Once upon a time a long time ago, science and scientists lived in rarefied, honorable air. Their goal was to determine the reality of nature by observation, experimentation, and replication. They were divorced from the political auras that surrounded them, and they considered their work sacrosanct.
As time progressed and more scientists became associated with universities, funding for their work became important. Political opportunists entered the scene, along with fringe groups that could find an avenue for their cause, such as environmental activists and the alarmist global warming scam.
One of the earliest academies of science was the Royal Society in the UK, whose motto was the Latin Nullius in verba, which meant, “Take nobody’s word for it.” Now, the alarmists’ motto appears to be, “The science is settled.” Instead of the proofs that were previously required by science, we hear politicians making up their own or, like Michael Mann of the Climategate scandal, actually stating, “Proof is for mathematical theorems and alcoholic beverages. It’s not for science.” This is how the science we once respected has gone crazy.
Benefits of Carbon Dioxide
Carbon dioxide is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, but it has been grouped with pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, methane, and carbon monoxide. The demonization of this natural gas is pure politics designed to control energy policy.
Carbon dioxide is not a dangerous pollutant, as increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will benefit increasing populations by increasing agricultural productivity. Many greenhouses inject as much as 1,000 ppm or more into the air, to grow better plants and vegetables. In past geologic history, atmospheric concentrations were as much as 3,000-7,000 ppm. The world was much greener then, though not much warmer. This is happening—to our benefit—once again. Satellite data show the earth is now increasing in greenery as a result of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.
Evidence Against a Crisis
Global warming has ceased for the past 15 years, in distinct contrast with the corresponding increase in scare tactics and carbon dioxide concentrations. This contrast illustrates how the IPCC’s computer predictions have failed in every area.
There is also no link between global warming and extreme weather, but there is a powerful correlation between global warming and variations in solar output and ocean cycles. Sunspots have historically matched both warming and cooling, and we now are in for a cooling.
Lemmings vs. Science
Following the herd seems to be a human weakness, as it is with lemmings in the animal world. The news media in both print and television have the same weakness, although they are not as mindless as the lemmings, for theirs is premeditated, coming from the same funding need as that of the professors in universities. The lure of money and the quest for higher reader and viewer rates fuels global warming alarmism. We have a penchant for following disasters and being susceptible to scams. The greater the possible disaster or scam, and the more often it is told, the more people who will accept it as truth.
Today, truth and proof in science have taken a back seat to the political correctness of those who hold the whip. The media and newspapers in particular do not have the journalistic integrity that once was their hallmark, and now they only accept politically correct dogma. Like lemmings, they step off the cliff of ignorance.
It is not just our economic well-being that will suffer from this one-sided dogma. More importantly, the science we once respected has died along with editorial integrity.
Dr. Irvin H. Forbing ([email protected]) writes from California.
