“What’s the use of a fine house if you haven’t got a tolerable planet to put it on?” ~Henry David Thoreau
This is an informal cost-benefit analysis of doing something about global climate change. It’s pretty simple stuff. It even addresses the possibility that there’s not a problem with the environment at all. I thought this little economics lesson might be useful this holiday season if your family and friends are anything like mine (politically mixed and/or a bunch of devil’s advocates). Good luck.
(Thanks, Lyd.)
julieluongo said,
December 10, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Al Gore and the Nobel committee think global climate change is real and catastrophic.
Jenn said,
December 10, 2007 at 1:18 pm
Al Gore also thinks he invented the internet. I’m just sayin…
lyd said,
December 10, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Regardless of Al Gore (and thousands of climate change scientists), there’s lots more to lose than just losing face…
julieluongo said,
December 10, 2007 at 3:12 pm
(Sigh.) Jenn, Gore didn’t say that. Bush just made it seem as though he did, which is the ultimate irony since Bush actually does misspeak regularly.
Jenn said,
December 10, 2007 at 11:41 pm
I know. I just think it’s hilarious.
Oprah Boy said,
December 11, 2007 at 8:44 am
Republicans don’t like anything to do with environmentalism because they know it will slow down their quest for power and money
julieluongo said,
December 11, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Those nobel prize winners are always making outrageous claims. Hey, speaking of funny, remember when Bush said, “we’re not going to have any casualties” when he was talking to Pat Robertson about the war in Iraq? Hahaha!
Jim said,
December 11, 2007 at 2:36 pm
I pick box number four… NINJA APOCALYPSE!
Taking action requires money be spent. So an economic collapse as a result of making environmental changes is not a real possibility. But, it does require government oversight over all aspects of our lives… Hmmm…
Yet again, NINJA APOCALYPSE! It’s coming baby.
If I were to grade him on his debating skills, he’d get a “C”. Really, it’s a “D” level argument (It has more holes than the Ozone Layer) but he gets extra points for presentation.
julieluongo said,
December 11, 2007 at 9:35 pm
But then he gets points taken away for not mentioning Ninja Apocalypse.
messiestobjects said,
December 12, 2007 at 11:06 am
Some things just aren’t funny. Ninja Apocalypse: Funny. Al Gore inventing the internet: Not funny, because what he actually said about his involvement in the creation of the internet is true.
A countdown to the end of life as we know it: Not Funny. Humorous, in the sense of gallows humor being appropriate, yes. But in and of itself, no.
The Mayans got us pegged in 2012, Gore and this guy in the next ten years. I’m going to have lots of babyless sex, that’s my plan.