Why Worry about Global Warming?

Maybe global warming is not really happening. However, Time Magazine and other publications recently have presented abundant evidence of global warming, in laymen's terms that not many people could misunderstand. Global warming is upon us and may be a greater threat than nuclear war.

Why worry about something that may not have catastrophic effect for fifty years? If one is in one's golden years, has no descendants and cares little about the future of the human race, that is a logical conclusion.

Perhaps at this point there may be nothing that can be done to stop global warming. That is a fatalistic response to a serious problem. There was a time when small pox, malaria and tuberculosis were considered unavoidable. But, as the causes of those diseases were discovered and programs started, those diseases were eradicated in most civilized countries.

Let's not be self-centered. Although global warming threatens Cedar Key, New York City, the Netherlands and other seaside communities, global warming will make Canada, Siberia and the Scandinavian countries more livable the year around. Shipping lanes from Japan to European markets will open in the absence of icebergs. And the Middle East will become so hot that people won't have time to pursue genocide.

Tax haters may say, "Let's ignore global warming because elected officials might look ahead fifty years and spend our tax money to stop it." Regardless of one's attitude about taxes it is time to look ahead fifty years and face the problem. Legislators and consumers alike must take action to reduce carbon dioxide production, the now conspicuous cause of global warming.

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