Traitors All!

Paul Krugman celebrates his Nobel Prize in Polemics by declaring that all those who disagree with him on global warming are traitors to the planet.  No, I am not sure what that means either, but it certainly sets a high rhetorical bar - presumably those who disagree with him on health care reform are traitors to humanity, but what about those who disagree with him on the wisdom of nationalizing Citicorp?  Are we merely traitors to our debit cards, or does Krugman contemplate a more dramatic charge?

Well.  Let me not come between you and some lunatic ravings:

Temperature increases on the scale predicted by the M.I.T. researchers and others would create huge disruptions in our lives and our economy. As a recent authoritative U.S. government report points out, by the end of this century New Hampshire may well have the climate of North Carolina today, Illinois may have the climate of East Texas, and across the country extreme, deadly heat waves — the kind that traditionally occur only once in a generation — may become annual or biannual events.

Deadly heat waves that only occur once in a generation will soon become annual events.  Hmm.  My guess is that one major reason a rare, unusual heat wave is so deadly is because - stay with me on this - it is rare and unusual.  The good people of the great city of Phoenix have a word for the sort of weather that would be a record breaking heat wave in New York City; that word is "normal".  Yet my summer reading does not include headlines of people dropping in the streets of Phoenix like pop flies over the NY Mets infield.   Or turn it around - why, one might wonder, does Washington DC struggle during a snow storm that Buffalo would handle with panache?  Familiarity may not breed contempt but it inspires preparation.

But let's cut to the Health section of the USGCRP report in question (press release) for some more merriment.  About those heat waves? 

Heat is already the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States. More than 3,400 deaths between 1999 and 2003 were reported as resulting from exposure to excessive heat.

That is about 850 deaths per year.  Each untimely death is tragic and Krugman is surely vexed that this number might rise.  But by way of comparison, a 2002 study estimated that higher CAFE standards would put Americans in smaller cars and result in an additional 2,000 deaths per year; Krugman, as a party-line progressive, surely supports higher CAFE standards.  I denounce Krugman as a traitor to the national highway system!  Not to mention as a traitor to the safety of my wife and kids.

And let's press on with the USGCRP "science":

Projections for Chicago suggest that the average number of deaths due to heat waves would more than double by 2050 under a lower emissions scenario91 and quadruple under a high emissions scenario 91 (see figure page 90). 283

The number of deaths will double or quadruple?  Geez, that is pretty grim.  Of course, as the report notes, the United States population is getting larger, older, fatter, and more diabetic, so all sorts of death rates are rising.  Just for starters, since the population is getting older, what is the heat wave related death rate per hundred thousand for folks aged 65 to 85?  The USGCRP may know, but they aren't telling - all they deliver is an aggregate deaths per 6 million (but they do tell us that the proportion of the US population over 65 will rise from 12 percent to 21 percent by 2050).

My goodness - if this had been delivered under George Bush earnest libs would have hollered that this slippery presentation represented the worst sort of phony, politicized science .  Fortunately, it came out under Obama and tells the story Krugman wants told, so he is delighted to cite it.

Back to Special K:

In other words, we’re facing a clear and present danger to our way of life, perhaps even to civilization itself. How can anyone justify failing to act?

Jiminy, Krugman sounds like he just learned he won't be able to chill his white wine.  Relax, prof, there will be ice in the future.  Annual heat weaves are a clear and present danger unless we can invent air conditioners and remind people to flip them on.

I DEPLORE THIS FALSE EQUIVALENCE:  Andrew Sullivan misses the distinction between traitors to the planet and traitors to their party.

BUT SERIOUSLY:  We will let Krugman bash Al Gore while we boost Bjorn Lomborg, the Skeptical Environmentalist, in this old piece.  Key point:

And just to state the ought-to-be-obvious - Lomborg has parted company (as have I) with the folks who argue that humans have not contributed to global warming.  His position is that, to whatever extent we have, global warming is just one of many problems and that making it a top priority would be a major mis-allocation of resources.

As an economist, this notion of a cost-benefit analysis ought to be familiar to Krugman.  Ought to be.

Comments

[Pofarmer]

Anthony Watts has up one hell of a blog from Jennifer Marohasy on why Global warming may, indeed, be man made.

LUN.

[Parking Lot]

from the LRC Blogon the same article:

PLEASE FORWARD THE FOLLOWING TO PAUL KRUGMAN

The Global Warming Petition Project [GW skeptics]: 31,478 American scientists have signed this petition, including 9,029 with PhDs.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [GW true believers]: "AR4 is the most comprehensive synthesis of climate change science to date. Experts from more than 130 countries contributed to this assessment, which represents six years of work. More than 450 lead authors have received input from more than 800 contributing authors, and an additional 2,500 experts reviewed the draft documents."

Score:
Traitorous/Lunatic Fringe/Skeptical Climate Change Experts: 31,478

Rational/Reputable/Irrefutable Climate Change Experts: 3,750

[matt]

ban coca cola...it contains carbon dioxide.....ban diet coke and we will have a revolution by America's women.

[Strawman Cometh]

"we’re facing a clear and present danger to our way of life, perhaps even to civilization itself. How can anyone justify failing to act?"

If I didn't know better, and I do, I'd say that Pauly has seen the light and is ready to storm the barricades.

[Pofarmer]

I'm pretty appalled that there are commenters on Ag blogs that actually support this cap and trade abortion.

[sylvia]

"After all, to believe that global warming is a hoax you have to believe in a vast cabal consisting of thousands of scientists "

Yeah the same cabal of scientists who told me my whole life that margarine was good for you and that you had to be rail thin to live long. Up until about a couple years ago.

Can we say W-R-O-N-G??

[sylvia]

Oh yeah, and are these the same scientists many of whom still insist that the sun has no role in earth's warming cycles? So did these geniuses ever tell us what caused all those ice ages and warming periods, pre-humans burning things?

[davod]

The warmingists believe (including Obama) that the cost of energy has to rise significantly to obtain any real reduction in Global Warming gases.

What are the death statistics for every one cent increase in the cost of electicity.

[Kevin B]

Some anecdotal evidence.

My father died in the winter and we had to wait two weeks for a free slot at the funeral parlour. My mother died in the summer and we could have had the funeral the next day.

More people die in cold spells each year than ever die in hot spells. Ration energy, (by tax-hikes) and people will suffer and die.

Send every obit of every friend or relative who dies in winter to Krugman, with a note to explain that these deaths are on his concience.

[PeterUK]

An absolute scorcher yesterday morning,dulled over in the afternoon,cooled down in the evening and rained last night. A cheery bright grey this morning,though not cold.
The Met Office forcast a life threatening heat wave,keep all children,the elderly and the infirm inside.
Usual bollocks of course,it has piddled down for the last two summers,but we do have faint race memories of sunny summers.

[PeterUK]

"After all, to believe that global warming is a hoax you have to believe in a vast cabal consisting of thousands of scientists "

Viewing the various and often mutually conflicting world cults and religions ,I find this not in the least difficult.

Viewing ideas that,historically,scientists believed as fact,I find mass delusion as highly probable.

Now if anyone can help me get this "philosopher's Stone" working - we'll be rich beyond the dreams of average.

[peter]

Dropping like fly balls over the Met infield! Tom, you are cruel.

[Captain Hate]

I'm pretty appalled that there are commenters on Ag blogs that actually support this cap and trade abortion.

Po, what's their rationale for that? Regarding Paulie, do any editors exist at the NYT to moderate the ravings of this unscientific emotional basketcase or is that job left vacant?

[Extraneus]

"After all, to believe that global warming is a hoax you have to believe in a vast cabal consisting of thousands of scientists."

This is a good point. But how could such an unlikely thing happen?

Paleoclimate scientist Bob Carter, who has testified before the Senate Environment & Public Works committee, explained how much money has been spent researching and promoting climate fears and so-called solutions.

“In one of the more expensive ironies of history, the expenditure of more than $US50 billion on research into global warming since 1990 has failed to demonstrate any human-caused climate trend, let alone a dangerous one," Carter wrote on June 18, 2007.

You can buy a lot of scientists with $50 BILLION. In fact, for $1 MILLION apiece, you can by 50,000 scientists with $50 BILLION.

That's a lot of scientists.

[Making a list a checking it twice. Someday Paul will be grateful for a boxful of coal from Santa..]

'Beyond the dreams of average'. That's a keeper, P, thanks.

It is little known but the UN IPCC scientific sections are written by approx. 50 true believer scientists and the Summary for Policymakers by fewer than a dozen committed alarmists. How this scientific fraud became widespread 'settled' science will be the subject of dozens of doctorates in the sociology and the history of science.

Naomi Oreskes, look to your laurels. Aren't they drooping a little? Sure, smoking tobacco causes lung cancer, but the weak greenhouse gas, CO2 can't even keep the earth warm.

[PeterUK]

How goes the Phlogiston Project? Have we found a cure for the "dank humours of the morning"?

[It's not nice to fool Mother Gaia.]

Look, this started as a holy crusade to save the earth from man's effect on climate. The IPCC was chartered not to understand the climate, but to limit man's role. They got started down an incorrect path, the teaser CO2 called, and they even missed the boat on man's real effect on climate which is most marked as regional climate change. As the globe's scientists pushed further down the path of CO2=AGW, the politicians smelled money, power and glory, and the journalists sensed apocalyptic stories and away the Hell bound bunch went.

It is incontrovertible that the CO2=AGW paradigm has failed. Its poster boys, the global climate models, are exactly wrong in their projections of global warming, and every piece of the science behind the CO2=AGW paradigm has been shown to be wrong or has been substantively challenged, yet on the show rode, oblivious to the road signs that changed from anticipating heaven to guaranteeing Hell. Really, given the skeptical challenge, scientists are beginning to become suspect if they don't question their assumptions. Having tossed out scientific rigour and honesty for the lure of 'saving the world', some of the worst of these scientists are now showing signs of corruption.

The globe is cooling, folks; for how long no one knows, but likely for 20 years and possibly for a hundred years. Even if it is only for the shorter term, crop failures are going to be devastating, and rising energy prices are going to hamper social advancement, in first and third world countries alike. This is ultimately going to be a killer for the ideas and ideology of the left, and of the transnationals, but, Oh My God, the travails we'll have to go through in order to right this bit of insanity, this popular delusion and Madness of the Crowd.

[It's not nice to fool Mother Gaia.]

Peter, my advice for you
Is to get dew on your shoe.

[My cat took me for a walk yesterday; ooh, the things we saw.]

For companionship, too
A nice dog'll do.

[The phase changes of water provoke so many poorly parameterized forces in nature that the models can't help but fail.]

OK, gotta slip this one in while no one is watching. I found it in three year old comments at Climate Audit.

I think I've never heard so loud
The quiet message in a cloud.

[PeterUK]

"Paul Krugman celebrates his Nobel Prize in Polemics by declaring that all those who disagree with him on global warming are traitors to the planet."

Which we explain this,

"After all, to believe that global warming is a hoax you have to believe in a vast cabal consisting of thousands of scientists."

If career,livelihood and personal character depend on being a believer,people are going to believe.

[Paul Zrimsek]

If old people don't want to die of the heat couldn't they just quit moving to Florida?

[Pofarmer]

"Po, what's their rationale for that?"

Basically, that we'll get to sell "Carbon Credits" that amount to maybe, maybe, 5 bucks an acre a year, and that, supposedly, this bill supports biofuels. IMHO going to even more biofuels is one of the DUMBEST things we could do, but the commodity ag groups are all behind it. The amount of fuel we'd make if we turn ALL our crops into fuel would be spit in a bucket, maybe 10% of current usage, and then, what are we gonna eat? Do you wanna import fuel or food, and how much do you want to pay for both? This is madness, but there are enough folks who see a profit in it to support it.

[Captain Hate]

Are the farmers that support biofuels generally ones whose farms aren't doing very well with traditional crops and animals? I said "generally" because I know even very efficient farmers in my wife's family that would probably support the "cushion" effect of anything providing support in a down year.

[PeterUK]

Pofarmer,

The EU figures indicate that the entire food crops of Europe would have to be turned over to biofuel production.At the moment they are juggling with the Carbon Emissions levels demanded by Brussels and the impossible means of doing so.
Our Prune Minister has signed up to this lunacy oblivious to the fact that achieving it is impossible.

[Captain Hate]

Our Prune Minister

In the comments of "Who Was the Author of 'Dreams of Being in the Manson Family'?" this is an example of a comment that could only be written by a poster with a PUKish sense of humor.

[Pofarmer]

Are the farmers that support biofuels generally ones whose farms aren't doing very well with traditional crops and animals?

Generally the BFO's(Big Fuckin Operators).

[Pofarmer]

Sprott Asset managment.(never heard of em).

On the Bond Markets.

LUN.

[Rick Ballard]

Pofarmer,

Thanks for the link to the Sprott piece. It's a nice elucidation of the Fed's monetization of the debt. I believe that they're a little off in their analysis of foreign and international holders - the last auctions had very good foreign central bank participation. Apparently the foreign central banks have come to the realization that they are full partners in propping up the facade rather than being simply interested bystanders watching its collapse.

That certainly does not negate the central point - their just ain't enough money to cover this binge unless Uncle Ben turns the printing presses to Warp 9.

On your point regarding the BFOs - can we really blame them for wanting to glean the scraps from the tables of the great Northeastern whores gathered on Wall Street? After all, are the black box models used to "prove" the truth of this scam any worse than those used to create the MBS scam? Why should the Wall Street whores and the pols rented by them be the only ones to cash checks from this fraud?

[Old Lurker]

The Central Banks have learned (or are just learning) the old adage that we real estate borrowers learned years ago. Owe the bank $1M and you have a problem. Owe the bank $25M and they have a problem.

[Old Lurker]

Speaking of scams, Rick, did you see the WS guys yesterday playing the Peak Oil card again? Proving that some wells just never go dry.

[brenda]

"Nobody is interested in solutions if they don't think there's a problem. Given that starting point, I believe it is appropriate to have an over-representation of factual presentations on how dangerous (global warming) is, as a predicate for opening up the audience to listen to what the solutions are..."

former Vice President Al Gore
(now, chairman and co-founder of Generation Investment Management--
a London-based business that sells carbon credits)
(in interview with Grist Magazine May 9, 2006, concerning his book, An Inconvenient Truth)

[brenda]

"No matter if the science is all phony, there are collateral environmental benefits...climate change provides the greatest chance to bring about justice and equality in the world"

Christine Stewart, former Canadian Environment Minister.

[clarice]

Tell Christine to start by putting Al Gore on a food and energy diet..

[Rick Ballard]

"Proving that some wells just never go dry."

OL,

I did see it. It's a safe bet that the reserves in the pool of public ignorance are much greater than those of oil.

Charles Pettis interesting observations concerning the condition of the Chicom facade. I wasn't aware of the "first banking crisis" dating to 10 BC. Boy, we sure have made a lot of progress since then!

Or not.

[PeterUK]

""No matter if the evidence of WMD is phony, there are collateral political benefits...the invasion of Iraq provides the greatest chance to bring about justice and equality in the Middle East"

[matt]

Off with their heads, said the Krugman of tarts!

[Neo]

The title of this thread reminds me that being thrown from the bus may not be such a bad fate if it's the bus at the end of the movie "Traitor"

[Old Dad]

We're in a bit of a pickle here. Normal adults would dismiss Krugman's remarks as the ranting of a lunatic or of a spoiled silly child. Normal adults typically choose not to address lunatics or spoiled children. However, now that the lunatics are running the asylum, I suppose they need to somehow be dealt with. Lunatics can be confined or medicated, perhaps, both. Spoiled children can be spanked.

What do you recommend for Krugman, Thorazine or a good thrashing? I favor a sound whipping followed by a stern talking to and bed without supper.

[RichatUF]

Pofarmer, thanks for the Sprott article. It lays out the QE problem pretty well but could probably use a bit on the Taylor Rule (a tool the Fed uses for interest rate policy, it is currently calling for a -5% rate) and Excess Bank Reserves [ie is it inflationary if the money the Fed is printing is just sitting idle on banks books because the banks have to disentangle their loan books (the failed securitization models) and worry about the next "bight idea" from Congress and the Administration (mortgage re-financing rules which is pushing another class of borrowers into default and not really solving the first wave of foreclosures)] . Can't disagree that "the US budget is ludicrous".

Rick, great find. Never knew there was a bank panic in Rome and quite a few US banks have taken the opportunity to quietly exit the Chinese banking sector.

[narciso]

Have to reread Durant, so there may have been an economic motive, behind the most
infamous events in history.

[Parking Lot]

RichUF

I heard some online rumors yesterday that the admin is quietly telling all its foreign embassies to stock up on cash, enough for a year, and that within 120-180 days there is going to be a banking holiday declared, with limits on withdrawals, while the banks sort themselves out. Have you heard anything about this?

[Semanticleo]

Krugman set the bar at the right height when he cited the 212 dwarfs who voted against the Bill...

"but most rejected the bill because they rejected the whole notion that we have to do something about greenhouse gases."

There you have it. Taxes and gases are the mainspring of the Party of 'NO".

When are you folks going to get the context of the Unified Field Theory of Governance?

It's the BIG picture that gets past the bean-counters and engineers.

[Ignatz]

Great link Rick.
Here's a related article from the Telegraph yesterday.
Places excess Chinese credit in middle of the '09 commodities runup as well.

[Fresh Air]

a -5% rate?

I wonder if I can get one of those for my credit cards? I charge stuff at the beginning, and at the end, I owe less. It's only fair, right? The card issuers are prime borrowers.

[Semanticleo]

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/schultz-paints-bleak-picture-of-future

Is this what you saw, PLot?

[Rick Ballard]

PL,

Not a banking crisis. If such an adviso has been issued it would have been on the basis of the glaringly obvious fact that the US has never been more susceptible to a muslim terrorist strike than at this time - with the Ogabe Regime waiting to react to it.

Not prevent it - react to it. Then Krugman's declaration of treason will begin to make more sense - as will Napolitano's idiocy concerning heightened awareness re "returning vets". 'Cause those returning vets are logically the core of the militia which may be necessary in the very near future.

[davod]

The number of deaths related to heat will increase because electricity will be widely available only for those with money or political connections. Elicricity will be rationed for the peons.

What is a few hundred dead a year, especially if it is the unproductive elderly, compared to saving the planet.

[Fresh Air]

Rick--

I've thought this for some time. It does call into question Al Qaeda's effectiveness as an organization. If they can't pull off an attack now, when can they?

You also have to wonder about what's going on in the U.K., which almost certainly has more active and lethal cells than anything here.

[PeterUK]

"Not a banking crisis. If such an adviso has been issued it would have been on the basis of the glaringly obvious fact that the US has never been more susceptible to a muslim terrorist strike than at this time - with the Ogabe Regime waiting to react to it."

I don't see why,their man is doing a much better job. No external enemy to blame or wreak vengeance on.US policy dictated from the inside,economy turned on its head.Endless possibilties.

[Rick Ballard]

Mr Uk,

I'm contemplating Regime reaction to a Reichstag fire. The DC snipers provided a lesson plan and the public reaction to the anthrax attack provides a foundation for estimating effect.

How many of Claypso Louie's boys - or black muslim prison trash would it take to generate a crackdown involving an attempt to seize arms?

[RichatUF]

Parking Lot-

I haven't heard anything and would be skeptical if such a message would have gone out.

[PeterUK]

Mr Balllard;
After a couple of years,there will be so many volunteers from amongst the betrayed and disaffected,they would have to arrest 299,999,998 of you.

[Ralph L]

we’re facing a clear and present danger to our way of life, perhaps even to civilization itself.
Doctor Scott, you mean he's going to send us to another planet?

[Semanticleo]

"The DC snipers provided a lesson plan and the public reaction to the anthrax attack provides a foundation for estimating effect."

Well, Marmalard you might want to wait until
the Unified Field Theory of Governance has been fully vetted by the outcome. But of course, you have the option of inspiring copy-cat crimes so that you don't have to see most of yer ideas repudiated by our hybrid government. Do yer worst, scumbag.....

[Semanticleo]

Sludge from Drudge......

BEWARE THE OBAMA 'EVIL EYE'
Tue Jun 30 2009 07:43:56 ET

As the summer begins, White House watchers have spotted a new look by President Obama: The Evil Eye!

Staffers have joked about the menacing glance, which comes when the president meets with world leaders who are not aligned with his progressive view.

White House photographers have captured the "evil eye" in recent weeks, during sessions with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Colombia's Alvaro Uribev.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi got hit with the commander's malocchio last week in the Oval office.

And at least one White House reporter has been on the receiving end of the daggers during a press conference.

Developing..."

Pssst.....He's a Muslim...pass it on.

[Take me to yer Taqiyer.]

Well, an evil Muslim, maybe.

[boris]

Do windmill clowns blow hot air or suck fumes?

[Pofarmer]

How many of Claypso Louie's boys - or black muslim prison trash would it take to generate a crackdown involving an attempt to seize arms?

Let's not think about that. I really don't want to start hiding guns in the barns. As many weapons as have recently been bought, probably not with the intention of putting them up on the mantle, I can't imagine the response to an organized collection effort.

[PeterUK]

Thanks for the tip Septic.Giving Western allies the cold shoulder whilst sucking up to a bunch of Third World despots sounds really cool for a college kid. Not so good for the leader of the free world. Still Hope and Change the world for the worst.

[matt]

I have a feeling that those Italian talismans against the evil eye are going to suddenly become more popular.

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