Notice the difference between what the cartoon says: that a record-breaking storm may or may not have to do with changing climate patterns; and what Toles’ enemies PRETEND the cartoon is saying so that they can attack him: that human policies are driving unprecendented global warming and thus creating super storms and super tornados. It is so much easier to mock someone when you get to make up his positions and words rather than sticking to what he really says. The world is getting warmer, as such things are measured, but for any given spot, that might mean colder or hotter, wetter or dryer, depending on what else is going on. That’s why “climate change” is a better term than “global warming”. Notice that “the climate is always changing” get used a lot. If crime rates go up, we don’t shrug and say “there always has been crime, always will be.” If the poverty rate goes up, we don’t say “the poor will always be with you.” If acts of terrorism get more frequent, we don’t say “we’ll always have enemies.” If infectious disease rates go up, we don’t shrug and say, “people are always getting sick.” We look for a cause. But when the climate shifts, and storms and droughts come along such as we’ve not seen on record, we are branded as fools if we even bother to ask why. Personally, I don’t know if any of this has been influenced by human activity. The vast majority of those who have devoted their professional careers as scientists studying the question seem to think we have had a role in this. But they could still could be wrong! I don’t know. But certainly if the experts don’t know, then neither does anyone else. And anyone who claims they know, is obviously full of hot air (to be polite). Asserting that there is NO man-made climate change is NOT being skeptical or being careful. It is being stupid. Being skeptical is admitting that all those scientists MIGHT be wrong. If 90% of weathermen tell you a big storm is heading your way, and 10% tell you not to worry about it, is it smart to dismiss the 90% and take no precautions? But foolish ideologues don’t play odds, and don’t believe in skepticism: they KNOW.
Notice the difference between what the cartoon says: that a record-breaking storm may or may not have to do with changing climate patterns; and what Toles’ enemies PRETEND the cartoon is saying so that they can attack him: that human policies are driving unprecendented global warming and thus creating super storms and super tornados. It is so much easier to mock someone when you get to make up his positions and words rather than sticking to what he really says. The world is getting warmer, as such things are measured, but for any given spot, that might mean colder or hotter, wetter or dryer, depending on what else is going on. That’s why “climate change” is a better term than “global warming”. Notice that “the climate is always changing” get used a lot. If crime rates go up, we don’t shrug and say “there always has been crime, always will be.” If the poverty rate goes up, we don’t say “the poor will always be with you.” If acts of terrorism get more frequent, we don’t say “we’ll always have enemies.” If infectious disease rates go up, we don’t shrug and say, “people are always getting sick.” We look for a cause. But when the climate shifts, and storms and droughts come along such as we’ve not seen on record, we are branded as fools if we even bother to ask why. Personally, I don’t know if any of this has been influenced by human activity. The vast majority of those who have devoted their professional careers as scientists studying the question seem to think we have had a role in this. But they could still could be wrong! I don’t know. But certainly if the experts don’t know, then neither does anyone else. And anyone who claims they know, is obviously full of hot air (to be polite). Asserting that there is NO man-made climate change is NOT being skeptical or being careful. It is being stupid. Being skeptical is admitting that all those scientists MIGHT be wrong. If 90% of weathermen tell you a big storm is heading your way, and 10% tell you not to worry about it, is it smart to dismiss the 90% and take no precautions? But foolish ideologues don’t play odds, and don’t believe in skepticism: they KNOW.