In a guest commentary in the Herald, Snohomish County Councilman Dave Somers is telling us that because "vehicle emissions comprise half of the state's greenhouse gases that fuel global warming," that therefore we should "devise ways that allow us to live prosperously while driving less."
Somers' main point is that we should reduce "car-dependent sprawl," that is, that we should all live in cities so we can reduce resource consumption.
The message is clear: your quality of life doesn't matter nearly as much as slavish belief in unsubstantiated claims about anthropogenic global warming.
We shouldn't try to come up with solutions to problems that will improve our quality of life; instead, we should solve problems by reducing our quality of life. Make no mistake: the point here is opposition to all change, except change that reverses our positive direction. Forward is backward. Up is down. Progress is regress.
Somers wants HB 2797 to pass, an ignorantly written bill that proffers the false claim that "the effects of global warming are becoming evident in Washington, adversely affecting its residents, economy, and environment."
That's a claim that even the UN's IPCC dismisses, as it has not been able to link events or effects to global warming: in their words, "[i]t is likely [i.e., greater than 66% probability] that anthropogenic warming has had a discernible influence on many physical and biological systems." They continue: "Limitations and gaps prevent more complete attribution of the causes of observed system responses to anthropogenic warming. First, the available analyses are limited in the number of systems and locations considered. Second, natural temperature variability is larger at the regional than the global scale, thus affecting identification of changes due to external forcing."
In other words, the IPCC is basically saying: "what we see in the evironment is mostly consistent with the theory of man-made-CO2-caused global warming, but we don't have nearly enough data, or understanding, to come to a serious conclusion."
How can the legislature be certain of something that our world's top group of pro-global warming scientists say cannot be certain? Simple: truth does not matter to the regressives. It's the ends, not the means. If the argument works, it is right, whether it is true or not.
This is Washington State. No one here wants to destroy our beautiful forests, and everyone wants to decrease pollution. But we also want to live well, not just "prosperously." I can't enjoy the forest if I live in the city, both because I won't see it very much, and because even when I do, I'll be so completely stressed and depressed by my living conditions that it will provide little solace.
I don't like cars much. I work at home in large part because I hate being on the road. But it is necessary, because I'll be damned if I am going to live in, or near, a city. You think us gun-toting rural individualistic citizens are scary now? Wait until we all go crazy from having to live in an urban area.
That's not meant as a threat, of course, but just a reminder that the colonies went to war over significantly less than the right to own and improve land. And they weren't driven mad by living in a duplex or townhouse.
If you like living in the city, great. If that is for you, then that is for you. The point is not that you shouldn't live in the city, but that each of us makes our own choices, and the government doesn't make those choices for us. That's what liberty means. It's astonishing to me that people out there still insist that it's Republicans that want to control people's lives, when the Democrats prove every day with bills like this that they want to completely control our lives right down to what we are allowed to buy, drive, eat, and live in.
Maybe it won't be so bad; the Democrats will probably just force us to take antidepressants to address our "anti-social" behavior. And I wish that sounded a lot more like hyperbole than it does.
Cross-posted on <pudge/*>.
Posted by pudge at February 18, 2008 12:43 PM | Email ThisAlso, I remember an article recently (I believe it was in the News Tribune a couple months ago) comparing cities with the suburbs and the fact that cities, when viewed from space, are giant hot spots, while suburbia spreads out the heat impact. Maybe the thing the councilman is proposing is one of the major contributors to global warming (i.e., the growth of major cities and the heat generated by them).
P.S. I didn't realize you work for Slashdot. Good for you.
Posted by: tc on February 18, 2008 01:07 PMHere is an About.com article giving an introduction to the topic.
Posted by: tc on February 18, 2008 01:21 PMThe computer models of the climate have provided the "evidence" of this possibility. We MUST now act in accordance with the Precautionary Principle.
Thats the argument placed in front of our legislators.
Similar arguments were placed in front of Congress to support the invasion of Iraq, with the difference being a more immediate potential threat.
How will legislators defend their decisions when 10 years of no warming stretch into twenty, or to declining temperatures.
There is abundant empirical evidence that global temperatures drop due to variations in solar activity (now reaching minimum levels) or for oscillations in oceanic circulation (now trending to lower temperatures).
The left however have hitched their wagons to the models, which do not factor in solar activity or ocean circulation - only to a doubling of CO2.
The political arguments that support HB 2797 will win out regardless of the scientific basis underlying the computer models. The only questions I have are (1) how long will they hold sway if the empirical evidence continues to go the other way, and (2) how much damage will our economy and society suffer along the way.
Posted by: deadwood on February 18, 2008 02:01 PMYes, the Precautionary Principle dictates this. Unfortunately, the Precautionary Principle is unintellectual hogwash. By the exact same logic, we were right to invade Iraq, and we should also attack Iran. How many pro-AGW proponents would be in favor of invading Iran?
The political arguments that support HB 2797 will win out regardless of the scientific basis underlying the computer models.
Yes, because truth is irrelevant to them. Only their socialist goals of urbanization matter.
The only questions I have are (1) how long will they hold sway if the empirical evidence continues to go the other way, and (2) how much damage will our economy and society suffer along the way.
On (2), exactly: the Precautionary Principle ignores damage caused by acting, or pretends it is necessarily less important.
There are two Big Lies the pro-AGW tells us. The first is what I discussed above, that we know that manmade global warming -- never mind whether it is happening or detectable -- is having adverse effects. The second is that we know what the effects in the future WILL BE, and that we know they will be terrible. This is, for example, why Al Gore lied about New York City being on the verge of flooding.
Convincing people of the second lie allows them to disregard the negative effects on liberty, on property, on society that their measures will have, because no matter what the problem, unfettered AGW is worse, they tell us.
He described AGW as "unnatural climate change." If anthropogenic global warming is "unnatural," then man is outside of nature, which means we are therefore either subnatural, which makes no sense, or supernatural. WE ARE GODS. According to Somers.
This would explan why he thinks man is capable of making a perfect society where nothing ever bad happens to anyone, where there are no rich people, and no poor people, and we travel everywhere in tubes. Man is above nature. Man can do ANYTHING.
Muy interesante.
Posted by: Boonie on February 18, 2008 02:29 PMWithout that power, we can't control people's behaviors and retain power over them.
So it all comes down to making sure we get this in place NOW!!! Tomorrow is too late... It's already starting to cool down on it's own and we certainly can't have people thinking we didn't make that happen.
Posted by: Ken on February 18, 2008 02:36 PMAnd for the amramy liberals that are going to argue one data point doesn't prove anything, I say that when you don't use WARM days to PROVE AGW, I won't use COLD days to disprove it.
Unlike most liberal trolls here I DO have a science degree which is more thatn can be said for GORE!
Posted by: pbj on February 18, 2008 02:48 PMThere is the article that California wants to put the Al Gore version in the curriculum officially. As compared to Washington State where the teachers just teach it.
Folks, this is a religion that has caught on. There is no turning back. The Romney method is probably the best. None of the R candidates, even, say the issue is still up for debate.
This is like the final nail in the coffin of a debate. I am afraid it will take a cold snap of several years to deter the GW freadazoids.
Posted by: swatter on February 18, 2008 03:14 PMGW explains everything, so it explains nothing. It has become unfalsifiable and therefore meaningless.
Posted by: Frank Black on February 18, 2008 03:16 PMThe thing is, like Will E. Coyote, the slingshot always backfires on them.
Posted by: John Bailo on February 18, 2008 03:28 PMHere's a snippet from this article:
We have more than 22,000 scientist signers of our global-warming petition who've looked at the issue and concluded essentially the opposite of these United Nations people. This says nothing about the science. Science does not depend on polling. Just because we have 22,000, and the UN may have 600, does not matter. The only thing our petition demonstrates is that there is no consensus among scientists in support of the UN claims."
...
"We can show that the hypothesis of human-caused global warming is false, however, because we have enough empirical data to falsify this hypothesis. Human-caused global warming is a hypothesis that has failed so many experimental tests that it is clearly without merit."
Posted by: Seabecker on February 18, 2008 03:30 PMWhat can we do about it? Would letters to the editor help?
The State legislature is willing to spend billions of our money to fight global warming.
Posted by: swatter on February 18, 2008 03:33 PMIn summary he claims the debate is over, Gore was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize and man is repsonsible for global warming and that's it folks. There are currently about $40 billion to $60 billion in bills linked to global warming. This is not to be taken casual. For if they succeed in passing 30% of the legislation before them your financial burden will triple. Please understand I feel very threatened by this onslaught of junk science espouse by the Democrats. This will not be the first time that Democrats have reacted to junk science and financial scams in the name of saving us from ourselves. I assume that all readers currently pay social security passed by the Democrats during the thirties. Nothing more than a Ponzi scheme that no respectable economist supported. And look what that little jewel costs taxpayers and businesses, currently around 15% of payrolls and growing each year. Might I add the handmaidens which followed commonly called Medicare and the family of state insurances Medicade. Yes, I know this is Federal and not state. WA State recently gave birth to and aborted WPPS. Sound Transit and various sub-agencies drain pockets of loose cash otherwise spent on something of quality to name but two little items that cost taxpayers their life forces.
Back to the subject. Given the heavy handy approach by my Representative Hans to debate me on Global Warming, I am hatching an idea to rent a convention hall and invite speakers (scientists) from far and wide that will explain to citizens and taxpayers that the money put into the black hole of global warming will have no effect what so ever on global warming. Not one iota. It is nothing more than a taking of money in amounts so vast that society as we know it in this state will be changed forever. If you like living here, it is time to make a stand. Failure to do so will result in serious disruptions to your plans and your children plans.
Any ideas Pudge? I could use some help from like minded folk.
Posted by: Snuffy on February 18, 2008 03:56 PMHans
Thank you for taking the time to write me on global warming. Please appreciate that I am familiar with your claims regarding global warming being influenced by mankind. If you wish I can forward to you mounds of scientific information that would counter your claims. However in the past you have ignored much of the scientific community and only selected reports and claims that suited your purposes or purposes of others that you serve.
I will remind you that since 1895, scientists have not agreed on long range global conditions and most certainly have not agreed on the causes. Your claim the green house gasses trap heat and warm the Earth is correct for without that atmospheric condition we simply would not exist.
However over the past three decades scientist have not noticed how the warming is intensifying. I will remind you that in the seventies the news was that the global climate temperature was dropping. And we were doomed to starve to death unable to grow crops. If you wish I can provide you with newspaper and magazine articles from that time.
And to say that natural explanations such as sunlight, volcanic eruptions and cosmic ray have been ruled out by scientist is not an accurate statement of fact. And in fact a foolish statement to make as most certainly many scientists will point out the obvious as does recorded history. The sun does in fact influence the Earth's climate. Volcanic activity influences Earth's climate. As does other natural "explanations". You seems to ignore history and most certainly you are not a scientist. You are simply a politician quite capable of spending taxpayers' money needlessly.
Please understand many people in your community understand that Democrats are fear mongering to gain support for the huge burdens to be placed on the shoulders of citizens and many find it unacceptable.
I, for one will do everything possible to educate the community at every opportunity to this obvious strategy which will not produce one iota of benefit for the taxpayers of this state. My views are supported by thousands of scientists which disagree with "global warming" enthusiasts funded by government grants and their cadre of politicians fear mongering to serve their own interests.
We had a similar episode back in the thirties call Eugenics. Read about sometime. It may give you pause.
Right now, even as we write, tens of billions of tax dollars are in play by the folk in Olympia to save us from "Global Warming" and you tell me that it would not financially cripple the state. Apparently we have a disconnect.
Snuffy
Dear Snuffy,
Thanks for taking the time to write. Your comments mean a great deal to me.
In your letter you mention your concerns for the government being involved in the issue of global warming, and you ask for an explanation as to the need for bills such as HB 2815. The scientific community has a concusses on this issue and the message is clear. Global warming is real and we have a responsibility to make changes in the way we do things.
Scientist have been studying green house gasses since 1895, and they have known that green house gasses trap heat and warm the earth. Over the past three decades scientist have noticed how warming is intensifying. As the warming has intensified over the past three decades, scientific scrutiny has increased along with it. Other, natural explanations such as sunlight, volcanic eruptions and cosmic rays have been ruled out by Scientists.
The belief that implementing solutions to global warming will cripple the economy and cost excessive amounts of money is unfounded. There are companies who have already begun to reduce their heat trapping emissions, and have discovered they can actually save money by cutting pollution.
This bill will have a positive impact on industry by creating a green collar job training account to train and transition workers to clean energy jobs. It will also simply direct the existing Department of Ecology to develop and implement a program to limit statewide greenhouse gas emissions.
Thanks again for taking the time to write. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me in Olympia at 360-786-7804.
Thanks,
Hans
Rep. Hans Dunshee
44th District
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Snuffy
Sent: Friday, February 01, 2008 7:44 AM
To: Dunshee, Rep. Hans
Subject: ShP 2815
You are sponsoring a bill that creates an agency to monitor "green house" gases with no stated reason. Legislation assuring the quality of air and the purity of water already exist. Would you mind explaining the need for this bill and associated bills that will raise the taxes of Washington State by billions and severely impact businesses and individuals for no apparent reason real or imagine.
"Dr. John Brignell, a British engineering professor, runs a website called numberwatch. He has compiled what has to be the most complete collection of links to media stories ascribing the cause of everything under the sun to global warming. He has already posted more than six-hundred links." ...
"and all on 0.006 deg C per year!"
"The site's stated mission is to expose all the "scares, scams, junk, panics and flummery cooked up by the media, politicians, bureaucrats and so-called scientists and others that try to confuse the public with wrong numbers" Professor Brignell's motto is "Working to Combat Math Hysteria."" ...
... "Dr. Brignell is accepting additions to the list so if you have any send them along."
Maybe, with the help of Councilman Somers, we can get our little Seattle sheep to bleat and bahhhh in harmony and unison.
Well, it could, if it were tied to the GOP or any candidates, as the Democrats would use this to try to paint the Republicans as crazy science-deniers. Remember, truth doesn't matter to these people. This is religion, and the religion is not global warming: that's just a sacrament. The religion is government control over everything, with no exceptions.
It was William Jennings Bryan, the hero of the Democratic Party in the late 19th century, who said that the power of government over the people is complete in peace, as well as in war, with the only question being how much of that power to exercise. But as despicable as that sentiment is, he fell out of favor with the liberals of his day in large part because he refused to accept the foundational notion of socialism, that there is some "science" to be applied to control of the people: that if we just get the right superman leaders with the right "scientific" policies -- and enough power to make it happen -- then we can perfect society. Immanentize the eschaton.
"Global warming" legislation is another in a long line of liberty-destroying leftwing policies designed specifically to control our lives and to take away our fundamental rights to person and property, because our liberty -- however we express it -- is a threat to their idea of a government not OF and FOR the people, but TO CONTROL the people.
Posted by: pudge on February 18, 2008 04:24 PMIT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE IN OLYMPIA
What the Draconian Democrats are trying to accomplished will burden everybody and exclude nobody. This includes unions, poor people, blue collar and white collar and all collars in between. I say enough of this farce of a government that stole there way and once in become tyrants. Let's vote them out, 1 representative at a time. My representative is an empty suit serving the Queen. Pudge, your Representative is the same sought of person. That's two that must go down. Focus on them one by one. Inform the citizen and man the ballots boxes. What happens here will affect us more than what occurs in D.C. this November. If the Republicans don't join in then educate them. We want sanity back in state government.
The debate on Global Warming should be central to our lives. Teach your children and confront their teachers in government schools. Its time for a change.
The line has been drawn.
Awaiting emails.
Regards,
Snuffy
Posted by: Snuffy on February 18, 2008 04:34 PMThey once printed one of mine against the Growth Management Act. It was longer than a Letter to the Editor. If it is good, it will be posted.
Why not go to the public blog with a counter letter and get feedback from Ragnar and JDH? The counter argument needs to be made and I think it can be a strong one.
Posted by: swatter on February 18, 2008 04:48 PMI do not disagree. That does not change the political (as opposed to scientific) debate regarding what is now occurring in the state and national legislatures.
The political debate is all but lost. One look at what Olympia is proposing will suffice to convince me of that.
It took 20 years of climate variability to convince politicians in the 70's that the globe was cooling due to man, and fortunately for us the climate turned around before they could act irresponsibly.
It took about the same amount of time to convince them it is warming - also due to man. The difference this time is that the science establishment was replaced by gorbots (yes, by Gore) about half way through the warming spell.
I suspect it will take another 20 years of negative climate change to once again convince the politicians that the current theory is wrong.
But this time around the political "consensus" is poised to take action earlier than last time.
The coming presidential contest will have one side willing to sacrifice all of our economic and cultural gains of the past century on the altar of the models, while the other side will sacrifice marginally less.
Not much of a choice. I suspect though that, in the long term, the GOP will be better off not being perceived as the party that does this. Therefore I see something positive for the GOP, again from a long term perspective, in having Christine and Obama winning in 2008.
Unfortunately all Americans will suffer from the DEMs actions resulting from this half-baked, entirely computer simulated, "climate crisis".
Then maybe people will want to live in the city.
Building regulatory Berlin walls to keep people trapped in the place you think they should be is not American.
Posted by: Cicero on February 18, 2008 05:40 PMSwatter, I love your posts. However a letter to the editor will be of limited value. My cousin wrote a book on the nuclear energy topic and he is a respected nuclear scientist that put the nuclear in submarines. His view received polite applause. And the country that developed nuclear energy continues to formulate policy based on a few Hollywood movies which provided false information.
The extreme left seems very capable to turn out the snake-oil salesmen and beat the drums on issues of their choice. They are never challenged or embarrassed by their naiveté. They just continue their mantras. Regardless of costs, injury or injustices. Stalin proved to the world what the left is capable of doing. And yes, Hitler proved that it can happen here.
It is our responsibility to defend our way of life against the phony left's mantras. Especially on global warming which from the get go amounted to nothing more than junk science. I would much prefer the newspapers writing about our activities to thwart Olympia's plans. Editorials are better written by those that prefer to write. I prefer to act. You are not going to win the hearts and minds of people with editorials or letter to the editors. Most people seldom read the newspapers. They watch the news in 30 second sound bites. Some listen to the news on talk radio in 30 minute sound bites.
A few years back some of us got together and stopped Hillary's Universal Care Bus in downtown Seattle. When challenged the left folds up their tent. They can't tolerate focused light. The truth blinds them. Hillary folded up her tent.
We need to develop a plan of action. yes it will require time, effort and resource. Ask yourselves what is you home, car and property worth. Is it worth at least 7 hours a week for 4 months?
Or are you prepared to resign yourself and let someone else fight your battle? If you think you can then you will. If you think you can't, then you won't. We stopped Hillary on the steps of Westlake Mall. We can stop the Gorbots in Olympia.
Like minded folk that want a change in Olympia are welcome to contact me. Together we can make it happen.
Posted by: Snuffy on February 18, 2008 06:55 PMI say,
No Drive, No Work
No Work, No Money
No Money, No Buy
No Buy, No taxes paid
No Taxes Paid, Oh SHI%
State Budget hell, State Budget Hell, well
Raise Taxes, hell nobody buying anyway
Raise taxes more, duhhhhh still nobody buying
Coming very soon in this state!
Posted by: GS on February 18, 2008 06:59 PM"Journalists cannot serve two masters. To the extent that they take on the task of suppressing information or biting their tongue for the sake of some political agenda, they are betraying the trust of the public and corrupting their own profession. It is bad enough that politicians betray their followers as a matter of expediency. It is real chutzpah when they demand that journalists betray the public trust as a matter of principle, for the benefit of politicians. Some journalists--too many, in fact--do jump on the bandwagon of particular candidates or particular political agendas, and end up filtering and spinning the news as a result. Those who are on the 'global warming' bandwagon, for example, endlessly repeat that the polar ice cap in the arctic is shrinking--while filtering out the fact that the polar ice cap in the Antarctic is growing... Whether one is for or against the 'global warming' crusade or for or against Democrats or Republicans in the White House, the truth is the truth--and filtering out facts is betraying the public that has turned to the media for information. It is legitimate to argue for or against those who believe that global warming justifies one policy or another. That is an honest expression of opinion. But filtering the facts is not. Some in the media seem to think that a noble cause justifies withholding facts on the other side." --Thomas Sowell
Posted by: Snuffy on February 18, 2008 07:09 PMJust like Barack Hussein Obama's chant, I think HOPE is on the way for Snohomish County.
Posted by: Blair on February 18, 2008 07:30 PMIf global warming was a real threat, shouldn't we be investing in levees and water supplies right now instead of playing god with the climate?
Posted by: AP on February 18, 2008 10:28 PMWhy not a march in protest of all bills in support of global warming? The only difference is I would protest in front of the Times or PI or one or all of the local TV stations. If you go to Olympia to do it, don't expect much to be reported by the media. You must pay them their due (in their minds) if you get them to report at all. Of course the success of this would be entirely dependent on the number of march participants.
Do you think we could get away with shutting down I-5?
Posted by: REBEL on February 19, 2008 09:24 AMA march does it for one day. What is necessary is something more dramatic.
Not a march. More dramatic. Usually humor or ridicule does the trick. With that in mind what may be done to humorously ridicule SB 6923 winding its way down the humble halls of Olympia.
The cost for this little piece of Planet protection is according to the OFM.
You are receiving this email as a subscriber to the Initiative 960 email list.
SB 6923 Providing for a passenger vehicle greenhouse gas excise tax has been introduced in the Senate. The Office of Financial Management has identified this bill as requiring a ten-year projection of increased cost to the taxpayers or affected feepayers.
Ten-year projection:
Year
Annual Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Tax
FY 2008 -
FY 2009 $ 628,234,780
FY 2010 $ 640,473,180
FY 2011 $ 652,240,160
FY 2012 $ 663,230,100
FY 2013 $ 673,809,880
FY 2014 $ 684,127,900
FY 2015 $ 694,117,700
FY 2016 $ 704,115,080
FY 2017 $ 714,146,160
Total $ 6,054,494,940 (Billions, folk)
This bill will be responsible for replacing the money lost when the $30 Tab came into being. Remember all the ballyhoo from the Democrats in supporting the wishes of the people.
Well, the tune has changed. Now, they must tax our nasty auto and truck because they emit "greenhouse" gases (hold your breath or you may be taxed) into the environment causing "global warming". At least that would be the PR coming out of the mouths of the Senate. Which is also a lot of hot greenhouse gas.
All auto and trucks will be taxed. Even the autos owned by teachers, union employees and government employees. They must do their share in fighting the war on the Sun, (global warming).
Remember as the glaciers move into the sound in 20 years, you did good for the war has been won and the Sun is defeated. We aren't taking any heat.
Give it some thought, and come up with some suggestions to ridicule this little package of socialist's hot air.
Cartoons, Pictures, Songs, t-shits all have long lives. Let it rip.
Our little movement may need an anthem. A catchy little tune that gets the idea across.
And now a word about the sponsors:
Bill sponsors and contact information:
Senator Ken Jacobsen
Democrat
Seattle
(360) 786-7690
Jacobsen.Ken@leg.wa.gov
Senator Adam Kline
Democrat
Seattle
(360) 786-7688
Kline.Adam@leg.wa.gov
Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles
Democrat
Seattle
(360) 786-7670
Kohl-Welles.Jeanne@leg.wa.gov
Senator Ed Murray, Prime Sponsor
Democrat
Seattle
(360) 786-7628
Murray.Edward@leg.wa.gov
Senator Craig Pridemore
Democrat
Vancouver
(360) 786-7696
Pridemore.Craig@leg.wa.gov
Senator Brian Weinstein
Democrat
Mercer Island
(360) 786-7641
Weinstein.Brian@leg.wa.
