–>[obvious and juvenile innuendo goes here]

ImNot - please note that I did not say ‘believe something because the VAST PREPONDERANCE of earth scientists do’. I said ‘given that the vast preponderance of earth scientists believe this, why is it so important for you to believe otherwise’.

If you have nine doctors out of ten telling you you have a heart condition and the tenth saying you’re just fine, why do you believe the tenth? No one has come anywhere near addressing this question.

WRT news sources, that’s more a matter of ‘taste’, or personal preference. Most people don’t like anchovies - does that mean I can’t like them? I don’t think so.

At one time man believed the Sun rotated around the Earth and the Earth was flat…we should always question what is being reported for public consumption as fact. I would love for the Earth to be cleaned up of toxins and pollution because that would be healthier for human beings. But the alarmist, we are in crisis reporting, to get ratings or promote a political agenda…there is a saying that covers that, don’t pee on my leg, and tell me it’s raining. CNN is preaching to the choir if they wanted to bring in more viewers, he basics of nature,including climate change,the lifespan of species ect.. would be included. If polled,I believe most people would say yes,I want the land, water and air clean, it is called stewardship,we use it and leave it in good condition for the next generation. I am from Montana this isn’t a new concept for me.

You say that we should acknowledge that 90% of scientists are correct… because they are the majority. So by that “logic” you could also say, of the people who watch cable news at 8pm, the vast majority watch O’Reilly… so everyone should recognize he has the best show.
Here are the percentages from Wednesday (out of all people watching at 8pm):
56% - O’Reilly / 19% - Countdown / 12% - Out in the Open / 10% - Grace / 2% - Fast Money

With those kind of numbers, shouldn’t you at least acknowledge that the other programs are bad?

See… that “logic” doesn’t quite hold up, now does it.

Personally, I believe that it is too early to tell, and the whole issue has been turned into a political campaign… with politicians using it to garner votes (and if they’re wrong, it’ll be to so far down the road when people find out, so cares) and scientists using it to further their careers, political ideology, and funding (you get more money when you kiss the butt of the people with the government’s check book).

Also, I’ve learned that anytime a politician says “We have consensus” or “there’s a mandate,” that means all they want to do is shut down debate to stifle criticism. Right or wrong, it’s a bullying tactic… and means that someone isn’t too sure of their views… but still wants to champion them.

However, with all that said… I’m all for cleaning up the environment. A cleaner environment is better for everyone! Buy a more efficient car… use wind power… walk to the store… it’s all good, and it’s all good for everyone. (Although I don’t much subscribe to that whole ‘carbon offset’ BS) However, from the reports I’ve seen, and the scientific articles I’ve read… I believe we’re in a cyclical pattern where the planet is warming… but that’s normal. If humans have anything to do with it, it’s not significant enough to alter our planet catastrophically. And those who want to use this as a wedge issue, are only using it to get themselves in office… not for the good of the planet.

I notice you avoided answering my question. If it’s religion, just say so and I’ll drop it - there’s no point in trying to discuss a scientific topic that someone else has imbued with religious meaning.

Doesn’t look so good that way, does it?

Ree - there is no denying that there have been wild climate swings that were not caused by human activity. But that in and of itself does not PRECLUDE the possibility that humanity can and is having an effect on the climate, does it? If my basement flooded because of a broken pipe, does that mean that EVERY time it floods, it’s because a pipe broke and not because, for instance, my foundation is cracked and it’s raining?

My question to those who prefer to believe human-caused global climate change (HCGCC for brevity) is a myth or a hoax; why is it so important to you to hold a belief at variance with mainstream science? Do you at least acknowledge that if the 90% of the scientists who accept that HCGCC is a fact are correct, it’s bad news for mankind?

Then how old is the Earth, and how many different climate changes has it gone through? You said, you hold a degree in physics. The Earth before “Hominids” underwent many extreme climate changes….why because our species is in exsistence now, would that change?

On October 23, 2006, Newsweek issued a correction, over 31 years after the original article, stating that it had been “so spectacularly wrong about the near-term future” (though editor Jerry Adler claimed that ‘the story wasn’t “wrong” in the journalistic sense of “inaccurate.”‘)

The OIL companies aren’t even denying global warming any more. See, this is the problem when you give up your critical thinking facility for your cult. When your cult changes direction, you’re stranded there holding the bag, still believing what they now admit they no longer believe and never really did.

I have seen Planet in Peril and it’s good, but it’s not preachy. And whether people believe in global warming or not at least CNN has reported on it. What other news network does stuff like this? NONE.

They’ve been saying since the seventies that mankind has been having deleterious effects on the planet’s environment, and for 30-40 years, True Believers like yourself have been denying that we even could. Now there are visible physical changes and you’re still denying…

Here’s a thought problem for YOU:

What’s the worst thing that could happen if you followed the environmentalists’ recommendations and they were wrong? Oops, you spent a lot of money to clean up the planet when you really didn’t ‘need’ to.

What’s the worst thing that could happen if you didn’t follow the environmentalists’ recommendations and they were right? Whoops, irreversible climate change and the planet no longer supports human life. Civilization falls and everybody eventually dies after a few generations of misery. Our bad.

No brainer. Unless, of course, you hate the people who are carrying the message so much that you’d disbelieve them if they told you it was Thursday…