a) Are we in the middle of long-term global warming?
b) Is mankind responsible, and can we reasonably make a difference?
And there's one more consideration, before we tackle the hard questions. It's frightening, alarming, scary, how such a high percentage of the population thinks these questions are slam-dunk simple: "Yep, we gotta step up and fix the planet. Let's get to it. We only got a few years or we're screwed. Yep. No doubt about it."
These people have already stopped thinking--they're in reaction mode. It hasn't occurred to them that they are jumping into major sacrifices in their lifestyle, and dollars are going to come directly out of their wallets.
I suggest to anybody who is still thinking, these questions aren't slam-dunk--they're hard! Complicated! Tough! Experts who have studied these questions for years can't agree.
So let the questioning and critical thinking continue!
Normally, I'm a firm believer in judging an issue by the clear, hard facts. Always look to the facts. Even if you have nothing but contempt for a columnist or politician, you should look past your feelings and judge the facts. People we hate can actually be right, you know.
But the questions posed above are so complex, I just can't evaluate solely on the scientific, unvarnished facts. I haven't studied climatology for years, or written papers on core samples extracted from the ocean floor. Unless I take the next ten years to do nothing but study climatology and graphs...
All right, if we can't make a judgment based totally on facts of the issue, what's left? Consider these things:
1. Judge the messengers (you should never, never, never, never decide issues in this way...except maybe now)
2. Follow the money.
3. Try a little common sense.
4. Look at the science (as best we can).
Logical thinking, and feet on terra firma...
(next, Judging the messengers)
