The 'global warming as scam' theory

[LuckyTheDog]

Look, I love a good conspiracy theory as much as anyone. But the whole "global warming is a scam" thing just defies all logic. Think about it.

If it is a scam, then it is the most elaborate and well-organized conspiracy ever. It would involve tens of thousands of scientists, leading universities, several federal government agencies, and many state government agencies around the country, the media, the United Nations and the governments of numerous foreign countries.

That leads one to ask several questions to which there is no satisfactory answer. Among them:

-- Who organized the conspiracy and how?

-- How is the conspiracy coordinated and maintained?

-- What is the motive of the people who organized the conspiracy? People have suggested that the whole idea is to tear down modern society. But I have not met any scientists who want to destroy modernity.

-- How is the conspiracy funded? People say that the people behind the conspiracy control "vast amounts" of research grant dollars. But I see no evidence of that. This leads to the next question.

-- Who is benefiting and how much? I mean, sure, Al Gore has sold some books. But there really seems to be no real money to me made here. Gore's book royalties are nothing compared with the profits in, say, the oil business.

Inquiring minds want to know!

[PATRICK]

1. Furthermore

both the scientific community and the truly conspiratorial minority of critics share some common pro-capitalist, status quo bias. Both agree too much on optimism and caution about action to even think that the discussion is yet debated on the proper level in relation to REALITY. This has stiumulated the science establishment as much as it was intended to cow there voices and deliberations into an awakening, a revolt and a unity beyond the soft common bias. Weird. Walking hesitantly, arguing, stopping, then running like hell away from the tsunami.

[Fovea]

2. One of my professors in college

teaching geology and meteorology was a steadfast opponent of anthropogenic climate change was also employed as a petro-geologist by a major oil company.

I am far more likely to believe in a conspiracy of oil refiners. Further, there IS a financial reason for that, and corporatists are infamous for blaming others for their worst sins.

Indeed, the party of personal responsibility is about holding others responsible for their personal faults and crimes. What they are not about, is the scientific method.

[icnorth]

3. If you haven't seen it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDsIFspVzfI

[LuckyTheDog]

4. I like that guy!

I also looked at a couple of his other videos. Cool.