Published in the March 18-31, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
Editor’s note: This Community Voices opinion was written in response to our Feb. 21 editorial on the local politics of climate change which can be read online at www.morganhilllife.com/editorial-local-mh-leaders-taking-climate-change-seriously (click on link to read).
By Mike Brusa
Bike Brusa
It is a testament how politics has aggrandized itself that it is praised by you as courageous when a vote is taken. Most votes taken by politicians are about what others have to do. Rarely do these votes entail, as Nassim Taleb would say, “skin in the game.” Votes in Washington and Sacramento are about other people’s money or other people’s actions required by law. Politicians more often than not exclude themselves from the same law. I would hardly call that courageous. Courageous is something you do personally.
So in regard to politicians and their courage, Bertrand Russell noted that politicians are “stupid and wicked” some 50 odd years ago and in my judgment that has not changed. Russell notes, “politics is largely governed by sententious platitudes which are devoid of truth.” It is interesting your recent editorial on climate change starts off with politics.
The climate change discussion has lots to do with power and money. Because of that, science has taken a back seat. You accuse people of having a “low scientific literacy” and coupled with not understanding “basic scientific principal.” Your assertion is that is why some policy makers can not easily get behind the notion of climate change. It is obvious in your mind that there is such a thing as “scientific consensus.” Science is about doubt, not about consensus.
Karl Popper said that “science can never prove something, it can only disprove something.” Science tests and observes.
The scientific process attempts to disprove a hypothesis. I am not sure what you mean by “professional climatologist” because the field of research is so multidisciplinary. It is your attempt to have a consensus in science because it qualifies your argument and excludes people that don’t agree. Consensus is not evidence for an argument. Used that way makes the idea of consensus despicable.
Looking at history we all know the horrible things justified by consensus. Where consensus truly operates is in politics. So if, as you write, Americans have a “low scientific literacy” it has served your purpose and that of the politics of climate change. Why do I say this? Because you have mistaken consensus as science. You have told your readers that consensus is science and it is not.
So be content that you have performed your little propaganda piece. I hope that was your intent because it certainly has no journalistic value. For me neither global warming or climate change are hoaxes. Both occur at times.
However it should be noted that the earth has not warmed since 1997, a fact that disturbs global warming alarmists because they can’t explain it, that doesn’t fit the narrative. This is just one of many exclusions you do not share with readers. No, for me global warming and climate change are a scam.
The scam is, as I said, for money and power. So if you are a journalist take the time to dig deeper into the skepticism of global warming. It isn’t about skeptics being stupid or lacking “scientific literacy.” Michael Crichton said in his book (a novel) State of Fear, “I am certain there is too much certainty in the world.”
So before you go on about politicians’ courage and how great the local effort is on climate change, do a little bit of investigation. I am sure some eyebrows would go up if the truth be told about solar projects, local or otherwise.
I have my doubts that will be your reaction. My guess is that you will simply count me as stupid and lacking “scientific literacy.”
Then you will continue to play your part in the secular religion of global warming/climate change by avoiding any skepticism or investigation.
Mike Brusa was born and raised in Gonzales, a small farm community in Monterey County. He graduated from San Jose State with a BA in Political Science and MA in Leadership. He retired in July after 27 years in education. He is married, raised five children, and now has four grandchildren. He lives in Morgan Hill.
