The Long and the Short of It - The Changing Arctic Environment: The Arctic Messenger - page 349

Democrats tried to introduce the following words: “Congress accepts the scientific find-
ings of the EPA that climate change is occurring, is caused largely by human activities and
poses significant risks for public health and welfare.” This proposed amendment to the bill
failed. In fact, 240 representatives voted against it.
Here is a sample of some of the arguments presented by some of the representatives.
(You can watch part of the debate at http://my.barackobama.com/Climate-Change . ):

· “Anthropogenic global warming is an issue that the scientists are still debating -

and you know it and I know it.”

· “I do not think CO 2 is a problem. Therefore, I do not think it needs to be regu-

lated.”

· “It is almost comical. Every time we exhale, we exhale carbon dioxide.” (This was

from one of the most senior and influential Republicans in Washington, DC.)

· “We all breathe CO 2 . Climate changes, but there is no evidence at all that it is

man-made CO 2 that causes the climate to change.”

· “The ice caps are melting, which we see over and over again. Yeah, they're melt-

ing on Mars too.”

· “The idea of human-induced global climate change is one of the greatest hoaxes

perpetrated out of the scientific community. It is a hoax.”

How is it possible for such powerful lawmakers to have such unfounded convictions?
Perhaps they understand very well the message coming from the science community
but are not prepared to sacrifice a portion of our present wealth in favour of a secure and
healthy environment for future generations.
Or perhaps they do not understand or do not believe the unequivocal consensus from
the scientific community. If this is so, then their opinions have probably been influenced by
others, so here we return again to the power of well-funded lobby groups that can under-
mine the basic tenets of democracy. The excellent 2010 topic by Naomi Oreskes and Erik
Conway (see the bibliography ) argues that the campaigns of the lobbyists have historically