Jumps in Logic and Al Gore
Posted in Environment, Politics by George
Wow. The report on Al Gore’s energy use has really lit up the news everywhere. Tons and tons of people have been writing articles in newspapers and blogs about what a terrible guy Al Gore is. Many of these authors have written things that go through the following logical process:
1. Fact: Al Gore made a movie warning the world about the dangers of global warming.
2. Fact: Al Gore’s home uses a lot of energy.
3. Optional assertion: climate offsets don’t work at all. This assertion must be made without any evidence.
4. Insert gigantic logical jump here.
5. Therefore, we need not worry about global warming.
Let me reiterate the point from my previous article. Yes, I am very disappointed in Mr. Gore for using so much energy while he advocates otherwise. But, first off, it’s not as bad as it seems, due to his use of only renewable energy and his purchase of carbon offsets, and secondly, his use of energy has nothing to do with the truth of climate science.
March 4th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
I believe global warming is a problem, and I voted for Gore. But I also believe you’ve created a straw-man argument. A stronger one might be:
1. Fact: Al Gore made a movie warning the world about the dangers of global warming.
2. Fact: Al Gore’s home uses a lot of energy.
3. Assertion: Even though he doesn’t really believe in stopping global warming, Al Gore is willing to use FUD to promote his own agenda.
The headlines are full of pundits, politicians and religious leaders who’ve jumped to the head of a parade they didn’t necessarily believe in, only to be later proved hypocrites by their own actions. In today’s cynical society, being held to a higher standard is the price our leaders have to pay. Science will prove Mr. Gore wrong or right, not public opinion.
March 4th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
Remember how the Pope used to sell indulgences to thoes who could aford them to make possible a covering of their sins.
Well Al Gore is the pope of the modern day Climate Religion
Carbon offsets are just a way to make money and atone to there god mother nature. what a sham!
March 4th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Moral of story: conservation is for the Little People. They need to conserve so that the More-ons will have plenty, you know.
March 12th, 2007 at 9:13 am
These “carbon offsets”… I’ve heard rumors that they are sold by a company Gore is on a board for. Wouldn’t this mean that he wastes energy and justifies it by funding his own company (while providing free advertising in the process)?
Markman, I’m with you: what a sham!
April 13th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
Although I agree that climate science is certainly compelling, I must also say that the logic behind “carbon offsets” is a bit flimsy. It seems that a global warming prophet like Gore would want to do better than just being carbon neutral. He could plant all those trees and still not burn all that jet fuel in the atmosphere.
But Gore needs to plant a lot more trees than those needed to offset his own personal carbon production, because he wants to produce ethanol from wood chips instead of corn. Plant trees for one purpose, cut them down for another, and make both seem like they’re saving the planet. That Gore is a clever guy — at least he thinks he is.