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| Yes | 23% | 139 votes | Total: 614 votes | |
| No | 77% | 475 votes |
Yes
Created on: July 21, 2008
First of all, we must examine exactly what is meant by "global warming."
Let's assume that the discussion is about a consistent pattern of atmospheric warming caused by the human activity of releasing greenhouse gases.
If that is the assumption, then the premise is flawed from the start since there has been no consistent pattern of warming. In fact, the latest data reports that the Earth actually has been cooling. Meteorologist John Coleman recently reported in a speech, "The cooling trend is so strong that recently the head of the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change had to acknowledge it."
Evidence reveals that the earth goes through constant cooling and warming. The warming usually occurs in what are called inter-glacial periods, meaning the warming that occurs between periods of cooling in which glaciers grow. Further, evidence reveals that periods of warming are quite beneficial to the human race. Warmer temperatures mean healthier living and abundance of food.
So, if there is no global warming, how can the US be "doing enough" to stop it? And, if the Earth were warming, why would we want to stop it when it is beneficial to us?
The original presumption topic question is equally as flawed. Believing that mankind can actually effect the Earth's climate. For eons, humans have attempted to affect the weather. The most we have ever accomplished have been changes to our local environments. The Earth, though, has been experiencing climate changes constantly over its history of millions of years. The human phenomenon is a micro-short history, a mere blip in the Earth timeline. Even "blip" is too long in comparison to Earth's history. But, we are probably the only species with the arrogance to believe that our existence somehow effects the Earth's climate.
No matter how hard we try, we could not effect the Earth's climate. Humans have tried all sorts of gimics to try and affect weather: generate rain during drought, stop hurricanes and tornados, etc. But, we have failed every time. Saying that we can stop "global warming" is as absurd as saying, "Let's stop the next thunderstorm." Or, "That volcano is getting ready to erupt. Let's put a cork in it." The most we have been able to accomplish is better warning systems when these natural events occur.
And now, it is claimed humans are producing a smidgen more carbon dioxide gas compared the tons and tons nature produces on its own and now we have unstoppable global warming.
What is more amazing is that the one country singled out as the cause is the United States, mainly because its citizens use more energy than other countries. A country in which most has been done to curb pollution. That's right. According to the Environmental Protections Agency's 2008 Report on the Environment, we live in a much cleaner environment than say just 30 years ago.
So, if the US is using more energy than other countries, if the US is the big polluter, why is it so much cleaner? It is because we have found ways to use fossil fuel and still be clean about it - coal stack scrubbers, more efficent burning in cars, for example.
The truth behind the global warming scare is simple. Political and social forces adverse to free living people have attempted to influence the US and its politics since the inception of the country. Blaming the US for global warming is another in a long line of attempts to reign in the American people, who have been responsible for most of the wealth produced and dramatic rise in the standard of living world wide.
Unfortunately, these forces, mostly socialist in nature, only see economics through a one-way lense - if someone is getting rich, than someone else must be getting poor. In other words, zero sum economics, which is a seriously flawed economic theory. They fail to see the vast wealth produced when people are left free to determine their own destiny. At no time in human history have humans lived better or longer.
Instead, they see energy used and claim that it is bad because we use too much, in their point of view. Oddly enough, Al Gore seems to have that same point of view, but it has not stopped him from living in energy guzzling mansions and using gas swilling jets and limousines.
That is because for Al Gore, and very long string of scientists, there is money to be made in global warming. Al Gore runs a "green" investment fund where he is trying to encourage the uninformed into investing their retirement funds. Scientists who need funding for their pet projects quickly sign on to global warming because they know by doing so they have ready access to certain grant money. Unfortunately, the only profit the media seems to recognize in the energy business is the money made by the oil companies, the only group who actually provides energy for our businesses and daily living.
But, is the US using too much energy? Not too long ago it was predicted the Earth would run out of fossil fuels, yet just the opposite has occurred. Large amounts of fossil fuel in various forms have been discovered. Yet, we are denied access because politicians have cow-towed to the demands of the Earth and animal worshipers.
The US can not continue to lead the world in the spread of freedom and commerce if it is denied energy. Global warming is an attempt to halt US global economic leadership and to further inhibit individual rights through government restrictions and control. Global warming is a tool for a minority of individuals who seek power for their own goals and gain, and who believe the rest of us are stupid enough to follow.
Learn more about this author, Steve Bowles.
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No
Created on: September 30, 2007
I want to change the title of this from "Is the US doing enough to stop global warming?" to "What are you, as an American, willing to give up or change to save energy and stop harmful fuel emissions?" If you're an American, then you can't just say, "the US isn't doing enough," if you're not making any effort yourself.
Are you willing to invest in a solar panel on your roof and a wind turbine in your front yard to aid in electricity usage? What if it's cloudy and not windy where you live? Obviously, these solutions aren't going to replace your current form of electricity, but they may help to cut down on usage and cost. They're likely to be pretty expensive to install though, and who knows of your neighborhood is "zoned" to do things like that.
Do you recycle? Does your town separate lawn waste and recycling from garbage waste?
Are you willing to buy a hybrid vehicle? Can you afford one? Americans own nearly half of all the automobiles in the world. We have an average of a two car garage and a three car household. We all have to drive to work, right? Are you commuting with your co-workers? What if you don't have co-workers to commute with? What is it exactly that you are driving, and how much does it cost to put gas in it? Are you running the air conditioner or the heater or the stereo... because you can get better gas mileage if you don't do those things.
Are you willing to research green buildings? Do you know what a green building is? What can you do to convert your own household "green"? Is there some way that you can "reuse" the rainwater that comes out of your gutters for functional household needs, or for irrigation? Can you make better use of natural lighting and turn off some of your interior lights? Have you at least converted all of the light bulbs in your house to more energy-efficient light bulbs?
The world population was at 6.5 billion in 2006. It is slated to hit 7 billion in 2012. (http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/World_popu lation) The Chinese want a two car garage and a three car per family lifestyle just like Americans have. India and China together possess 1/3rd of the world's population. Do you think that due to population growth, that the demand for resources will also grow exponentially?
Africa has untapped oil and coal in their country that the "developed" world is trying to convince them not to use due to growing pollution concerns. People in Africa just want to power their homes, put food in their refrigerators and have things like heat and air conditioning... just like we have. Who are we to tell them not to use their resources? Do you think that it is our responsibility, as a "developed" country to set an example to less "developed" countries by investing in alternative and less polluting energy sources?
Personally, if we don't start exploring alternative energy sources sooner than later, I think that we are going to run out of natural resources before we get a chance to "kill" our planet.
Learn more about this author, Scott Johnson.
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