TechReview: Global Warming Bombshell

What chase said.

 

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying, basso.

 

First of all, I'm not saying humans aren't responsible for some of global warming, because we undoubtedly are.

However, for you guys who say it is entirely because of humans, you are suffering from a paranoia. The Earth has cooling and warming stages, and any non-politically motivated scientist (there are some for both sides) will tell you that while humans do cause maybe about half of the global warming, there is still 50% that is beyond our control. Those who say humans have 100% responsibility are wrong, as are those who say we have 0%.

For this reason, nothing in this article would be a bombshell. Anyone who knows anything about weather patterns or the atmosphere will tell you that the earth is in the middle of a warming pattern that we've been undergoing for quite some time. It is also of interest to note that most places on Earth aren't that much "warmer" than they were during some of Earth's ice ages.

 

Bombshell

 

There is little doubt that we are contributing to global warming. There is little doubt that our part in this is the result of our dependence on a finite natural resource. There is no doubt that we have a choice about how we use those resources, if at all.

What is frustrating is that, despite being the richest, most powerful and most innovative civilized nation in the history of mankind, we continue to make a conscious choice to perpetuate a problem that we could stop any time we want to.

It's like being a drug addict. You stop. Problem solved. The only difference is that the addict only kills himself. Our actions are doing damage to thousands of species of plants and animals including ourselves.

And it is all by choice.

 

So what would you guys propose as solutions? Willing to give up your car? Willing to do without electricity for a while? The problem nowadyas is that everyone says what our problems are, but nobody offers solutions.

Should we then kill all cows, because their "bodily emissions" account for a large percentage of the toxic air particles? (I promise I did not make that up. Ask your local meteorologist/climatologist).

 

There are plenty of things that can be done. Suggesting no one has solutions is a cop out.

There are a wide range of alternative energy sources - wind, water, solar - that have yet to even have their collective surfaces scratched.

But since you asked, I'd be willing to step up recycling efforts, drive a different kind of car (hybrid, electric or solar), switch to a different energy source (solar) for my home power, drive less, lower my water usage. In fact, I do most of that already.

And since you brought up cows, if we didn't raise them in such un-godly numbers just to satisfy our own desire for red meat, we wouldn't have that problem because their numbers would be in equilibrium with the natural environment instead of massively inflated for our consumption. We don't need to eat them, so we don't need to mass produce them. Problem solved.

My point is that with as innovative a country as we live in, we can't manage to find ANY real solutions to the overuse of fossil fuels? None?

Of course, we COULD find them, but that would cost money and no one wants to lift a finger if it means writing a check. Nevermind that it would be better for us now. Nevermind that it would be better for our children and generations to come. Nevermind that it is an inevitibility that we will need to find a renewable source of energy eventually because we are living off of finite resources.

That whole, "what is your solution?" argument is incredibly weak. Everything we do is a choice and an opportunity to improve. What is really sad is that we could improve. It is totally our choice. We just choose not to because it is easier to ignore the problem than face it head on.

 

Jeff, pick up a BP or Exxon 10-K and you will see that BILLIONS are being poured into alternative energy sources. There are many companies in Texas that do nothing but fund research for alternative energy sources. Austin even has a renewable energy technology incubator. Fingers are being lifted. Checks are being written. The market simply is not yet demanding the product. As oil continues to climb, investment in alternative energy will rise.

Changing your consumption habits is certainly noble, but the freeloader problem all but negates your efforts. At this point in time, consumers are demanding large cars, large homes, and high energy-consuming products. These small fringe groups that clamor to change things are just pissing on a bonfire. The market changes things. When the time is right, things will change.

 

The problem is you can't correct a problem like global warming in six months.

 

Ever notice how references to the "invisible hand" of capitalism frequently have the same sound as references to the benevolence of "God's will" - ? - hmm. Faith.

There ain't no invisible hand. Not anymore.