Hot Hype and Hyperbole Are Killing the 'Good' Name of Science

In the world of science and global warming, hype and hyperbole are the norms. Most scientists lack a good source of cash flow and are constantly scrounging for money to stay in “business.” Yes, “business” is the word…every bit as much as what goes on in those cooperate towers downtown.  And it’s become big business too…so much so that people are willing to sacrifice the so-called ‘good’ name of science in pursuit of the almighty dollar.  Gone are the days of the of the poor but righteous scientist…the lone beacon in the quest for fact or truth…the last go to guy when you really needed to know what the hell was going on!  Unfortunately, as happens most frequently nowadays, people have figured out a way to “cash in” on nearly any idea…or in this case – hypothesis.  It also seems that more and more people are in search of their fifteen minutes of fame…or trying to stretch those fifteen minutes into an hour or more. 




Right now…this very minute…the all knowing and all powerful state of California is “going it alone” and is trying to push legislation through the state congress to cut CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions, put into the air by local industry, by 25% through the year 2020.  The wording that accompanies this proposed bill from the current Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, is as follows:  "…an example for other states and nations to follow as the fight against climate change continues."  (As of this writing, this bill passed 43 to 30 in the Assembly and is on its way to the Senate.) 


California
, the do-gooders that they are, are trying to lead by example.  Well, bless there hearts!    California is the ’s most populous state and supposedly the world's 12th largest emitter of greenhouse gases and could suffer dire consequences if global temperatures increase only a few degrees, don’t you know.  So in the