Reflections on the New Year
TOM BURGUM
Contributing Columnist
burgum@lbknews.com
The onset of a new year causes a good many people to stop and reflect on the past year’s happenings and what might be in store for us in the new year. I hope it doesn’t sound cynical, but the portent for more foolishness from the global warming crowd, media and others seems very great.
Actually, I think the current global warming scare poses more problems for mankind than any chance the earth’s temperature may actually be on the rise — which, as it turns out, it isn’t. Recently it was revealed by the British Broadcasting Corporation that the four major global temperature tracking outlets (Hadley, NASA’s GISS, UAH and RSS) announced that their data indicates that the earth cooled in 2007. The total amount of cooling ranges from 0.65C up to 0.75C — a value large enough to wipe out nearly all the warming recorded over the past 100 years.
So, there you have it. It’s the single fastest temperature change ever recorded, either up or down. When you consider that prior to 2007 the world’s temperature had not risen since 1998, it appears that the globe is cooling. But, it is not politically correct to say this; you must say, “Global warming has slowed.”
None of this, of course, will have the slightest effect on Al Gore and global warming neo-religionists. Al and the gang believe mankind can redeem itself for having the gall to even exist on the planet. We can do penance by purchasing carbon offsets (paying Al Gore to plant trees in Africa); or tithing (accepting a carbon tax); changing your light bulbs (now using the ones filled with mercury); and insisting that other people ride the bus (have you ever known anyone who regularly rides a bus? Of course not, riding a bus is for someone else).
Part of the problem is that people are crazier now than they were 70 years ago. A Dec. 12, 1938, edition of the New York Times features an article, “World Climate Growing Warmer, Say Russians, Citing Arctic Data.” Harold Denny of the Times reported that Soviet explorers near the North Pole found the Arctic region was warmer and thus concluded the whole world is growing warmer. Predictions at the time had the world catastrophically hot by 1947.
There was no panicked call for remedial action, possibly because World War II intervened less than a year later. The Germans didn’t worry about emissions caused while they were incinerating Europe anymore than the Allies did while destroying much of Germany and Japan. Even so, 1947, the year of climate destiny, dawned with one of the coldest winters on record. Many in war-ravaged Europe might have welcomed a warmer climate.
Still, had environmentalists been as powerful then as they are now, it isn’t hard to imagine a headline in 1942 announcing that, “Environmentalists Demand American Tanks be Smaller and More Fuel Efficient.” I’m sure some environment or consumers group would have asked the Air Force if they couldn’t make do with two−engine bombers rather than the fuel-guzzling four-engine types.
It is predicted Wall Street is looking forward to some bad moments in 2009. Bernard Madoff, the former NASDAQ chairman, was charged with bilking $50 billion from clients in a massive Ponzi scheme that was committed over a number of years. Seems in 2005, Madoff began taking new money from investors to pay off existing clients who wanted to cash out. It all fell apart when clients began asking for more money than could be covered by new money coming in.
I don’t think Madoff should be jailed. If convicted, he should serve out his time as head of Social Security. Hell, our Social Security system is nothing but a giant Ponzi scheme anyway. In 2009, billions in Social Security taxes will be collected. This money will be used to pay current retirees because the money they contributed during their working life was long ago spent on something or someone else. When the time comes that retirees are owed far more than working Americans can pay, it will take a Bernie Madoff to explain how things went bad. It will be a big help to Congress, as they will have someone to blame — other than themselves.
Then, there is the tale of the media and two women. The first is Gov. Sarah Palin. She was almost a storybook figure until nominated for vice president. She worked as a steelworker and a commercial fisherman. She was elected to the school board, mayor of a small town, served on an energy commission and was elected governor.
Then there is Caroline Bouvier Kennedy, daughter of John F. Kennedy, sister of John Jr., niece of Senators Ted and Robert Kennedy, granddaughter of Ambassador Joseph Kennedy. Ms. Kennedy’s experience is mainly found in her charity work on behalf of public schools even though she is entirely a product of private schools. The Kennedy’s are a bit like Rousseau. He idolized the lower classes as long as he didn’t have to associate with them.
Palin’s advance on the national scene was met by not entirely unwarranted criticism but at a volume and intensity that seemed a bit over the top. Meanwhile, the normally sensible Washington Post has featured two articles by Ruth Marcus that refers to the “fairy tale” scenario in which Kennedy, our “tragic national princess,” is finally rewarded. As criticism, it is a bit softer than that endured by Palin. Don’t expect this to change in 2009.
It is safe to say that next year will feature predictions of political, economic and climate doom, most of which will be wrong. But, the predictors will keep predicting as they seem to have adopted the advice Bob Uecker gave to young ball players: “Keep swinging. Eventually the ball will hit the bat.”
