How is this different from simply making it illegal to lie to someone; or is it different at all?
If my neighbor tells me he'll get my mail for me while I'm out of town, but then decides not to and my box overflows, can I have him arrested for deliberately misinforming me?

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To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society. -Theodore Roosevelt

There are a lot of people who would make comments and speech they dislike illegal. Luckily, none of them has the power to do so

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"Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have... The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases."

-Thomas Jefferson

Whenever the first caveman debated whether fire was a good thing. One caveman said, fire good. The other said, fire bad. The first one said, stop spreading misinformation, its a crime!

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http://www.fairtax.org

Elminate all taxes on income and replace with a national sales tax.

What the good Doctor is saying is that anthropomorphic global warming is accepted by all the worlds leading scientists, however the oil and coal industries have paid spokesmen who misrepresent the science in order to delay the reduction in the use of fossil fuels.
These paid spokesmen have mislead millions of people into believing that there is actually some legitimate doubt as to whether carbon based global warming is real.
Exactly like the "scientists" employed by the tobacco companies fought for decades to create the illusion that the deleterious effects caused by smoking were "a theory" with no real basis in science, pushed by fanatics, and for the same reason, profit.

Maybe the solution will be similar with a judgment against the oil and coal companies holding them liable for the damage done by the delay in taking effective measures to curb global warming.

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“The thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine.”

Senator Thad Cochran, Mississippi (R)
on McCain

“I decided I didn’t want this guy anywhere near a trigger.”
Senator Pete Domenici, New Mexico (R)
on McCain

“My anger did not help my campaign ... People don’t like angry candidates very much.”

McCain on McCain

Whether it's disagreement or misinformation, Madsen, there is no law against it here. We like it like that. Thus, your parsing is moot.

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I am an American. That's the way most of us put it, just matter of factly. They are plain words, those four: you could write them on your thumbnail, or sweep them clear across this bright autumn sky. But remember too, that they are more than just words. They are a way of life. So whenever you speak them, speak them firmly, speak them proudly, speak them gratefully. I am an American. ...a tradition

But that's not what Hansen advocates. He advocates imprisoning people for "high crimes against humanity".

Perhaps you'd care to address what Hansen advocates? That is the thread topic....

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De duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum

Sorry I missed this little sound piece sandwiched in between the, well, between your other two statements.

Indeed. I don't think it's even possible to legislate concerning misinformation (not disagreement but misinformation, please!). It is, however, possible to bring the purpose of misinformation and the effects of such a purpose before a court of law. As in the tobacco case mentioned earlier, it is possible to put the deliberate misinformation about the effects of smoking on trial on the very same basis.

I think that is what Hansen means by mentioning the concept of exploitation .. that someone is deliberately misinforming someone else in exchange for something. In my country, the situation is called false marketing if the deliberately wrong information is used for reasons of profit. I know the journalist seems to miss it but I really couldn't imagine why else it would be brought up in conjunction with an industry, if not in the context of profiting on misinformation. Not on disagreement, not on skepticism and not on information but on misinformation.

Then the first one was also misinformed about the meanings of the words "disagreement" and "misinformation".

First of all, thank you for not making misinformation synonymous with disagreement! The act of misinforming IS the same as lying. The state of being misinformed is quite another matter, though, but that, like skepticism and debate and disagreement, is not the issue here.

Second, I'd hate to see my standards become law. That'd be nasty. And yes, I'm pretty sure you can prosecute the guy if he caused you a loss by deliberately having misinformed you.

Complete non sequitur.

I remember once my roommate of a couple years ago (then a member of the RCP) saying that someone should be "put in jail" for saying something like the environment wasn't in danger, or global warming wasn't a problem.

Naturally I lit into him (political tiffs were our modus operandi for the entire semester), for obvious reasons.

However, simply because you disagree with his political perspective on climate change has no bearing whatsoever his scientific expertise and opinion. Hitler's scientists were pretty horrific people, but they knew how to use Zyklon B.

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"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."
Matthew 5:9

And does your country put people in prison for this? Remember, Hansen isn't advocating civil liability here - he wants jail time for this "high crimes against humanity" charge he's invented.

Matt

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De duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum

Perhaps just criminalizing the process and use of devices that produce excess pollution, ecological destruction, and exploitation of resources and sinks beyond the means of the earth systems to absorb, breakdown, and replenish would be more appropriate.

In regards to the misinformation and lies deliberately concocted and dispensed by lobby groups, well not much we can do about that except ridicule them and educate ourselves.

Andrew

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Ethanol is a fabulous solution to our energy dilemma because it will provide more fuel for us to drive around and look for food.

-- Unknown

How can it be misinformation if the truth is unknown? Hansen is claiming he is right, everyone else is wrong, and they should be charged with crimes. Does that sound like a scientist you want to listen to?

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http://www.fairtax.org

Elminate all taxes on income and replace with a national sales tax.

Should I start looking to book a room at the local jail?

There is this and any number of other topics that I am on the so call wrong side of.... maybe I should start my booking now.

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Fear the Government

You should base your opinion of his science based upon his science and the evidence he presents, with the criticism of peers.

That's how science works.

You're getting politics and science confused, which happens on an unfortunately regular basis on this subject.

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"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."
Matthew 5:9