Recommended Reading

A number of folks have sent me links to articles that purport to prove that Climate Change is a myth, right up there with the Loch Ness Monster, The Easter Bunny and the "fair and balanced" policies of Fox News. I've kind of given up reading these because, first of all, they never seem to "prove" anything other than that someone who argues for the existence of Global Warming is fudging the truth about something. There is, let's remember, such a thing as a faulty argument in service of a valid premise. Also, and more important: It really doesn't matter much if I get convinced that Global Warming is bogus. I'm more interested in seeing if any of the contra-arguments convince the scientific community. And so far, I don't see that happening. (Note: A couple of Republicans with chemistry sets do not equal the scientific community.)

One other thing I should have mentioned in what I wrote here the other day. A lot of the plans being recommended to combat Global Warming strike me as good things to do even if Global Warming turns out to not be the threat some say it is. Renewable energy? Less gas consumption? A cleaner atmosphere? Are those bad ideas?

Now, I feel like I'm forgetting something. Oh, right. This is Recommended Reading, so I'm recommending the reading of this column by Paul Krugman. He's optimistic about the Copenhagen conference, though not that Obama's foes will ever possibly see that.