tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213262.post3235097739533377929..comments2024-03-25T07:29:08.216-04:00Comments on 2 Political Junkies: Editorial Wars: The Trib vs The TruthMariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10439330154875628083noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213262.post-77612704166926360722012-02-23T13:16:19.755-05:002012-02-23T13:16:19.755-05:00To some extent, journalists themselves are to blam...To some extent, journalists themselves are to blame for this still being an issue. When publishing an article on Climate Change, journalists frequently if not almost always try to find an opposing view to what the established scientific community is saying. Usually that is a big energy or Scaife (or other billionaire) funded source who can only publish in non peer-reviewed journals at best. <br /><br />So it is not surprising that groups like the Heartland Institute are going to pressure school districts to introduce this intuitive but dishonest "balance" into the classroom. If you are first learning basic science in one of the low grades, if it is presented to you that Climate Change is just some theory, one that many people disagree with, that idea will stick with you. If in thirty years you are told that that damaging storms and droughts are the result of climate change, and we need to pay more and use less electricity and gas, you will be in the group opposing that plan. <br /><br />Of course, in thirty years it will probably be too late anyway. <br /><br />Look, no one says the planet does not warm and cool on its own. No one says that the activities of man are the only thing that affects weather. I will say the planet has never had as many cars driving around burning oil, so I am not surprised people say man's activities are having an effect. <br /><br />And you know, there is reason to think that oil is going to stay at least as expensive as it is now. Oil sands need extra refining to be able to run our cars, the sands are only profitable when gas is up around three or four dollars (I believe it is). Yes, we can get oil from Alaska, although I suspect that will be somewhat more costly, and when it runs out we are left looking for deeper and deeper wells. And all of this consumption is taking away plastic and fertilizer and gasoline that our grandkids might want (at a reasonable price). <br /><br />Anyway though, there are ethical and financial reasons besides Climate Change to conserve and reduce our use of fossil fuels, and convert our electric generation to solar, wind, more hydro and tidal, and our transportation to more electric from those sources. <br /><br />But Heartland and Scaife want big oil to continue making their profits.EdHeathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09109361235271107574noreply@blogger.com