I think this is one of the better characterizations of the global warming debate so far.

NPR : NASA Chief Questions Urgency of Global Warming

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"To take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of his father has acquired too much, in order to spare to others who (or whose fathers) have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, "to guarantee to everyone a free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it."

-Thomas Jefferson

Look, my position on this is better . Having no way of knowing what is best for the planet, humans should concentrate on minimising their influence on the whole system, and stop releasing shit in the atmosphere. Just in case. You do clean your room once in a while, right? Same thing.

Sure, but my position is that it has nothing to do with whats best for the planet, but what is best for humans. That may mean that stopping global warming is good for humans, but as the chief says, is that for us to decide right now?

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"To take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of his father has acquired too much, in order to spare to others who (or whose fathers) have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, "to guarantee to everyone a free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it."

-Thomas Jefferson

And sometime yesterday they had a completely baffled subordinate on saying he had no idea where the fuck this guy was coming from.

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Nothing to see here.

I have a few issues with this.

In the same interview Michael Griffin said the following:
Now if he grants that the warming is contributed to by human industry, why would he suggest that it is not a problem humans must wrestle with. That makes no sense. Its like saying that if an industry polluted the drinking water for an entire city, its not really a human problem to wrestle with??? WTF...

I agree that human beings can live in many different climates, and that the climate of the earth has changed rather dramatically from many extremes in our geologic past. But that in no way means we should knowingly contribute to warming without knowing the consequences for humans... that is very irresponsible.

Also, knowing that the climate changed dramatically in the past does not guarantee that it will change dramatically in the future. It is conceivable that the earth systems found a relatively stable balance after 4 billion years. Our current widespread industrial level meddling with these systems might destroy that balance. Whether or not Griiffin thinks this is a problem that humans need not wrestle with is really the height of human arrogance, and stupidity. Me thinks he is just not very knowledgeable on the subject.

Andrew

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“...corporations and those who run them cannot stop exploiting resources and amassing wealth until they have... .I cannot finish this sentence, because the truth is that can never stop; like cancer, they can only continue to expand until they kill the host.”

-- Derrick Jensen

That would be the NASA climate scientist who thinks we SHOULD be doing something about climate change. So of course he is baffled. He disagrees. That doesnt change his boss's opinion, which is pretty common sense.

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"To take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of his father has acquired too much, in order to spare to others who (or whose fathers) have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, "to guarantee to everyone a free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it."

-Thomas Jefferson

I have a problem with this statement as well, but for a different reason. To say "much" of it is man made, is too vague at best. How much is "much"? It is truly undefineable. That's like asking "How far is too far?".

Also, how much of this warming is man made and how much is natural? Do we know how much warming there is supposed to be compared to how much there is?

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Anyone ask Hillary what kind of underwear she wears, yet?

Lt. Gov Diane Denish on Bill Richardson "The governor, she said, "pinches my neck. He touches my hip, my thigh, sort of the side of my leg."

Have you seen the carbon footprint of the shuttle rocket ?

No, but carbon footprints arent a big deal. NASA can just buy offsets like l Gore. No reason to reduce emmisions.

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"To take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of his father has acquired too much, in order to spare to others who (or whose fathers) have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, "to guarantee to everyone a free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it."

-Thomas Jefferson