More Climate Change Hype

The big news out of the G8 Summit is that the U.S. is doing the least of any industrialized nation to combat climate change. Huh?! We're talking seriously biased headlines designed to disseminate disinformation in order to further someone's agenda.

First, consider who commissioned the study -- the World Wildlife Fund. Do we sense a possible bias developing here?

Second, consider the current state of pollution/emissions technology and its level of implementation within each of the countries in the "study." Oh, wait, that wasn't considered so, we don't have a good starting point for comparison.

Third, was the export of aid and technology to other countries considered? U.S. companies are leading the way in developing and providing technology to other countries to reduce their emissions of harmful gases into the atmosphere -- and I'm not talking about CO2, I'm talking about particulates and poisonous gases such as SO2, CO, etc.

Fourth, what about private initiative? Our form of government (although sometimes heavy-handed) is such that it encourages private initiative rather than government mandates. Were those measured in the "study?"

The alarmist, agenda-driven headlines are designed to create a public outrage. I'm thankful that the American public is learning to see beyond the rhetoric (I think -- er, hope).

A Fly in the Climate Change Ointment

The gloom-and-doom certainty of the Global Warming advocates is something that I would find to be humorous if it wasn't so disruptive to the economy. It is always nice to see something that appears to be a fly in their ointment of catastrophe around every corner. This study from the National Centre for Atmospheric Science is just such a fly. It seems that this old planet may be in better balance than the Climate-change crowd would have us to be believe.

British Common Sense

In spite of the fact that Britain seems quite frequently to be headed "off-the-deep-end" on many issues, the general population there usually demonstrates decidedly good common sense. In spite of the rush by the British government to embrace the concept that mankind is responsible for the much publicized coming "global crisis of dramatic climate change," the public is somewhat skeptical. A recent poll there indicated that although many accept that the climate is changing, they doubt that man's activities are the cause. Even more doubt the ability of governments to do anything about it.

Gasoline Prices Affecting Driving Habits

Finding the economic price point at which consumer behavior changes has always been an issue for businesses. Sometimes market conditions force changes. At other times it is a question of "charging what the market will bear" in order to maximize profit. It is dependent on the price elacity of demand for a particular product or service.

It seems that we have finally reached a critical point in the price of gasoline. Americans are driving less and they are flying less. They also are moving from SUV's to smaller vehicles. Who said the marketplace isn't the best way to address so-called global warming?

Global Warming Bill's Temporary Defeat

I like a clean environment. I enjoy the outdoors and wildlife. I recycle when I can. I set my thermostat a little warm in the summer and a little cool in the winter. I prefer home-prepared foods instead of highly prepared and packaged foods. I typically don't drive somewhere unless I really need to. In other words, I try to be a good steward of the resources at my disposal. I think most people are that way. The far-left wackos and the duped are leading us down a path toward collapse into a global socialist state. The hyper-hysteria over Global Warming is part of it.

Hold onto your pocketbooks folks because even though it went down to defeat today, U.S. Global Warming legislation hasn't gone away. If nothing else motivates you for the Fall elections, this should. A Democrat controlled Congress combined with a Democrat in the White House and we will see the Welfare rolls soar -- because none of the hard working people of this country will have any money left to spend except for the bare necessities of fuel to get to work, food for the table and energy to heat our homes in winter (note that I left out cool it in the summer). We will be lucky if we have jobs at all. We should give thanks for the Republicans that bought us some time. We'd better use it wisely.

The GHG Fleecing of the American Consumer

Forty-five trillion dollars!!! That's a number so large that it is unimaginable. That's what we are being told is the cost to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by the year 2050. It will be us "little guys" that are stuck with the bill. It won't cost the oil companies. It won't cost the government. It won't cost the multi-national corporations. It will cost the consumers. The taxpayers. The hard-working people of this world. All those other guys will just pocket the money. It is another scheme for sucking the results of the productivity of the average person out of our pockets and into the hands of the elite few.

It doesn't matter what form of government we are talking about. The results are the same. When governments work for the "good" of the people I always start asking which people they are talking about. The little guys? or, the ones that contribute to their campaigns? -- the ones that control the strings of wealth on this globe.

Then, they try to pull the wool over our eyes....

"Gielen said most of the $45 trillion forecast investment — about $27 trillion — would be borne by developing countries, which will be responsible for two-thirds of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050."

Yeah, right. How much of those dollars flowing into developing countries started right here in this one?

Water Wars in the Future?

Back in the early days of the opening of the Great Plains and Western U.S. water was a critical component of where settlements were established. Before the settlements it determined the location of homesteads and ranches. There were many range wars fought over water. He who controlled the water controlled the range.

The people living in areas with abundant fresh water have a hard time understanding how critical water supplies can be. Out here on the southern end of the Great Plains we know about water. With it you can thrive. Without it you die.

Fresh water is distributed unevenly across the globe. The Eastern U.S. has it in abundance; the Middle East and much of Africa is constantly concerned with it. As populations grow, pressure on the supply of fresh water for drinking, bathing and agricultural uses increases. Are we looking at Water Wars in the near future?

Green Trees, Carbon Offsets and Rabbits

I don't necessarily buy into the Global Warming hysteria but I've always made it a practice to plant trees everywhere that I've lived. Here in the Texas Panhandle the rainfall rarely is sufficient to support a tree -- unless we're talking something with lots of thorns. So, you have to apply irrigation water fairly liberally. With a temperature yesterday of 104 and a 30 mph wind all day long my little trees are suffering. The answer is to pour water on them -- which I have to pump out of the ground. Pumps require fuel. In my case, electricity.

I wonder how the Greenies feel about the situation? I plant trees which are considered a carbon offset and then I use lots of energy to keep them watered and alive. That energy use probably releases a whole lot more carbon than my little trees tie up.

On top of that, the rabbits really like to hunker down under my little trees because they create shade -- which is rare in our part of the world. That shade must make them feel frisky because they seem to be multiplying rapidly. All those rabbits eat grass and make little round pellets which eventually decompose and release carbon. Plus, the rabbits breathe and release CO2 in their respiration. So, am I better off not planting trees? What a crazy world we live in!

The Debatable Solution?

The debate over the "Global Warming" legislation that has been introduced in Washington is heating up right now. It looks to me like a $6.7 trillion bill that's being handed to the U.S. taxpayer if it passes. There is a smattering of common sense being spoken from the Senate floor but if the Dems get their way, that common sense will be trampled beneath their hysterical rhetoric. It would be a good time to contact your representative to express your views.