Thanks.88 wrote:Mike-
I'm curious what your take is on the Global Warming issue. You seem like a level headed guy with a good understanding of science.
My problem is that the vast majority of the science/data debated in the anthropogenic global warming debate falls into the category of "Earth Science," which is not one of those areas in which I'm well-read. Basically, I know enough to know ....that I don't know enough to intelligently take sides/debate on this issue.
What doesn't help is that folks who DO take a stand almost always have political baggage they bring with them. Conservatives tend to completely dismiss human activity as a contributor and/or the doomsday scenarios , while liberals tend to not only fully blame human activity but also recommend pretty drastic measures that almost inevitably come off as yet another anti-American tirade. It's impossible for me to separate the messages from the messengers.
In order to analyze the data and come to an educated, politically unbiased stand, I'd have to actually educate myself on the earth science background material in order to have my "bullshit detector" able to sift through the scientific papers, while also having the time to "follow the money" and see who is paying for the reports on both sides of the debate. It's a tall order. There are a hell of a lot of people on this (and other) boards, on TV, in barrooms, who pick up their science knowledge by mixing what little they remembered from HS/college with utter crap they read on the 'net (e.g., creationist/ID supporters). My science background is biology - I know that, and so do the folks here. My opinions outside that field, going into earth science, would just be more noise among the static.
In my bio classes, all we are required to teach regarding the topic is what "global warming" as a general term means, what greenhouse gases are, how they work, and discuss how they are generated naturally and by man. We are neither encouraged nor discouraged from stating that "humans are at fault." Since I know that I don't know enough to start indoctrinating kids, I teach them what I am required to and encourage them to go educate themselves further (along with the caveats about following the money, political bias, etc.).
FWIW, our earth science teacher (who is actually a physicist being ame to teach ES) doesn't buy the anthropogenic global warming argument.
