One Person's Opinion on the Earth's History and Politics

[Editor’s note: This letter is in response to McLouis Robinet’s “Personal Opinions Don’t Count in Science,” March 2.]

I am neither a climate scientist nor a statistical analyst, but my opinion is that the statistical data is at best marginal. Look at it this way: Depending upon your personal convictions, the Earth or the universe is 5,000 or 5 billion years old. We have had reliable thermometers for just over 500 years; we have had systematized worldwide data collection since the beginning of World War II, and satellite imaging and data collection for less than 50 years.

We are looking at a snippet of history. We do not even know whether the data we have reflects a cyclical phenomenon or some long-term trend.

In the same vein as Mr. Robinet’s comments, do the opinions of politicians, who are neither climatologists nor even scientists, have more weight than those of “30,000 scientists” who presumably have some experience in evaluating scientific phenomenon?

Just “wait and see” does not adequately deal with the issue. But neither does panic. The enactment of laws and regulations without concern for the social and economic issues involved does not seem justifiable.

But that, of course is a matter of opinion, my opinion, which, of course, is superior to all others’ opinions.

Thomas Johnston
Hvac Service Technician
L.Q. Johnston Repair Shop Inc.
Troy, Ala.

Read Those Scientific Studies

In Peter Powell’s column, he states that he has “no idea how great scientific minds can shift thought processes so quickly.” Actually, after a few colder than average winters in the 1970s, the media started speculating about how the earth might be headed for a new ice age. This was not an idea that was started by any scientific studies. Although there is certainly much more research that needs to done, there are numerous scientific studies that support a trend towards global warming.

You are doing your readers a disservice when you perpetuate a myth.

Eric Lofgren, Owner
Boyd Lofgren & Co., Cleveland

Where's the Evidence of Global Warming?

In response to McLouis Robinet’s letter [“Personal Opinions Don’t Count in Science,” March 2] why does Mr. Robinet think his opinion is valid?

Global average temperatures have been going down since 1998, the polar bear population is on the rise, and my back hurts from shoveling an amazing amount of snow this year.

All I can say is that finally sanity is beginning to reclaim the public mind.

Brian McGill, Engineer
Savage, Minn.

Send correspondence via e-mail to letters@achrnews.com.

Publication date:06/15/2009