Against Junk Science: A Battle That Must Be Waged
There's a conversation that needs to take place at Ricochet between social conservatives and, well, everybody else. That latter designation includes people like myself, somewhat of a libertarian/futurist nerd who dreams wistfully of staring at the stars from Newt Gingrich's theoretical moon base. The nerd vote, I believe, is one of those that ought to sought after more aggressively, and is already well represented among the Libertarians.
I have a bias for science. I learned how to work as an electrician, paying to go to trade school and choosing to leave an office job to work as an apprentice while I also studied and passed certifications to work in IT. I love computers, Futurama jokes, Mythbusters, and LED lighting. I also love to see the natural world covered in as much green as possible. I find that most people who align with these traits are trending liberal/Democrat with a disturbingly consistent drift. I don't think it should necessarily be so.
If I had to cite the best example of the madness of our age, I would say it is the rent-seeking renewable energy industry. This has to be the largest con ever perpetrated on a society in the history of human civilization.
It's not that there hasn't been global warming. The issue is how much of it is man-made and how much of that can be tied to carbon emissions -- something that has never been established. Even an amateur can see that the scaremongering of the environmentalists fades against the complexity of trying to find a signal amongst the noise of global temperature averages. Tying that variation to human CO2 emissions can’t establish anything but a trivial input to the global greenhouse effect. You can only extrapolate out to climate catastrophes with highly questionable computer modeling.
The innumerate, theological belief that we must cut CO2 has allowed the left to run wild with fantasies of regulating every level of human existence. If there is any issue that must be addressed, it is the one involving telling the truth about the carbon scams and Anthropogenic Global Warming. The people we must resist are the squishy, Frummy types who say we ought to roll over on accepting AGW and get on board with the New Corporatism of Enron Windmills and Solyndra Solar Panels.
If I thought that carbon dioxide were an immediate threat to the environment, I would be furious that the political/educational/activist community has not pushed thorium reactors on the public as the most obviously necessary solution to the problem. Environmentalists like Al Gore have become enamored with gaming the financial industry and tax system with carbon credits. These regulation caps for carbon dioxide create a false market, thereby redistributing wealth from (from all classes) into weighted markets for modern indulgences to the Leviathan state and its corporate friends.
There is no reason to believe, for instance, that wind turbines were ever a good way to generate electricity or mitigate carbon. They were merely useful in that they would provide write-offs for companies who wished to buy in to carbon credit schemes. In other words, this was a cock-up from the beginning, brought to us by the likes of Enron and other schemers who created these false markets. This has been sitting there as a political target for more than a decade, but, even while the corruption tars all political sides in this case, only the left has used Enron corruption to rally their base, while conservatives have only issued apologies for American energy consumption and tried to play "me too" games while getting on board the gravy train.
Regardless of the CO2 scares, I began reading about nuclear power years ago, and have been endlessly frustrated that conservatives were not willing to fight hard enough for it. George W. Bush did not use 9/11 as an excuse to build more thorium reactors. Instead, his reaction was to get us more involved in the Middle East, which played into the hands of the left, who painted our involvement with Islamism as really being about oil.
I would like to say that the left was totally incorrect, but Bush turned around in a State Of The Union address and said that we were, in fact, addicted to foreign oil. After feeling free to insult the population of the country he represented by comparing us all to drug addicts, he briefly mentioned a future where automobiles would be run on hydrogen fuel cells, but didn't follow through on articulating the why/where/how of that vision. After leaving the left feeling that their premises were confirmed, Bush stayed quiet and rode out the rest of his administration.
While I've long been a geek who wanted to see electric cars, I am among the millions who will not be purchasing one any time soon. The real world is proving that the engineers who warned that the energy density of liquid fuel is a redundancy in a mechanical engine -- and one that modern battery technology simply is not up to the task of improving upon -- were correct. I'm all for fuel-efficient short trips -- but that's why I often walk or ride a bicycle. There are reasons to believe that fuel cells still are the future, but they're not the present -- which is a grim realization after a decade of hype about battery cars.
Hydrogen fuel cells for cars could have been expedited by thorium reactors along our coastlines -- which also would have provided abundant, cheap electricity for the grid, while also desalinating sea water and irrigating California deserts without hurting the darter snail. This could have been a grand proposal articulated by the Right.
Bush-era conservatives set themselves up to be portrayed as serving Big Oil and Middle Eastern interests, while the left got away with telling us that the Prius would solve all our problems. Conservatives compromised, and agreed that solar and wind were actually feasible energy supplies. We conceded to the left and settled for the battery and hybrid hype instead of fuel cells, doing nothing while companies fell over one another to hype up their meaningless "green" initiatives to cut CO2. The left is feasting at the trough and they're getting away with it.
It's no wonder the Republicans have lost so much credibility as a party that can actually run things. If conservatives cannot expose the wretched corporatism and chicanery involved in the Renewable Energy and CO2 scare – what on Earth is an opposition party for?
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Comments:
Mar '12
Re: Against Junk Science: A Battle That Must Be Waged
There is no conservative party, only a left wing party and a middle left party.
I believe you are correct, but unfortunately about 30 years too late. Three decades of radical environmental propaganda has converted too many people to the religion of green energy. CO2 and carbon energy are now indelibly linked with greed and enviromental devastation. Three generations have come in to adulthood convinced that the future is one with renewable energy.
Changing the political and mental dynamic of these generations will be a Herculean task, if possible at all. It would require a radical change of worldviews, which most people are unwilling to consider.
Science will be of no avail. Too many "scientists" are already green acolytes. Even if your message could be heard, it would be ignored. Scientific thinking is hard and requires assimilating facts and using reason. Too many people today want "thinking" to be easy. So, they memorize talking points and follow the party line. Their feelings of moral superiority trump any factual arguments.
A dose of cold reality in the form of power blackouts and gasoline rationing might wake them up. Talking is of no avail.
Jul '11
Re: Against Junk Science: A Battle That Must Be Waged
An impressive essay. It appears Bush and Obama let their crises go to cronyism and we are wasting time. This administration has big energy plans and I expect this will be the largest swindle in history.
Dec '12
Re: Against Junk Science: A Battle That Must Be Waged
A few weeks ago after a synagogue service, I talked with a physician and he mentioned the Republican War on Science™. I asked him who was responsible for the various measles, pertussis, mumps, and rubella epidemics that have occurred in the United States in the last 20 years. He acknowledged the justice of my position; parents who refuse to vaccinate their children tend to be fuzzy-minded Democrats.
My synagogue has a large majority of leftists, a distinct minority of conservatives, and Jennifer Rubin of the Post. It makes for an interesting combination, though frustrating sometimes.
Mar '12
Re: Against Junk Science: A Battle That Must Be Waged
Emotion trumps facts. Not a new phenomenon.
http://www.thebubblebubble.com/tulip-mania/
Edited on February 25, 2013 at 12:02amMar '12
Re: Against Junk Science: A Battle That Must Be Waged
Another government scam.
Dec '12
Re: Against Junk Science: A Battle That Must Be Waged
Schrodinger's Cat: Emotion trumps facts. Not a new phenomenon.
Time to reread Extraordinary Public Delusions and the Madness of Crowds, by Charles Mackay again, I guess. It's available for free on Kindle. Both those bubbles are covered.
Oct '12
Re: Against Junk Science: A Battle That Must Be Waged
Oh, yes. Chris Mooney, keep in mind, is a campaign advisor and strategist. His articulation in that case was calculated to win elections. Similarly, the neologic invention of the word "denialist" was created by Chris Hofnagle deliberately to attack conservative critics of the AGW movement, and so insinuate them with 9/11 truthers and Holocaust deniers.
These are political attacks which are going mostly unanswered. Conservative pols are afraid of take a stand, lest they sound like "conspiracy theorists."
Oct '12
Re: Against Junk Science: A Battle That Must Be Waged
Schrodinger's Cat:
I believe you are correct, but unfortunately about 30 years too late...
I am not suggesting taking on environmentalism. I said I myself am very fond of conservation of green space. Very much so.
I say we learn from the Alinskyites and hold them up to their own standard. We could be talking about overfishing, pollution runoff, or heavy-metal airborne pollutants; all real things. Instead they squandered their time on stage to demonize CO2. They had the schools, government, the networks, Leonardo DiCaprio, and all they gave us was Solyndra, Enron, and a bunch of whirligigs that don't work.
We should hold them up to this absurdity and corruption. They let the environment get worse because they were getting paid off to faff on about Carbon Dioxide. They need to get found out.
Mar '12
Re: Against Junk Science: A Battle That Must Be Waged
Daniel Jeyn
Schrodinger's Cat:
I believe you are correct, but unfortunately about 30 years too late...
I am not suggesting taking on environmentalism. I said I myself am very fond of conservation of green space. Very much so.
We should hold them up to this absurdity and corruption. They let the environment get worse because they were getting paid off to faff on about Carbon Dioxide. They need to get found out.
Still 30 years too late for that. Too many people don't care. As long as they get their Obama phones or food stamps, they are happy.
Feb '12
Re: Against Junk Science: A Battle That Must Be Waged
I do say we need to take back some of the environmental mantle. What message is more conservative than that we need to clean up after ourselves?
We need to be pointing out the cronyism and abuse at the EPA. We need to be publicizing how the restrictions on land use designed to help endangered species have become so onerous that the land owners kill and bury the specimens rather than risk the possibility of discovery. We need to hold the jet set accountable for using millions of times more energy than those of us to whom they try to dictate. We need to be spreading the stories about how these "lo flo" toilets can cause untreated sewage to back up into people's homes.
This isn't a fight from which we can afford to withdraw.
Oct '12
Re: Against Junk Science: A Battle That Must Be Waged
Schrodinger's Cat
Still 30 years too late for that. Too many people don't care. As long as they get their Obama phones or food stamps, they are happy.
Well, you certainly might be right. But I could post the exact same thing to the next SoCon who talks about God, Abortion, Evolution, SSM, etc. I could say the exact same thing about the Laffer curve.
I think this is low-hanging fruit. It's a big juicy issue that ought to be used to hammer the establishment we find ourselves stuck with. Like a monkey cracking a nut.
Mar '12
Re: Against Junk Science: A Battle That Must Be Waged
Daniel Jeyn
Schrodinger's Cat
Still 30 years too late for that. Too many people don't care. As long as they get their Obama phones or food stamps, they are happy.
Well, you certainly might be right. But I could post the exact same thing to the next SoCon who talks about God, Abortion, Evolution, SSM, etc. I could say the exact same thing about the Laffer curve.
All very true. We may already be over the tipping point.
Daniel Jeyn
I think this is low-hanging fruit. It's a big juicy issue that ought to be used to hammer the establishment we find ourselves stuck with. Like a monkey cracking a nut. ·
Go for it!
Good luck getting your message out in the face of the leftist bullhorn (aka MSM).
Apr '12
Re: Against Junk Science: A Battle That Must Be Waged
Daniel Jeyn
Schrodinger's Cat:
I believe you are correct, but unfortunately about 30 years too late...
I am not suggesting taking on environmentalism. I said I myself am very fond of conservation of green space. Very much so.
I say we learn from the Alinskyites and hold them up to their own standard. We could be talking about overfishing, pollution runoff, or heavy-metal airborne pollutants; all real things. Instead they squandered their time on stage to demonize CO2. They had the schools, government, the networks, Leonardo DiCaprio, and all they gave us was Solyndra, Enron, and a bunch of whirligigs that don't work.
We should hold them up to this absurdity and corruption. They let the environment get worse because they were getting paid off to faff on about Carbon Dioxide. They need to get found out. · 1 hour ago
You are so correct but it takes courage to do so. Here in Canada, Joe Oliver, a politician, has shown where Darryl Hannah gets her funding.
The conservatives give a strong "narrative" to the media. they quote it and after a while, instead of it being seen as wrong, people see the point. Where are your politicians?
Apr '12
Re: Against Junk Science: A Battle That Must Be Waged
Canada is the Greenpeace base and also Occupy Wall Street started there too - apologies.
Meanwhile, our conservative went to the last Kyoto Conference and did not sign the agreement and tore up the old one. They remind everyone constantly how much money Alberta transfers per person to other provinces.
Our politicians in power know how to play hard ball or Alinsky.
Mar '12
Re: Against Junk Science: A Battle That Must Be Waged
Indaba
You are so correct but it takes courage to do so. Here in Canada, Joe Oliver, a politician, has shown where Darryl Hannah gets her funding.
The conservatives give a strong "narrative" to the media. they quote it and after a while, instead of it being seen as wrong, people see the point. Where are your politicians? ·
You Canadians still have a media (whatever their biases) that actually report what politicians say.
Here in the USA, the media opines on what politicians say. That makes it difficult to get the message out. Political courage here is rare and usually fatal.
Oct '12
Re: Against Junk Science: A Battle That Must Be Waged
Indaba: Canada is the Greenpeace base and also Occupy Wall Street started there too - apologies...
Meanwhile, our conservative went to the last Kyoto Conference and did not sign the agreement and tore up the old one...
Yes. Canada is going ahead and becoming a petroleum powerhouse between the tar sands and fractured drilling, much as there is a revolution going on with natural gas in this country.
All the grandstanding about how the internal combustion engine will ruin the planet for our grandchildren and we'll run out of oil, and the there will be 20 meter sea rise because of CO2, blah-blah? Schrodinger's Cat may be correct is that the media/political/activist-complex may simply drop the CO2 scam and pretend it never happened.
The capitalists are sort of winning the argument in absentia. The statists created the IPCC and the whole carbon scam, but they still cannot make reality conform to their wishes.
Apr '12
Re: Against Junk Science: A Battle That Must Be Waged
This is all nice essay, except I don't get the first sentence. What have social conservatives to do with this? They're not big global warming alarmists. The biggest drum beaters behind that movement are mostly liberal secularists; social conservatives are rarely bothered about environmentalism, or if they are, it's a form of conservationism quite compatible with what you say here.
Jun '12
Re: Against Junk Science: A Battle That Must Be Waged
There is no reason we shouldn't be seizing the conservation mantle, which is ultimately a far more intelligent response to environmentalism than simply refuting the science. (needs to be done, but we need to present an alternative, not the "do nothing" approach we're accused of. If you're big on nuclear energy, I highly suggest Terrestrial Energy, by William Ticker. http://www.amazon.com/Terrestrial-Energy-Nuclear-Revolution-Americas/dp/0910155976 And I was Sam the Eagle first... ha ha
Nov '12
Re: Against Junk Science: A Battle That Must Be Waged
We've got to get our message into popular media and into schools. The left became mainstream by taking over the voices of culture. Children are particularly susceptible to the perceived normative majority. Adults are usually too set in their ways. As the extreme left marched into ubiquity the "cooler heads" of the right assumed they would be laughed off and the children would move to the right as they became adults and reality asserted itself, just like previous generations had. The didn't recognize that the cultural landscape had fundamentally changed and the children were becoming adults in a left-wing culture rather than the center-right culture they knew. Authority figures and role models were almost universally left-wing, so the children had no reason to question their "alternative" views.
The right wing is the new radical, and we must use the same tactics - over the long term - to repair the damage. The millenial generation is lost and will not be found. We must communicate with the next.
It took decades to get here and will take decades to get back to where we should be.
Jun '10
Re: Against Junk Science: A Battle That Must Be Waged
Allow me to make an appeal to nerds everywhere. Suppose we wanted to colonize a planet orbiting Alpha Centauri. If the mission left today using current technology, what would our colonists find when they arrived at their destination? Well, an earth colony, of course!
Rapid technological advancements would see the first mission passed en route by the improved technology of a second mission. So much so that the second mission would have already produced generations of colonists before the first mission even arrived. Do you see what I'm getting at?
Addressing global warming today with current technologies is a fool's errand. Climate change is a millennial process. Science will be sufficiently advanced in just a few centuries (if not sooner) to the point where humanity will be able to control the weather and manage the climate as needed.
"Climate change" even if it were real is not something we need to worry about today. Now tell me which side in the political debate is anti-science?