Your Opinion: Climate change not a political issue

Dear Editor:

After 9/11 Vice President Cheney was credited with the concept that America would act against any terror threat to us even if the threat was only one percent. This was called the One Percent Doctrine. It was the Bush administration justification for invading Iraq.

With a greater than one percent chance of severe consequences from global climate change, why does this doctrine not apply? Meanwhile well-known Missouri Republicans mock Al Gore over winter storm patterns. In return some progressives mock these Republicans. They clown and we lose.

In the past few years we have seen an increase of winter snow and ice. Mr. Gore cites scientists who state this could be a factor of increased moisture in the atmosphere from global warming trends. His opponents cite nothing in particular but each other.

Global warming deniers tell you that climate scientists are split on the issue. Yes, 99 percent to one percent they report with certainty that the world climate is warming from human activity. Many of the 1 percent scientific outliers work for the energy industry. The disinformation and misinformation from industry spokesmen is often and loud. Fox and Republican congressmen then become a big echo chamber. They succeed because the public is now confused over what is fact or fiction.

Climate scientists are like any other professional. They spend their entire life learning and working their profession.

But today any TV personality or John Doe congressman can mock their work and question or deny their findings. If your cancer doctor said you had a malignant tumor, would you take a second opinion from a TV pitchman?

Global climate change should not be a political issue but it is. It is part of the Republican war on science. In my family I have a forensic scientist and a breast cancer researcher. I know how hard they work to just report their findings.

That is what science does. Science does not editorialize. To repudiate findings you should have facts. With climate science there is a relentless war from opponents to smear and repudiate by innuendo and emotion.

In the battle to belittle science we deny ourselves more efficient cars. We ignore the low hanging fruit of making our buildings and homes more energy efficient. We saddle ourselves with greater costs and stymie progress.

In doing this Americans may be betting on the wrong horse and assuring themselves of a poorer future.