Doubts about climate change?

Here’s what got that seed of doubt sown. 30 years ago A bold plan was hatched Americas oil industry execs and a top PR guru. An $850,000 a day contract was at stake meaning it was in the oil industry’s best interests to create seeds of doubt about climate change.
A bit like the NRA telling supporters that guns don’t kill people.

Obviously the plan worked because climate changed doubters are everywhere today. Sadly actual climate change is wacking us in the face every hour of every day.

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ImperialAerosolKidFromEP · 46-50, M

I don't think people, be they gun rights supporters or climate change skeptics, are so easily manipulated. At least, not by political intrigue. I blame the sexual revolution: you know, that way of thinking that didn't bother worrying about consequences if they were 5 minutes away. Well, with that kind attitude, how are people going to take repercussions 50 [i]years [/i]away seriously???

Philth · 46-50, M

@ImperialAerosolKidFromEP
Fascinating. Could you expand upon this please?

ImperialAerosolKidFromEP · 46-50, M

@Philth probably not, but I can tell you what I've seen: in the 70s governments went into debt. Who cares? Free money is all we see! In the 80s, divorce rates skyrocketed. Since then, we've dealt w/some of the more egregious problems (in part due to natural phenomena, like HIV) but clearly deficits isn't one of them--not completely at least. Attention spans have increased beyond 5 minutes, but not nearly enough to comprehend the gravitas of something like climate change and the snail's-pace at which it happens and can be rolled back!
It's extremely unfortunate for the world that just as this problem was coming to a head, the civilization producing the most emissions suddenly became the most indifferent it ever has been.

SomeMichGuy · M

@ImperialAerosolKidFromEP

[quote]the gravitas of something like climate change and the snail's-pace at which it happens and can be rolled back![/quote]

It is now so far along its trajectory, it can't be rolled back at a snail's pace.

If we had listened to Pres. Carter and even made a Manhattan Project-/Moon project-like declaration of energy independence & self-sustainability, we would have decoupled most of our economy from the various disasters to which petroleum is subject--market instability, OPEC, war, problems with refineries, different formulations of gasoline, etc.

We could be a leader in non-petroleum energy...rather than a cautionary tale.