Topics to avoid

We just came through eight years of an administration that disallowed lots of scientific facts and even muzzled some like that of global warming. Some studies now say it is to the irreversible point. Hopefully we now have an administration that embraces science and will support the rest of the modern countries in this study.

Study? STUDY? For God's sake, man, the left wants to absolutely destroy what little is left of our economy and our industry. Have you looked at this "cap-and-trade" thing? We will be speaking Chinese or Pakastani or whatever, riding horseback and making buggy whips again. Well...the illegals will be making the whips but you get the idea.

And the muzzling has all been on the left...it said all discussion was over and the issue settled. Obviously, it isn't. They merely want all opposition silenced.

I'm sorry, I just couldn't pass this one up. Rolando, I am partial neither to the "Left" nor the "Right", so I guess that is what allows me the privilege of being able to see "The Big Picture" as a former employer of mine used to say. Having said that, let me merely point out, if it is as you say, "...the left wants all opposition silenced," then how come it appears to be all those on the "right" who are lining up against reinstating "The Fairness Doctrine?" What could possibly be unfair about "The Fairness Doctrine?" Thank you for your time, Woody

Although the scientific community seems to speak with resounding unanimity on the validity of global warming, let's explore the most extreme positions on the issue.

1. If (as opponents of the science claim) global warming is a myth, but we still take action to correct it, we spiral into an global economic depression.

2. If (as advocates for the theory claim) global warming is as bad as some believe it to be, but we do nothing to combat it- our ecosystem is dramatically altered and life on Earth ends as we know it.

Economic depression, or the end of life as we know it... Hmm, decisions, decisions.

My favorite is when it snows a couple feet in Ohio and my conservative colleagues say, "So much for global warming!"

Rolando, come on... all the muzzling from the left! I don't care how strongly you support your party, but you have to at least see both sides play their fair share of games.

I don't know how much this is related, but I found this experience to be a nice irony:

I find myself at a lower end bar in a predominately conservative area a few months ago with a friend. We were drinking Sam Adams, the rest of the bar was primarily domestic lights. Later on, I'm in the restroom and this guy next to me says, "You're the guys drinking the four dollar beers." And I replied, "At least we're buying American," assuming that would probably strike a tone with him. He looked at me really puzzled. I explained how Anheuser-Busch, Coors and Miller are all foreign owned now and he just kind of stopped for a second. It seems the patriotic, "I just love my country" march of free market conservatives doesn't always pan out anymore-- just like some of the old thinking on our planet and other scientific endeavors. Maybe that would make Glenn Beck cry?

Global Warming? Really!! SCIENTIFIC data by SCIENTISTS actually shows it's getting COOLER. Amazing how much erroneous data 'ACTIVISTS' can stir up.

However, there is much to say about our nasty environment, and along with trying to control emissions and ban coal-fired plants, what about banning tobacco smoke??? and penalizing those who put out too much smoke.

Why not focus on a real threat to the USA....illegal immigration.

Global Warming or Global Cooling? I don't think you can really muzzle science - that's a lame defense. The fact is science is science and will be constantly changing forever. I agree that we need to protect the environment but just have to rational about it and use common sense. My 5th grade science teacher told me Pluto was a planet but I guess he got muzzled too.

Wareaglesh nails it...(and sorry about the slam yesterday buddy), their was a time when we thought that the earth was flat and carried on the backs of elephants.

I can't say that Global warming isn't happening, but to dogmatically say that it IS for sure just isn't practical. What's worse is that we're building actual policy around this theory (and it is at this point just a theory). Why does EVERTHING have to be a stinking issue? I think that's the point of the cartoon. And I believe it's a good one.

Rolando, Can we get back to children issues, rather than news, politics and a little bad weather.

Just kidding folks, scientific models can predict outcomes. There are models that predict flood occurances and they work.

I cannot resist this one either, woody.

The so-called "Fairness" Doctrine is nothing of the sort. It very specifically targets the highly successful "talk radio" system. But allow me to clarify that a bit...conservative talk radio is highly successful -- sponsors and listeners galore. Liberal talk radio, on the other hand, has been a dismal failure every time it has been tried; no sponsor will support them because very few people listen to the hot air and baseless accusations. How many times can "Hate Bush" be repeated, after all?

Now the liberal side cannot allow that dichotomy to stand...they MUST have SOMEONE listen to their blather even if they must be forced.

Forcing conservatives to listen to liberal hogwash is the left's definition of "Fairness". I guess it IS "fair" from their viewpoint -- no one will voluntarily listen to them so force it on us, right? Either listen or the conservative listener can turn the radio off altogether...very effectively silencing the conservatives' opposing view. Mission accomplished...the LIBERAL mission.

Your comparisons are a bit extreme, OllieH. A mere economic depression or an end to life as we know it?

What is forecast, 10-12 [??] feet higher sea level, max? This will end life? You give us little credit for being the being whose specality is non-specialization or adaptability. We cover this globe from the equator to the poles...don't you think we could adapt to the loss of Miami and the Left Coast? Not that it will happen, but one can hope.

Economic depression?? You must be joking. How about zero economy? Think we can do anything without power? Bicycling will be the norm -- pity about all those old crocks and pre-schoolers who can't hack a day-long ride to buy groceries or see their doctors.

Living in the northern states will be out of the question in the winter -- wood-burning to keep warm is outlawed due to pollution. Gas heat? Takes power to get it. Electricity? Generated exactly how? We lose coal-fired ability under Dumbo long before wind/solar comes on line, if ever. It would be OK to live up there in the summer although how one would get up there at 20 miles a day horseback or maybe 100 on bike for 10-12 hours is anybody's guess.

So I guess that would be a slight hiccup in our economy...

I suggest we examine this the way it is always done -- follow the money.

Who stands to gain the most by requiring these draconian measures? Well, Algore for one. You know, the guy who wastes more power in his mansion in ONE MONTH than the normal four-member family uses in almost TWO YEARS. Now Albert-baby says it is OK for him to use all that power because he buys something called "carbon-credits". He is even so conscientious and worried about the environment he started a company that sells these "credits" to wasteful users such as he is.

That's right, Algore buys his own "carbon-credits". I don't know, maybe he creates them in his basement.

Now THAT is a Ponzi scheme to make Madoff look like a piker.

rolando, I saw where your ole buddy Al Gore will be doing an ETSU stint up in Johnson City and the tickets were sold our the first 30 minutes. You by chance wouldn't be one of the lucky ones? I guess if I were Al, I'd be concerned if it were my friends or foes that grabbed the tickets so soon. I've got mixed feelings about Al's agenda, but one thing really bothers me is that Chattanooga and Knoxville are among the top cities in the US for poor air quality. It really hits home when I think about by grandkids being raised with this issue. We think the mountains are healthy but they help trap the air.

I grew up in Los Angeles, EaTn. I watched the air turn yellow and orange over the city...and that happened in the 50s. You have cause to worry for your grandchildren.

Seldom published and more rarely discussed was the higher incidence of lung cancer among NON-smoking Angelenos compared to HEAVY smokers in cleaner-air-at-the-time Denver or Colorado Springs [this was during the 60s-70s controversial Surgeon General's opinion that smoking causes cancer.] The L.A. NON-smokers suffered lung cancer about 1 1/2 to 2 times that of Colorado HEAVY smokers...it was quietly hushed up. I suspect it is the same here in the Valley. Air pollution will kill you, plain and simple.

As to Algore, there is a sucker born every minute [PT Barnum}. Maybe he will tell them how to make carbon credits or offsets or whatever they are at home in their spare time. [ME buy a ticket? To see HIM? Surely you jest! I know, don't call you Shirley, right?] When he looks out at the empty house, I guess he will know who bought them...but will he care. Money seems to be just money to him...blood money, drug money, Ponzi money, carbon credit money -- all the same; it all spends.