Waxman promises to deliver us from alleged evil

WASHINGTON – The chairman of a key House committee says he wants to pass a climate change bill before Memorial Day.

California Rep. Henry Waxman said Thursday the environment and U.S. economy depend on congressional action to confront the threat of climate change. Waxman, chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, spoke as he opened Congress' first hearing on climate legislation.

Bitter cold worries U.S. farmers and ranchers | Markets | Reuters

The cold has had cattle eating through feed supplies so quickly that ranchers have been selling off animals to make the feed last, said Darryl Howard, chief brand inspector for the North Dakota Stockmen's Association.

"It has taken a considerable toll on feed supplies," said Howard. "It has caused some herd reduction."

On the Brink of Climatic Disaster: the Coming Ice Age

As to this, experts are divided. Many believe it is only 50-150 years away, while the most optimistic among them say it may still be 1000 or even 10,000 years off. Yet others bear a more ominous message – that it has already begun.

Some may note that these seem much like the dubious predictions of anthropogenic global warming (AGW) fear mongers. Yet one prediction is ironclad: an ice-age world is a truly scary scenario.

Is this statement just the twin brother of AGW alarmism? If it is, it’s the good twin. The reality is that despite the dire warnings about the perils of a hotter Earth, such an environment is highly conducive to the flourishing of life. As the Center for Global Food Issues (CGFI) points out:

“. . . a warmer planet has beneficial effects on food production. It results in longer growing seasons-more sunshine and rainfall-while summertime high temperatures change little. And a warmer planet means milder winters and fewer crop-killing frosts. . . .”

Then there is the matter of CO2 (which, mind you, seems not to precipitate temperature changes but be a result of them; CO2 levels only increase 800 years after the temperature does). While listening to AGW alarmists can give the impression it’s a poison akin to cyanide gas, it’s actually a vital element of our atmosphere, and higher levels of it encourage the growth of flora.