Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Global warming, facts and disagreement

Megan McCardle channels Jonathan Adler on the politics of global warming. I agree with McCardle and New Jersy Governor Chris Christie in taking a more nuanced approach. Human activity has probably contributed to global warming but the extent of the effect and prognosis for the future is unclear, but unlikely to be anywhere near the Gorean nightmare. Many of the proposals to combat warming cannot be justified on the basis of their costs and benefits.

Of course, that's hard to translate into partisan politics and sometimes I think the obstinence of the right is caused by the fascism of the left in which no discussion of the facts or the desirability of remedy is regarded as legitimate. But the real problem, as McCardle points out, is choosing facts to fit a predetermined position.

Being honest about the facts doesn't mean that we'll all agree or that the "middle" view is always correct. Reasonable people disagree about the facts and is that disagreement - and not someone's moral character or self interest - that makes for political disagreement.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ah, yes, civility. The fascism of the left. But the Republican frontrunner Rick Perry's denial of global warming is simply a reasonable disagreement about the facts.

jimspice said...

One of your so-called fascists here. I would completely respect the opinion of someone who acknowledged the human role in global warming (which, by the way, recent studies say be moving more rapidly than previously estimated) but simply said "yeah, so what. I don't care. My immediate financial gain and/or lifestyle choices trumps the societal impact down the road." I would consider them selfish and arrogant, but at least it would be honest and reasoned.

Tom said...

"(which, by the way, recent studies say be moving more rapidly than previously estimated)"

Or, in reality, far less rapidly:

http://news.yahoo.com/nasa-data-blow-gaping-hold-global-warming-alarmism-192334971.html

Anonymous said...

“ ‘yeah, so what. I don't care. My immediate financial gain and/or lifestyle choices trumps the societal impact down the road.’ " For a minute I thought Mr. Spicer was referencing the alarmists with mansions and Hollywood types that fly in private jets while telling people like me to conserve.

Paraphrasing the instapundit: I’ll believe there is a severe problem when those saying there is one act like it.

jimspice said...

Tom, research that author and article. VERY flawed.