04/29/2007

Letters to the Editor

At Issue: Global Warming

Need smart decisions

The article on the Grand Traverse County commissioners' positions on global climate change (Commissioners slam global warming, April 22) was as enlightening as it was embarrassing.

As any scientist will tell you, theories are never proven, they are either supported or debunked. To say global climate change is "unproven” is true, but then again, so is the theory of gravity.

A very small handful of fringe scientists have found a way to keep the debate alive; in fact, this is no longer a debate.

Scientists know enough to predict and observe some of the problems and suggest some solutions, many of which would serve the dual purpose of combatting climate change and increasing our energy independence by reducing demand.

Whether a trend initiated, or merely exacerbated, by humans, our emissions are all we can control.

The Grand Traverse County commissioners sounded uninformed, entrenched and nearly belligerent on the issue of global climate change. In difficult times, leaders need to, well, lead. Not drag their heels, not act on whimsy, but carefully review and analyze the best information available and proceed in a way that preserves the quality of life of those that would follow them.

Rachael Franks Taylor
Traverse City

Extremely uninformed

I read with increasing astonishment the comments from the county commissioners in the April 22 paper. I cannot believe public officials can be so uninformed regarding climate change.

I feel embarrassed to have that group of people representing my interests.

If there is anyone else considering a recall vote, count me in.

Dawn Edgley
Traverse City

Lack of knowledge

Your reporting on "Commissioners Slam on Global Warming” made me ill. How can these public officials be unaware of the scientific studies that overwhelmingly support a theory of modern human population-induced accelerated global warming? Their comments are insensitive and reek of sarcasm. As we will soon see, this is no laughing matter. They sound downright pompous. I feel sorry for them and our community.

Their collective mentality is what is destroying our planet, our environment, our only home. I hope that these three officials can do something key in their own development as human beings, public officials or not.

That key thing would be to listen to the children. Go ahead Wheelock, Thomas, Underwood, listen to a child and learn something. We have to care for this gol darn planet and use some common sense, be resource responsible, gentle and kind or we die.

Please stop embarrassing yourself and disgracing the people you represent.

Kirk Abramowski
Benzonia

It's all a big plot

I see that commissioners Wheelock, Underwood and Thomas have seen thorough this massive socialist plot to push the global warming agenda. Good for them. It is wonderful to see rural county commissioners so savvy about socialist plots. Just because the overwhelming majority of scientists believe that the earth is getting warmer and that greenhouse gases are contributing to this outcome is, itself, clear evidence of a socialist plot.

Every right-thinking person knows that all scientists are socialists. (Except for creation scientists, of course.)

The "National Geographic's” pictures of the shrinking polar ice cap are not really evidence at all. I know for a fact that Canadian Socialists, joined by most American Socialists, travel to the ice cap every year. They take blowtorches and melt as much of the ice cap as they can just before the "Geographic” does its fly-over. That's why you see those phony pictures.

You know the magazine is deviant when they keep insisting that the Earth is more than 8,000 years old. Poppycock! No right-thinking person believes that!

So, three cheers for our commissioners' amazing intelligence. I hope everyone appreciates them just as I do.

Henry E. Klugh
Traverse City

Keep them guessing

Regarding the global-warming comments by the county commissioners, I could not help thinking of the old adage that it's better to keep your mouth shut and let people suspect you're a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.

Mike Richter
Traverse City

Courage of their beliefs

Just for the record, we applaud (Grand Traverse) commissioners Wheelock, Thomas and Underwood for having the courage to speak the truth. Tom Karas claims he is "appalled” by their comments. Well, we've been appalled for several years by Al Gore and the fabricated minutia he feeds this country.

Numerous times we have contacted fightglobalwarming.com and ippc.ch for information that supports global warming to be better educated. To this date we have received no concrete supporting data, only prognostications.

Hopefully others will applaud these commissioners for their stand.

Barb and Scott Huber
Traverse City

Let's hear more

Kudos to Grand Traverse County commissioners Wheelock, Thomas and Underwood for their comments on global warming.

Such uninformed and outrageous statements coming from elected officials ought to offer hope to all young people too lazy to pay attention in science class. Why bother to learn about climate science when you can conjure up your own scientific conclusions?

I propose that the Record-Eagle sponsor a weekly "Ask the Commissioners” column so we can learn what else these three are ruminating on. Next week's topic: "Earth: Round or Flat?”

I would worry that they might ruin the fun by studying up or looking at the horizon, but it doesn't sound like that will be a problem.

Kevin Postma
Manistee

Get with the program

Are we reading what our county reps are saying? I hope we all look at who we are voting for in the future.

We are burning up our resources so fast, and all I've heard from the outspoken reps is get rid of recycling, burn that fuel, consume, consume, consume.

I believe we need a more forward-thinking group representing Grand Traverse County.

Scott McDowell
Interlochen