Originally Posted by tomgoodman

The "tax this and subsidize that" horse is long out of the barn, and good luck herding it back in. New forms of energy (hydroelectric, nuclear, solar, geothermal) usually require government start-up assistance, because the economic break-even point is too far in the future to attract enough private capital. And yes, government can be very clumsy in its choices, but so can CEOs.

Originally Posted by FDXLAG

You forgot ethanol in your example. I would argue regulation has more to do with the required capital for start up costs and problems reaching profit. But Solar (like ethanol)is a great example of where government is forcing good money out of the market. Just ask Spain (but don't expect an honest answer).

Originally Posted by tomgoodman

Yes, regulation is a tool government often uses to obtain some result without the political pain of raising taxes to pay for it. In addition, unnecessary regulations may have stifled technological innovation to protect the turf of established companies.
I'm not familiar with the Spain example -- what are they up to?

Originally Posted by KC10 FATboy

We only need a couple more inches of snow and we break the history books. This is already on top of one of the coldest winters ever.

Originally Posted by N2264J

As the atmosphere gets warmer, more moisture evaporates and is allowed to be suspended in the air. When the air cools, it condenses out as snow.

Since the United States represents around 2% of the Earth's surface, you shouldn't draw any conclusions because it happens to be cold in February. "Global warming," "climate change" and "global climate destablization" are all descriptive terms for the pendulum swinging further towards the extremes. The "warm" will get warmer and the "cools" cooler.

It's official now, although Fox viewers haven't heard, the last decade was the warmest on record.

2000s warmest decade on record, government reports - Yahoo! News

Originally Posted by N2264J

It's official now, although Fox viewers haven't heard, the last decade was the warmest on record.

2000s warmest decade on record, government reports - Yahoo! News

Originally Posted by FDXLAG

Carefull some of the rats are starting to abandon the ship:

Originally Posted by jungle

Taken at face value, they point to warming to a very small degree.

Originally Posted by Michael Winship

...One big fact that convinces me of the reality of climate change is the seriousness with which America's defense and intelligence agencies are taking it as a worldwide threat. The American Security Project, a Washington think tank, reported last month that the Central Intelligence Agency has relaunched a program "to share surveillance and other data with scientists monitoring climate change," including satellite photos.

And in September, the CIA announced it was creating a Center on Climate Change and National Security that will study "the effect environmental factors can have on political, economic, and social stability overseas."

The Chief of Naval Operations has established "Task Force Climate Change" to "assess the Navy's preparedness to respond to emerging requirements, and to develop a science-based timeline for future Navy actions regarding climate change." Navy Secretary Ray Mabus has set the year 2020 as a deadline for the Navy cutting its use of fossil fuels by half.

On Feb. 1, the Pentagon issued its Quadrennial Defense Review, which establishes defense strategy and priorities and evaluates potential international risks. It cites intelligence assessments that "climate change could have significant geopolitical impacts around the world, contributing to poverty, environmental degradation and the further weakening of fragile governments. Climate change will contribute to food and water scarcity, will increase the spread of disease and may spur or exacerbate mass migration.

"While climate change alone does not cause conflict, it may act as an accelerant of instability or conflict, placing a burden to respond on civilian institutions and militaries around the world."

Among its other findings, the review cites a 2008 National Intelligence Council report that more than 30 U.S. military installations were "already facing elevated levels of risk from rising sea levels. DoD's operational readiness hinges on continued access to land, air, and sea training and test space.

Consequently, the department must complete a comprehensive assessment of all installations to assess the potential impacts of climate change on its missions and adapt as required."

Originally Posted by N2264J

To you maybe. If the temperature of the human body goes up a few degrees and stays there, the body dies.



A temperature range that will support life as we know it will be fine, thank you. Do you realize the vast carbon sink of the planet's oceans are becoming more acidic? In fact, acidic enough to dissolve shellfish shells and coral? When the oceans start dying, the earth will no longer be able to support the current number of human beings.

The CIA and the Pentagon are not exactly what I would call left-wing-tree-hugging-hippy-kooks:



Consortiumnews.com