simply too much money being spent on drug interdiction for sanity to obtain in our drug policy. Legalizing drugs or at least decriminalizing them would not only save money but reduce crime spectacularly and free up prison space for murderers and thieves. But too many jobs depend on the religious fervor of banning drugs, to the point that more important things are ignored in favor of the lucrative infrastructure of suppressing drugs. The tail is wagging the dog.
I personally believe that the National Education Association has reached the critical mass where its own organizational survival is quite dominant over the expressed purpose of educating children. Notice how education gets increasing amounts of money but how much of it goes into bureaucratic paper shuffling--ticking boxes, filling out forms--instead of teaching children. I am cynical enough to suggest that it is in the best interest of the NEA not to teach children any better than it absolutely has to and that any successful and efficient pedagogic system will be actively suppressed, on mostly spurious grounds, because efficiency in teaching would diminish the importance of the NEA and hence its funding, and also because educated children might be able to see that so much of the Current Wisdom is bollocks. This is the reason for teaching "social justice" and short-sheeting learning and facts. This is the reason for constructivist teaching. That, and constructivism doesn't require much learning on the part of the teacher, who is more important as a cog in a bureaucratic machine than as a, well, teacher. (I do not mean to impugn the many good and dedicated teachers and I recall some with great affection and respect. I am suggesting that they are often hampered by educationist bureaucrats.)
I was resistant to all of these things because I smelled them being sold as a religion. I've no problem with a supernatural religion, as long as its adherents don't blow themselves and others up--for you cannot disprove their tenets. You can't prove them, either, but then who knows? They might be true and if they promote good and generous behavior I'm all for them. But the secular religions cause in me severe distress and even more of a curled lip of disdain because we are told that we must believe something and therefore verifiable facts simply don't enter into it. A fact? The very cheek! Bring out the modern Iron Maiden! Cut his funding!
How refreshing to find, and on the Senate website, not something that I'd normally refer to as authoritative about anything other than Senators' self-importance, some Global Warming Doubters.
And it is also refreshing to think that it is just possible that the Holy Gore will become even more preposterous as he continues his well-paid jeremiad and hypocritical hair-shirt environmentalism. I long for the day when he cannot draw a crowd at a run-down shopping mall and the only people who are not laughing at him are those remaining on the environmental tit.
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8 Comments
...secular religions tell us that we MUST believe...
You hit the nail on the head.
Thanks, Old Otto...you saved me quite a bit of typing. My feelings mirror yours.
It's a crying shame and I'm one of the old ones who is going to do something about it. Just exactly what other than bitch and moan I'm not sure yet.
I have had the forethought to help in the education of my grand kids, educate my two kids in the ways of the world, arm myself well and purchase and build for any coming disaster you can think of. But something else besides attending city, county meetings, sending letters and emails to my legislators and generally being disgusted with our government needs to be done. I attended the Midland Tea Party and was encouraged for a day or so.
I have signed petitions on the internet, voiced my opinion at MyWestTexas OpenForum ( http://www.myopenforum.com/forum/ )and generally made my self a pain in the ass to many.
I don't like what is happening and what I have become and/but I don't think it's going to get better without a major/catastrophic movement of all of us "average" Americans.
I just hope it isn't what I think it will be and that is what it will take.
Papa Ray
West Texas
USA
_________________________________________________
The Second Amendment is a doomsday provision, one designed for those exceptionally rare circumstances where all other rights have failed - where the government refuses to stand for reelection and silences those who protest; where courts have lost the courage to oppose, or can find no one to enforce their decrees. However improbable these contingencies may seem today, facing them unprepared is a mistake a free people get to make only once. 2009 Judge Alex Kozinski
Papa Ray is offline Reply With Quote
If I can make you madder than hell then I will chalk this up to a successful day !Otto, you're one of the few people who enjoys me in a towering rage. Don't tell me I'm cute when I'm mad.
Papa Ray, I quite agree that the Second Amendment is a doomsday provision. Federal government simply doesn't care anymore--they're drunk on their own power and completely isolated.
I am not advocating this, but it might clarify the mind if a returning representative were lynched. Or not lynched, but grabbed and shaken a bit and rescued from being lynched after some tense moments.
Sometimes you just have to 'splain things so people can understand.
If you don't believe the official story you are insane!
And therefore you MUST be treated or eradicated for the common good.
No Otto, not eradicated but sent to a re-education camp operated by the Ministry of Propaganda. You will be released when you have proven to be a dependable unit. A unit that will go forth and spread the gospel as all Obamanauts are directed.
Obamatrons unite!!!!!!!!!
OH MY !
Ticked off are we ? Well , I'm not about to talk you down outta this one , old pal. I'm every bit as ticked as you !
If I can make you madder than hell then I will chalk this up to a successful day !
The latest from Washington is that America is causing the violence in Mexico because 60% of Americans have used illegal drugs !(yesterdays MRT)
We build more and more prisons (run by private contractors) to house these drug users who tend to be the MAJORITY of Americans ? Whaaa ????
If we were to legalize and TAX drugs the violence in Mexico would dry up in a heartbeat !
But "What of the Children?" you cry ! Screw'em !
Your kids are you're OWN DAMN problem ! It's up to YOU to educate them ! If they break , its up to you to fix'em ! If you cant handle that move to MEXICO !
I am sick and tired of these goody-goody two shoes trying to solve Americas problems by a "one-size-fits-all philosophy !
Dang ! Nothing like getting a sour stomach before your nap !
You owe me some "Tums" Theo !