December 29, 2008
Man-made Global Warming: "A pseudo-science like astrology"
William Katz, an associate of the good folks over at Power Line, received an e-mail from mathematician Frank Tipler, who happens to rather skeptical of the world's newest cult/religion.
As regards global warming, my view is essentially the same as yours: Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW) is a scam, with no basis in science.
It is obvious that anthropogenic global warming is not science at all, because a scientific theory makes non-obvious predictions which are then compared with observations that the average person can check for himself. As we both know from our own observations, AGW theory has spectacularly failed to do this. The theory has predicted steadily increasing global temperatures, and this has been refuted by experience. NOW the global warmers claim that the Earth will enter a cooling period. In other words, whether the ice caps melt, or expand --- whatever happens --- the AGW theorists claim it confirms their theory. A perfect example of a pseudo-science like astrology.
In contrast, the alternative theory, that the increase and decrease of the Earth's average temperature in the near term follows the sunspot number, agrees (roughly) with observation. And the observations were predicted before they occurred. This is good science.
I no longer trust "scientists" to report observations correctly. I think the data is adjusted to confirm, as far as possible, AGW. We've seen many recent cases where the data was cooked in climate studies. In one case, Hanson and company claimed that October 2008 was the warmest October on record. Watts looked at the data, and discovered that Hanson and company had used September's temperatures for Russia rather than October's. I'm not surprised to learn that September is hotter than October in the Northern hemisphere.
Another shocking thing about the AGW theory is that it is generating a loss of true scientific knowledge. The great astronomer William Herschel, the discoverer of the planet Uranus, observed in the early 1800's that warm weather was correlated with sunspot number. Herschel noticed that warmer weather meant better crops, and thus fewer sunspots meant higher grain prices. The AGW people are trying to do a disappearing act on these observations.
But his most intense criticism is reserved for those who ought to know better, especially so-called wise men from the GOP's ranks of "deep thinkers."
I agree with Dick Lindzen that the AGW nonsense is generated by government funding of science. If a guy agrees with AGW, then he can get a government contract. If he is a skeptic, then no contract.
This is why I am astounded that people who should know better, like Newt Gingrich, advocate increased government funding for scientific research. We had better science, and a more rapid advance of science, in the early part of the 20th century when there was no centralized government funding for science. Einstein discovered relativity on his own time, while he was employed as a patent clerk. Where are the Einsteins of today? They would never be able to get a university job...
Science is an economic good like everything else, and it is very bad for production of high quality goods for the government to control the means of production. Why can't Newt Gingrich understand this? Milton Friedman understood it, and advocated cutting off government funding for science.
Perhaps the most distressing thing about the anthropogenic global warming hoax is the number of people who are willing dupes, throwing overboard their critical thinking abilities -- as well as their free-market principles.
Shame on Gingrich and his fellow AGW voodoo devotees.
Posted by Mike Lief at December 29, 2008 05:07 AM
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Comments
Global warming is the international religion for hippies, flakes, fools and snake oil profiteers like Ass Gore.
Posted by: Bob at December 29, 2008 11:43 PM
With the expected appointment of socialite Caroline Kennedy and Blago's pick to fill the Illinois Senate seat we should all be extremely confident that our fate will be sealed by the circus of idiots in Congress.
Posted by: java at December 30, 2008 08:48 PM