Learning from history

[GTWT]

There's an interesting essay by Geoffrey Parker in the most recent Chronicle of Higher Education on the history of climate changes & our response (or rather failure to respond).

http://chronicle.com/article/The-Inevitable-Climate/139423/?cid=cr&utm_source=cr&utm_medium=en

Man has an unfortunate propensity for choosing short-term profit over long-term good. It's our evolutionary heritage.

Unfortunately, the current debate on climate change favors procrastination because it confuses two issues: whether the global climate changes, and, if so, whether humans are to blame. Some people still doubt the second proposition (just as some people still deny that smoking increases the risk of lung cancer), but the 17th-century record leaves no doubt about the first: Climate change occurs, and it can have catastrophic consequences. This cruel calculus has not changed. The global crisis of the 17th century killed millions of people, but a natural catastrophe of similar proportions today—regardless of whether humans are to blame—will kill billions of people. It will almost certainly also produce dislocation and violence, and it will compromise international security, sustainability, and cooperation.

Climate change will occur & it will be due in large part to human activities. We've passed the tipping point & there's nothing we can do to stop global warming & the other changes in our world. There are things we can do to mitigate the effects that are coming. First & foremost, we can recognize that burning fossil fuels will only make things worse. We must shift to nuclear energy, tidal energy, & solar energy. We must give up the silliness of living miles from where we work. We must realize that our houses are too large & our cars too fast. Most difficult of all - we must understand that there are too many of us on this damaged old planet.

We must be more intelligent.

[UNT90]

There's an interesting essay by Geoffrey Parker in the most recent Chronicle of Higher Education on the history of climate changes & our response (or rather failure to respond).

http://chronicle.com/article/The-Inevitable-Climate/139423/?cid=cr&utm_source=cr&utm_medium=en

Man has an unfortunate propensity for choosing short-term profit over long-term good. It's our evolutionary heritage.

Climate change will occur & it will be due in large part to human activities. We've passed the tipping point & there's nothing we can do to stop global warming & the other changes in our world. There are things we can do to mitigate the effects that are coming. First & foremost, we can recognize that burning fossil fuels will only make things worse. We must shift to nuclear energy, tidal energy, & solar energy. We must give up the silliness of living miles from where we work. We must realize that our houses are too large & our cars too fast. Most difficult of all - we must understand that there are too many of us on this damaged old planet.

We must be more intelligent.

Yet, you choose to ignore the historical longevity of representative democracies and what inevitably causes their demise (with far more historical proof, by the way).

Oh, the irony.

[forevereagle]

[FirefightnRick]

If man could only get off his ass and put a stop to those pesky volcanoes?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/8531592/Volcanic-ash-threatens-fresh-flight-disruption.html

Rick

Edited May 28, 2013 by FirefightnRick

[CMJ]

Actually, volcano erruptions tend to cool the atmosphere because of all the ash that dilute the sun's rays.

[FirefightnRick]

Actually, volcano erruptions tend to cool the atmosphere because of all the ash that dilute the sun's rays.

Good God, it's 1975 all over again,...we're all gonna freeze to death!

http://denisdutton.com/cooling_world.htm

Rick

Edited May 28, 2013 by FirefightnRick

[CMJ]

Good God, it's 1975 all over again,...we're all gonna freeze to death!

http://denisdutton.com/cooling_world.htm

Rick

Whatever Rick, that isn't what i was saying. I was saying you insinuating that volcanos were somehow involved in any sort of global warming debate were spurious at best.

However to respond to your joke, a super volcano erruption would render the Earth all but unliveabe for us. Some humans would survive, so we're not talking extinction level event here, but most would die off since there just wouldn't be enough sun to feed us all. Of course those happen so infrequently I am not gonna lose any sleep over it.

[SilverEagle]

I'm just glad that this discussion involves some semblance of science. Something that the right wing (or further) finds too hard to comprehend.

Edited May 28, 2013 by SilverEagle

[GTWT]

Yet, you choose to ignore the historical longevity of representative democracies and what inevitably causes their demise (with far more historical proof, by the way).

Okay, UNT90 - you've lost me. What is the inevitable cause of the demise of representative democracy?

[CMJ]

Okay, UNT90 - you've lost me. What is the inevitable cause of the demise of representative democracy?

Isn't it typically some sort of outside threat that allows a single person (usually a general) to take command to reduce the threat, then never giving up that power, and becoming a dictator?

[MeanGreenTexan]

Okay, UNT90 - you've lost me. What is the inevitable cause of the demise of representative democracy?

Justin Bieber

[GTWT]

Isn't it typically some sort of outside threat that allows a single person (usually a general) to take command to reduce the threat, then never giving up that power, and becoming a dictator?

Rick Perry?

[emmitt01]

Okay, UNT90 - you've lost me. What is the inevitable cause of the demise of representative democracy?

Women voting?

[FirefightnRick]

Whatever Rick, that isn't what i was saying. I was saying you insinuating that volcanos were somehow involved in any sort of global warming debate were spurious at best.

However to respond to your joke, a super volcano erruption would render the Earth all but unliveabe for us. Some humans would survive, so we're not talking extinction level event here, but most would die off since there just wouldn't be enough sun to feed us all. Of course those happen so infrequently I am not gonna lose any sleep over it.

No, I was referring to the tons and tons of carbon emitted into the air from volcanoes all over the planet that we can't control.

I was also going to mention the tons and tons of carbon from China, Nancy Pelosi's jetset lifestyle and other regions of the industrialized planet that none of us here can control...either, but I won't.

Rick

[CMJ]

No, I was referring to the tons and tons of carbon emitted into the air from volcanoes all over the planet that we can't control.

Yes, insinuating that those emissions would heat up the planet all things being equal. But as I said, the ash those erruptions kick up actually does the opposite.

[adman]

I was also going to mention the tons and tons of carbon from China, Nancy Pelosi's jetset lifestyle and other regions of the industrialized planet that none of us here can control...either, but I won't.

http://www.popsci.com/environment/article/2012-10/daily-infographic-if-everyone-lived-american-how-many-earths-would-we-need

Pretty sure we can make a hefty dent in things if we stopped doing a lot of what we do. (Like buying cheap shit from China.)

Seriously need to go to the UAB and check out that decadence.

[FirefightnRick]

Yes, insinuating that those emissions would heat up the planet all things being equal. But as I said, the ash those erruptions kick up actually does the opposite.

My volcanoe comment was in reference to this quote above.

"First & foremost, we can recognize that burning fossil fuels will only make things worse."

As if to say us humans here in the U.S. can counter the massive carbon emitting activity of volcanoes and the rest of the industrialized world by stop using fossil fuels.

Rick

[FirefightnRick]

Pretty sure we can make a hefty dent in things if we stopped doing a lot of what we do. (Like buying cheap shit from China.)

I'm with you there.

Rick

[mattmartin817]

No, I was referring to the tons and tons of carbon emitted into the air from volcanoes all over the planet that we can't control.

I was also going to mention the tons and tons of carbon from China, Nancy Pelosi's jetset lifestyle and other regions of the industrialized planet that none of us here can control...either, but I won't.

Rick

Ahhhh yes, the ole I have no valid argument so I'm going to bash Nancy Pelosi move. Brilliant.

[FirefightnRick]

Ahhhh yes, the ole I have no valid argument so I'm going to bash Nancy Pelosi move. Brilliant.

Oh, that's right. I should have said George Bush. Happy?

Rick

[UNT90]

Okay, UNT90 - you've lost me. What is the inevitable cause of the demise of representative democracy?

Your a fine UNT grad and a google expert.

Off you go.

Let me know what you learn.

[MDH]

If you want to debate where humans are causing global warming or not, go ahead, scientists can conduct studies and find correlations for and against both sides. But I see absolutely no reason NOT to improve pollution controls, that is a concern for public health and something that everyone should get behind. If it in any way helps slow down global warming (if we are causing it) then bravo.

But, sucks to your asthmar, I suppose.

Edited May 29, 2013 by MDH

[GTWT]

Your a fine UNT grad and a google expert.

Off you go.

Let me know what you learn.

The most common hit on Google on 'demise of representative democracy' is "Reaganism and the death of representative democracy." Somehow I don't think that's what you meant. So please, enlighten me - what did you mean?

[Censored by Laurie]

http://www.popsci.com/environment/article/2012-10/daily-infographic-if-everyone-lived-american-how-many-earths-would-we-need

Pretty sure we can make a hefty dent in things if we stopped doing a lot of what we do. (Like buying cheap shit from China.)

Seriously need to go to the UAB and check out that decadence.

Birmingham, Alabama?

[mattmartin817]

Oh, that's right. I should have said George Bush. Happy?

Rick

Nope, because one or two people are not responsible for the problem.