jimbennett wrote: It amazes me how antagonistic zealots become when it is pointed out that things have been getting better for the billions of the earth, despite generations of gloom and doom predictions--no food, the doomsday clock, peak oil, global warming, climate change, ocean acidification, catastrophic weather...there will always be false prophets, who in this day and age seem to like private jets and large residences. Everyone has an agenda, as the late Michael Crichton used to say.
I think the reasonable people in this debate wont question the advances made possible by cheap, fossil fuel. I would wholeheartedly agree that the coal- and oil age created incredible wealth for us (the industrialized western nations) and that it continues to do so. However, I find it also reasonable to point out now, especially that we have meaningful alternatives, that the CO2 party cannot go on forever and that it is time to switch gears. Because now the side effects (global warming) start to outweigh the desired effects (economic progress).
I wouldn't exactly see this as doom and gloom predictions, but as rational foresight.
What is annoying though are people who are telling us, in spite of overwhelming scientific evidence, that there is no problem and therefore no need to change our ways.
And yes, some of them have an agenda, which is to protect the financial well being of a few at the expense of the many.