Vacationus interruptus…
-By Vince Johnson
It is now fashionable to take sides on the GW (Global Warming) issue. As far as I can tell there are six basic viewpoints regarding GW:
1.Those who are certain GW will destroy life as we know it no matter what we do, nor when we do it.
2.Those who are certain GW is taking place, but not certain it will destroy life as we know it even if we never change our lifestyle.
3.Those who are not certain GW is taking place, but realize other disasters could destroy life as we know it regardless of when we change our lifestyle. (Germ warfare. Pandemics. Giant Meteorites. Atomic bombs. Huge volcanic eruptions. Federal bankruptcy. Etc.)
4.Those who don’t have the slightest idea one way or the other, but have found making radical comments about GW can put them in the media spotlight even if they only pretend to know what they are talking about.
5.Those who don’t have the slightest idea one way or other, but have found GW to be a means to rake in millions of dollars as long as it gets constantly hyped coverage by the news media. (Movies. Speaking tours. Books. Magazine articles. TV Documentaries. Etc.)
6.Those like me, that remember a famous comment Mark Twain: “Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.” He said that in 1897, over 110 years ago. Oh hum. Life goes on.
As the debate about Global Warming gets louder and more frantic, many are discovering some realities about life:
1. When courage and competence move out, frenzy and fear move in. When I consider the tone of those who believe GW is going to destroy civilization, it is obvious they have very little understanding of human nature. Just think about it a moment. How do you persuade 6 billion people to change their ways in order to save the planet? For that matter, how do you persuade 300 million Americans to change their lifestyle? (Deadly obesity is rampant despite millions and millions of books on diet and exercise. Figure that one out.)
How about just two people like Al Gore and John Travolta? They are among the most articulate who keep insisting we change our lifestyle in order to save the planet. Despite their deep concern, they will not change their ways one iota. Travolta has 5 private jets and flies them all over the world. Gore constantly flies back and forth across the nation delivering his GW message. His residence in a ritzy suburb of Nashville uses more electricity in one month than the average American household does in one year. If several thousands members of the scientific community can’t persuade two outspoken GW advocates to help save the planet, why waste time dealing with 300 million other American citizens who each use only a tiny fraction of energy in comparison?
The contradiction is amazing. How can those so knowledgeable about climate be so ignorant about human nature?
2. That those having naughty burdens within their conscience will try most anything to find a way to cleanse their inner being. This could explain why Gore and Travolta are in such a frenzy over GW. Do they feel guilty about something and believe they can regain their self respect by taking heroic measures to warn the world of impending doom? Maybe not, but that’s what it looks like to me.
All of this chatter reminds me of the fable about Chicken Little. An a
corn fell on her head and she immediately ran around in all directions squawking “The sky is falling. The sky is falling.” For a time she was a hero. Such a noble bird. Trying to save the world with all her heart and soul. All the animals rallied around her.
Then along came Foxy Loxy who ate them all for lunch!
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Vince Johnson welcomes comments. Please send them to,Vince Johnson(vjadtrak@centurytel.net)
Vince Johnson welcomes comments. Please send them to,Vince Johnson(vjadtrak@centurytel.net)
See Vince in the new book Americans on Politics. Policy, and Pop-Culture.