Climate Change: Denial Is Not Refutation
Right-wing blogger Tim F. at Balloon Juice nails his fellow conservatives on global warming denial:
...The only question is why the right wing felt such a compelling need to get behind it [global warming denial] this time. Is there something inherently liberal about avoiding catastrophe?
It seems to me that the sad saga of warming denial illustrates a major weakness of conservative [movementarianism]. Climate science isn’t really partisan in any meaningful way, yet as long as the movementarians think that attacking the science will score a victory against liberalism they will go on attacking just the same. All the petro lobby needed to do was polarize a scientific matter along political lines and the rightwing movement willingly became what amounts to the private army for a cause almost completely tangential to their individual interests. Retired tobacco execs look on with a mix of humor and deep jealousy.
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Comments (4)
Why? They're just stupid. I can't think of a better answer. Anyone else? Help me out here.
Comment #1 Posted by: phalarope | November 14, 2007 06:09 PM
What is it the global warming enthusiasts intend to do about global warming anyway ?
Comment #2 Posted by: Brian | November 14, 2007 06:32 PM
You're right to bring up tobacco execs Tyler. It was the model of their decades long denial that smoking was a hazard that the Oil and Coal industries used in their campaign to hide the facts about global warming. The right wing felt compelled to get behind the Exxon Mobil (by far the largest funder of junk science) campaign because they have no real understanding of the issue. Stupid might be strong phalarope, but that may be part of it. Greedy is another good answer.
The "movementarianism" that you speak of is more like blind "followatarianism". Many on the right yearn for a strong authoritarian rule. Once they have that, they invariably fall directly in line with whatever the great leader says. Critical thinking is not encouraged. I think that blind faith is far more responsible for the unreasonable, anti-scientific stance of the right on Global Warming. There is no warranted ideological "reasoning" behind the global warming denials. There is only the fact they have been duped by a criminal administration posing as conservatives who are totally beholden to the oil/gas and coal lobby.
Comment #3 Posted by: spk | November 14, 2007 07:45 PM
The problem is that the "movementarianism" like to think in the now. What is the cost? Can we make money of it or is it to expensive? Let’s not predict the future! Who cares what is in 50 year? I think they also do not like it if too many people ask question and hold them responsible. How can you questioning the leaders? Maybe if we denial everything long enough it goes away.
I say: “Lets think! We have to make sure that there is a (healthy) world to live in for our children!”
Comment #4 Posted by: Henrik | November 15, 2007 08:12 AM