As a matter of fact, who can be believed?
By Special K
Disassociated Press
June 30, 2009

Reference:
Betraying the Planet
By PAUL KRUGMAN
Published: June 28, 2009
The New York Times

So the House passed the Waxman-Markey climate-change bill. In political terms, it was a remarkable achievement.
But 212 representatives voted no. A handful of these no votes came from representatives who considered the bill too weak, but most rejected the bill because they rejected the whole notion that we have to do something about greenhouse gases.
And as I watched the deniers make their arguments, I couldn’t help thinking that I was watching a form of treason — treason against the planet
Do you remember the days when Bush administration officials claimed that terrorism posed an “existential threat” to America, a threat in whose face normal rules no longer applied? That was hyperbole — but the existential threat from climate change is all too real.
Yet the deniers are choosing, willfully, to ignore that threat, placing future generations of Americans in grave danger, simply because it’s in their political interest to pretend that there’s nothing to worry about. If that’s not betrayal, I don’t know what is. (emphasis added).

That more than 212 representatives voted “aye”
Is sufficient in and of itself to indicate
A deficiency in congressional reasoning capacity
That is becoming increasingly great.

Closer to home:
The greater number included three from New Jersey,
Namely, Messrs. LoBiondo, Smith and Lance
Who--like Specter, Collins and Snowe recently in the Senate--voted “aye”
And thus toward local and national interest took a negative stance.

And as for doing something about greenhouse gases
It’s been said in cattle country that no self-respecting bull
Would ever risk being seen making passes at cows--
Of whatever visual acuity and conformation--passing greenhouse gases.

Moreover, the idea that mere humans can control the climate
Seems more than a little presumptuous,
Especially coming from folks who claim to be certain
That Mother Nature left regulation of climate change up to us.

Recall that right here in the great State of New Jersey, on 07-07-07,
Our governor signed a bill designed for climate control
But given the unseasonably cool and wet weather in the interim
It seems to have failed in its purpose, by and large, on the whole.

It must be said, too, that terrorists and terrorism,
Qualify very clearly as threats quite existential
As compared to which threats to climate that are amenable to human control,
Are by any theoretical or empirical standard in.con.se.quential.

It’s particularly interesting that columnists
With absolutely no expertise in the climatology sphere
Hold forth on climate as though they knew what they were talking about--
And to their dire warnings apparently expect others to give ear.

Of course, it matters little what columnists choose to say
Or whether to their admonitions ordinary citizens give ear:
The actions of folks like LoBiondo, Lance and Smith (all NJ),
Obama, Specter, Collins and Snowe are what this country has real cause to fear.

By this reporter’s count we’re now 169 days
Into the putative Era of Responsi.bil.i.ty
So by this time some evidence thereof should have emerged
In the vicinity of Washington, D. C.

So the rest of the nation now waits with breath bated
To learn what Senators in their wisdom will do
When the “thing” that the House has passed (barely)
Comes within their official purview.

Editor’s note.
Readers may well ask how Special K speaks with such confidence
On matters regarding which he, like Professor Krugman, lacks expertise?
Well . . . when it comes to commenting on topics they know little about
Both are equally able to do it with consummate ease.