Fair and Balanced

This is follow-up to my last article titled "Let's Make A Deal".  In that piece I argued that science and math do not involve core values and so conservatives and liberals should look at climate change and the national debt without political bias. 

We should keep an open mind regarding the science and math involved because whatever reality is we are going to need to deal with it. 

If you missed that piece you can read it here. 

http://rakestrawjeff.blogspot.com/2014/04/let-make-deal.html?m=1

I am a climate change skeptic but I took the time this week to try and examine the issue. The IPCC report released not long ago is quite long and boring but I found a summary that does a good job of outlining the major points. 

Conservatives: I suggest you read this as it is the other side's bible. Their playbook lists their premises and plan of action. There are a fair number of graphs and technical information but it is fairly easy to pick up the main points as the author (Steve Easterbrook) summarizes them nicely. 

http://johncarlosbaez.wordpress.com/2014/04/07/what-does-the-new-ipcc-report-say-about-climate-change-part-1/

In a nutshell, we have to stop using carbon fuels, completely, right now. 

Since this is all about carbon dioxide I present an article from the Huffington Post that reports atmospheric levels of CO2 have now been above 400 ppm for a solid month.     

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5187844?utm_hp_ref=tw

And of course the president celebrates Earth Day with a dazzling display of hypocrisy. 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2610431/Obama-burn-35-000-gallons-fuel-Earth-Day-emitting-375-TONS-carbon-dioxide.html

Here is a New York Times article on one Dr. Muller, a climate change skeptic who changed his mind after conducting a study of the data. 

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2012/07/30/opinion/the-conversion-of-a-climate-change-skeptic.html?pagewanted=all

However, a couple of the lines from that article stick out. 

"These facts don’t prove causality and they shouldn’t end skepticism, but they raise the bar: to be considered seriously, an alternative explanation must match the data at least as well as carbon dioxide does."

Which means carbon dioxide correlates but causality has not been proven. And then there is this:

"It’s a scientist’s duty to be properly skeptical. I still find that much, if not most, of what is attributed to climate change is speculative, exaggerated or just plain wrong. I’ve analyzed some of the most alarmist claims, and my skepticism about them hasn’t changed."

Amen to that, Dr. Muller. 

I found this on the extent of sea ice. 

http://sunshinehours.wordpress.com/2014/04/17/sea-ice-update-april-17-2014-highest-global-sea-ice-for-this-day-in-30-years-over-1-million-sq-km-above-normal/?utm_content=bufferbefab&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

I was challenged to find the same data elsewhere but all I could find was this. 

https://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/

The article confirms sea ice expanded in both the Arctic and Antarctic in March and that there has been an overall increase, but the data does not appear to be the same. 

And so there is my Fair and Balanced look at the science and the data. 

I have three suggestions. 

1). If there is such worldwide consensus we should use it to pressure China to reduce their carbon emissions. They are by far the biggest offenders. 

2). We should use this information to push for more nuclear power plants. Solar and wind are not reliable but nuclear is reliable, cost effective, proven , and clean. 

3). Planting trees is a great way to convert CO2 to oxygen. They should grow very well with these higher CO2 levels. 

I remain a skeptic but as promised I am taking an honest look at the issue. 

And now to our national debt. Please take a moment and glance at the debt clock. 

http://www.usdebtclock.org/

Over $17.5 trillion dollars in debt and growing by millions per minute. 

We are consuming more than we produce. We are importing more than we export. 

The presidents latest budget proposal only got two votes in the House of Representatives because it was a debt laden mess. Even his own Democrats could not vote for that much spending. 

Just like China is the 800 lb gorilla for climate change, entitlements top the list in terms of spending. We must cut back on entitlement spending. It is killing the federal budget and we must find the political courage to address it. 

I will repeat my call for us to reform the tax code. Let's remove all of the corporate and individual subsidies and have a flat tax on all income. 

Our children and grandchildren do not deserve to be buried under a mountain of debt they did not create. 

George Bush was right to call for a change to individual Social Security accounts, at least for our children who in addition to being stuck with our debt will have no Social Security to fall back on. Because we spent it. 

During this election year I ask that you pay attention to the primaries and choose candidates that vow to cut spending and reform the tax code. 

And one other thing - if they say they are for farmers or policemen or the oil industry or unions or teachers or small business or the auto industry or logging or any other group of people consider someone else. 

That is corporatism. We do not need all of these groups battling for the best position on the government teet. We need politicians who do not represent special interests but simply a level playing field for everyone. 

We want leaders interested in a balanced budget and tax reform and individual liberty. Please consider people who see our enormous national debt for the very real threat that it is. 

It is 17 million million dollars. Let's reverse the direction on that clock.