I have been criticized for my July 13 column in which I asked why right-wing science is accorded so much credibility when it holds forth erroneously on things like fluoride in the drinking water (allegedly a Marxist plot), human evolution from other life forms, and the human-caused rise in global temperature. One critic even called it the “most irresponsible and inaccurate missive I have ever read.”
Quoting accurately and acknowledging respected science sources, I said that “Richard W. Miller, who teaches ecological justice at Creighton University, wrote in a recent Commonweal article ‘Global Suicide Pact,’ citing NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies James Hansen and Ohio State University climatologist Lonnie Thompson: ‘. . .virtually all climatologists are now convinced. . . “that global warming poses a clear and present danger to civilization.” While those who deny that the planet is warming and/or that humans are the primary cause form a distinct minority in this country, representing only 26 percent of the U.S. population — and only 2 percent of those who publish in climate science. . . ,’ the large majority is hardly aware of the problem’s immediacy.”
I contend that my critics’ problem is not with me but with accredited scientists and acknowledged scholars such as Miller, Hansen and Thompson. It is they who called the lemming-like flight from human responsibility for ruinous global warming a “clear and present danger.” It is they who speak for the undeniable majority of scientists who are urging us to cut back on our ever increasing burning of fossil fuels to our own detriment. For me as a layman to credit “the distinct minority” of 2 percent of publishing climatologists and to ignore “virtually all” others would be foolish. I bet you agree.
But obviously not everyone does agree with me, and some cite the suspiciously titled “Eco-Tyranny, How the Left’s Green Agenda Will Dismantle America,” with one of my critics claiming this book “reveals the Marxist agenda behind ‘global warming’ and climate change’” (her words).
I guess this means that if you are worried about inhaling soot, you are a Marxist if you complain about it. It’s reminiscent of the fluoride nonsense, because it alleges that anyone who wants Big Oil to clean up its messes has to be a commie. How inconveniently truthful that some of those who object to Big Government want it to keep subsidizing Big Oil. If that isn’t an outrage, I don’t know what is. But shrewd political types know they could call Santa Claus a communist because of his red suit and enough gullible folks will believe, for a while. Ask Joe McCarthy.
My point in my July article was to forewarn about hokey science being used to deceive people. Global warming, as many agree, is undeniable. The dispute comes from how much our oil consumption is to blame. The oil industry does not want restraint. It calls government regulation about clean air a meddlesome and unjustified intervention into the private sector, slowing down the economy. It wants to drill out the remaining oil without cutting back on our comfortable standard of living. Oh, the humanity.
Remember how Big Auto fought angrily for years, using TV commercials and newspaper full-pagers, against seat belts? It was government dictating to us in our own cars about our own safety. Forget that insurance could come down with fewer deaths and injuries. We adjusted to it, so today it is no big deal. I don’t remember whether seat belts were characterized as a Marxist plot, but perhaps some readers will help with this.
I am hoping that by now it is evident that well greased and hugely financed campaigns against sensible things like clean air spring from big industries that don’t want reform. Reform hurts their bottom line. Bottom lines are more important than human life to some. And human life is a central concern of the church, which explains why you might hear of all this occasionally in sermons. It is as appropriate as preaching against legalized abortion on demand, and for the same reason.
Our church membership does not want us to repudiate industry or return to the time before the Industrial Revolution, when we first started in earnest to burn coal. It is very much in favor of jobs so that all can have a chance at a good life, something fouled air shortens.
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