At left is a meme supporting the mode of thinking employed by conspiracy theorists, i.e., that they, unlike the rest of us, “have the cognitive capacity to think critically for themselves.”
In fact, the reason that reasonable people trust science is that we’re aware that we lack the time and resources to conduct this research ourselves: formulating hypotheses, experiment design and execution, analysis of results, drawing conclusions, publishing findings, and having them peer reviewed.
Shortly after I entered the field of climate science, some well-meaning guy suggested that I come to my own independent conclusions on the subject. I respectfully pointed out that there are tens of thousands of people who have made it their lifework to study this subject, and they have, in most cases, some serious headstarts over me, including several decades of work, uncountable terabytes of data, and billions of dollars of surveillance equipment on and above the Earth.
I’m equally unqualified to “do my own research” in disease control, anthropology, and quantum physics.
If a few crackpots think this renders me intellectually deficient or gullible, I’ll have to learn to live with that.
A friend from Texas writes: It’s been an interesting week! A lot to reflect on. And Texas seems to be the epicenter. Folks are pretty flabbergasted over the defeat of all statewide Republican candidates (including state supreme court justices) and the election of a Democratic party-controlled state house.
Yes, Texas blew everyone’s mind. I think what the GOP experienced was a double-whammy if you will.
Consumer prices are high, due at least in part to Trump’s inane and illegal war in Iran. This is impacting the lives of working class Americans.
and
I’m pleased to be able to report that many people still have a conscience, which causes them to reject the GOP’s cruelty, dishonesty, dismissal of science, and criminality.
As shown here, white men, especially uneducated white men, are still not able to see that Trump is terrible for America.
If the last two years didn’t change that, it appears that nothing will.
The vast majority of Americans are thrilled that the midterms brought us the “blue tsunami,” but there are a couple of things that don’t really add up. You may have noticed that:
The U.S. wants a random alcoholic Fox News “journalist’s” head on the plate for having orchestrated the war in Iran, when all he was doing was pursuing his loyalty to Donald Trump, the man who started this asinine and grossly illegal war.
There seems to be no effort to cause Trump, who tried to violently overthrow the U.S. federal government, to face accountability for his treasonous acts.
What’s up with the media? Is there a concerted effort to avoid the facts? What’s the problem with honesty, and telling Americans the truth? Isn’t this the clearest instance of gaslighting in our history? Are we now trying to pretend that Trump never existed?
If such a landslide victory against a would-be autocrat had happened anywhere else on Earth, that traitor would be in prison now, in most cases facing execution.
-
Climate Change1 year ago
Guest post: Why China is still building new coal – and when it might stop
-
Greenhouse Gases2 years ago嘉宾来稿：满足中国增长的用电需求 光伏加储能“比新建煤电更实惠”
-
Greenhouse Gases1 year ago
Guest post: Why China is still building new coal – and when it might stop
-
Climate Change2 years ago嘉宾来稿：满足中国增长的用电需求 光伏加储能“比新建煤电更实惠”
-
Renewable Energy1 year agoSending Progressive Philanthropist George Soros to Prison?
-
Greenhouse Gases1 year ago
嘉宾来稿：探究火山喷发如何影响气候预测
-
Climate Change2 years agoAnalysis: China’s CO2 falls 1% in Q2 2024 in first quarterly drop since Covid-19
-
Climate Change1 year ago嘉宾来稿：探究火山喷发如何影响气候预测