This is not as detailed as I would go in an actual conversation-this is just a fischer-price version on the deal...
Now, I agree the idea of global warming leaves a lot to consider. I mean to say, the Earth is pretty frickin' big and has been around for a long time. It has obviously seen its share of climate change throughout it's lifetime. Clearly the Earth has a way of making up for, and dealing with, extreme weather conditions. However, every addition we make to the earth be it through cities, buildings, vehicles or even humans themselves-takes up space and creates heat. Not too many of man's technological advances focus on or produce cooler temperatures. So the idea that humanity's additions upon the Earth has zero influence on the Earth's atmosphere, no matter how large or small, and no matter how the Earth compensates for it, seems a little harder to grasp-in my opinion.
I know there's been new evidence showing that scientists and researchers who work in the global warming field have fudged their results-it's not a big surprise. Theres a lot of money to be made in the name of global warming. You know, I'd like to think Al Gore meant well, but c'mon, he's a politician-you think he didn't get paid for "An Inconvenient Truth"? Although there are probably a lot of scientists and researchers who actually care about the Earth, I bet there's a shit ton more who get paid by companies (and lobbyists) that gain from global warming.
Global Warming = Big Business.
Companies who project an image that cares about recycling and claims to be "doing their part for a cleaner tomorrow" can add millions of dollars in revenue and profit by appealing to climate conscience consumers. All it takes is adding the familiar (three arrowed) recycling logo to a plastic water bottle, health bar or toilet paper package to lead a consumer to believe that they themselves are doing their part to help the Earth simply by buying that product. Before you know it, the same consumer tells Stacy down the street, Janice at the gym and Cindy at the church about the product they've found that is "Earth friendly," which is exactly the idea. So a company that spends an extra $.1 to acquire the rights to plaster the international logo for recycling on their product (and added $.3 to the price) has added revenue and profit (over 200% for the recycling logo alone) on top of the mark up that it cost to manufacture the product in the first place. Not to mention the company only has to recycle 1/32 of the waste it produces to be considered "eco-friendly."
Global Warming + Politics
This is simple. Global warming should not be a consideration when it comes to deciding on who to vote for. To tell you the truth, I don't think it really is (right now) to most people. Global warming is not a stance or a belief that should determine which candidate is right for the job, it's a non-issue. Global warming (whether one thinks it's happening or not) should be something humans work on. It's not a moral, or character issue.
So What Should We Do...?
I think we should give a shit. I mean, whether global warming is happening or not, shouldn't we as humans care about what we are doing to the only planet (for now) that we have to live on!? I mean, should it really matter if green house gasses exist? Shouldn't we say "hey, umm, burning these fossil fuels is kinda polluting our atmosphere and slowly poisoning all of us. Let's not do that anymore." And (yes I started a sentence with "and") to anyone that says that fossil fuels hasn't been proven to damage the atmosphere or humans-look at a picture of Houston, LA, or Mexico City from the suburbs. Still not convinced? Put your lips around the tail pipe of a car and breathe in, let me know how it feels. It only takes some common sense to realize that even if burning fossil fuels isn't adding to the overall temperature of the Earth-it's still not a good thing to be breathing in. With so many clean alternative ways to produce fuel and electricity, doesn't it seem like common sense to be incorporating these technologies into our lives?
That's what it comes down to. You either give a shit or you don't. You either care about what kind of Earth you leave behind or you don't. Most likely you or I won't be around when humans colonize another planet-but the people after us who do, may not colonize another planet because of amazing technological advances, but because the generations that came before them trashed their home planet so badly, that they had no choice.