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thatcrazycajunAmerican Public Media/National Public Radio's Marketplace program today featured this commentary by David Frum of the American Enterprise Institute. Dave was complaining about the recent accusations by environmentalists that his organization had become what my buddy osewalrus likes to call a "coin-operated think tank" after paying some heavyweight climate experts to write pieces critical of the United Nations' recently issued climate change report.
A long time ago, a very wise person tipped me that any political or academic organization with the words "American" and/or "Enterprise" in its name can pretty much be counted on to promote right-leaning ideology. This means that they oppose even admitting that global warming is being caused by man's activities, let alone making either government or business spend any money to do anything about it. And among the heavy donors of funding to AEI just happens to be...ExxonMobil Corporation. Dave, natch, insists that there is no correlation between that and the recent solicitation of "shut up, you Chicken Littles" propaganda. And if you buy that one... What color would you like your new bridge painted?
Dave whines that legitimate criticism on the issue is being shut down and that if the enviro side is so damned sure its case is solid, it shouldn't be afraid of a little healthy debate. Given that almost the entire reputable (note that qualifier well) scientific community is now in agreement that global warming really IS our fault, is there really such a thing as "legitimate" debate on this topic? Or is that an oxymoron along the lines of "jumbo shrimp," "military intelligence" or "Bush leadership"? And if not, aren't the righties using this complaint as an excuse to keep any action from being taken to ameliorate the situation?
osewalrus likes to call a "coin-operated think tank" after paying some heavyweight climate experts to write pieces critical of the United Nations' recently issued climate change report.A long time ago, a very wise person tipped me that any political or academic organization with the words "American" and/or "Enterprise" in its name can pretty much be counted on to promote right-leaning ideology. This means that they oppose even admitting that global warming is being caused by man's activities, let alone making either government or business spend any money to do anything about it. And among the heavy donors of funding to AEI just happens to be...ExxonMobil Corporation. Dave, natch, insists that there is no correlation between that and the recent solicitation of "shut up, you Chicken Littles" propaganda. And if you buy that one... What color would you like your new bridge painted?
Dave whines that legitimate criticism on the issue is being shut down and that if the enviro side is so damned sure its case is solid, it shouldn't be afraid of a little healthy debate. Given that almost the entire reputable (note that qualifier well) scientific community is now in agreement that global warming really IS our fault, is there really such a thing as "legitimate" debate on this topic? Or is that an oxymoron along the lines of "jumbo shrimp," "military intelligence" or "Bush leadership"? And if not, aren't the righties using this complaint as an excuse to keep any action from being taken to ameliorate the situation?
