NASA gave a big boost to the global warming paranoia-mongers by declaring that most of the hottest years on record occurred between 1990 and 2007. Then a math major from Canada, Stephen MacIntyre, showed on his blog that NASA's calculations were wrong. NASA hemmed and hawed, but finally admitted that four of the hottest years on record were in the 1930s: 1934, 1931, 1938, and 1939. Turns out only three of the top 10 heat waves occurred in the last decade and a half: 1998, 2006 and 1999. Several years that had been given heat records by NASA, such as 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 fell way down the list.
Still, why should we let a few facts get in the way of today's Great Liberal Scare? Pied Piper Al Gore, not previously known for his climatological expertise, and his great following of Hollywood imbeciles, had such a simple and beautiful story to tell. It summarized American history over the past century in three words: "Cool, Warm, Hot." Unfortunately this Canadian fellow has completely spoiled the fairy tale. Now the U.S. temperatures must be read this way, "Hot, Cool, Warm." Somehow the urgency is gone when you put it that way.
All of which raises a question no one seems to have asked: why did people in the 1930s spend so little time worrying that they were suffering through the hottest temperatures on record? Ah, yes, there was a Great Depression, and most people had other things to fret about, like unemployment and home evictions and very little food on the table. Poor people almost never worry about remote warnings of Apocalypse, whether they come from Bible-toting fundamentalists or secular prophets of doom.
In the 1980s ordinary folk paid little attention to the frenzy over Nuclear Armageddon, nor were they spurred to anxiety and action by dire liberal predictions of Ozone Dissipation. In these cases the unconcern of the hoi polloi turned out to be fully warranted. So perhaps the common man today is equally right to ignore the prospect that the planet may be a few degrees warmer 50 years from now than it is today. First let the experts figure out how to accurately forecast the climate for next week; then we'll pay attention to their predictions for the year 2047. I wonder if global warming will one day be seen as one of those idle concerns that occupied people in rich countries with too much leisure; in short, much ado about nothing.
Reader Comments ( Page 5 of 5)
61. I think everyone should forget arguing about global warming and do something about it right away. At least this Canadian http://www.globwarm.com/gwsuggestions.html
has some proposals for how to solve the problem. I heard there will be a prize of $1,000 for anyone who can recite the complete solution list on this site. The rules are forthcoming. -Captain Kyoto
Captain Kyoto at 10:03AM on Sep 7th 2007
62. The point is that when you look at the correct statistics, the 1930s have been as hot as 1990 through 2006.
That would at least suggest that the warm temperatures in the last 16 years might be part of a natural cycle of temperature changes.
What would be interesting to know is how 1992 ranks in terms of temperatures. That was after Mt. Pinatubo erupted in the Phillippines. That created one of the coldest summers that I remember.
I went to a Cubs night game the Tuesday after Memorial Day, dressed for a Bears play-off game. That July, I went to a White Sox night game wearing long sleeves and a windbreaker. I normally would have worn a short-sleeve polo shirt.
And finally, if my memory serves me correctly, the all-time high in Chicago was 106 degrees. One would think that was recorded at O'Hare Airport, which is in the middle of the suburban sprawl. But no, it was recorded when the official weather site was at the Univeristy of Chicago, which is walking distance from Lake Michigan and subject to cooling breezes off the Lake.
I believe that took place back in the hot, hot 1930s.
Kent at 12:07AM on Sep 5th 2007
63. Obviously the earth is warming a bit:
http://www.hillsdale.edu/news/imprimis.asp
Still, the application of standard environmentalism and energy conservation, along with development of new more efficient technologies is a far better solution than all the hysterical ranting and hand wringing that has been going on recently.
Ken Berg at 11:25AM on Sep 5th 2007
64. Alan Klaus, And also,the bible clearly states that the "stars will fall" before the return of Christ...are you familiar with that portion of scripture?
Bridget at 2:00PM on Sep 5th 2007
65. They want to tax us for living and eventually Tax us to death. Do not Submit
Irene at 8:29AM on Sep 6th 2007
66. And so the polar icecaps are nor really retreating at a staggering rate? The temperature of the oceans has not climbed? All those pictures taken by satellite are doctored too I suppose? That was not two category 5 hurricanes in a row to hit Mexico? I guess the clouds of black smoke pouring out of every tailpipe in the world is all an illusion too. I will be dead before the real trouble starts on this planet and I have no children to worry about. Go ahead and kill the planet before God gets a chance to destroy it for us, that will show Him.
Steven at 6:02AM on Sep 8th 2007
67. If I am to believe someone, it will be because they understand the subject matter, not because they have the shrillest voice. Those who wish to deny that there is such a thing as global warming are not doing so because of the science. To them, scientific facts are not important and would keep denying it until the earth was burnt to a crisp. What is really important to them is that they "not be wrong". If they had to admit to that, they would then have to admit to their contribution to the problem and have to do something about it. That is something they simply cannot do, accept responsibility.
Robert I. Laitres at 12:38PM on Sep 9th 2007
68. How long can we continue to abuse our earth? Some of us or so bent on Status Quo that we will do anything, I mean anything to justify why we should have verses what we need. If we take care of the universe the universe will take care of us. Greed, and corruption, are the common denominator for our demise.
theresa johnson at 5:14PM on Sep 9th 2007