“I’ve always been a skeptic of the AGW hypothesis, and view myself as a mere spectator in the climate change debate and arena.” Pierre L. Gosselin
That is understandable, life connections and conditions do have an effect on our baseline of thought. The culture we both grew up is still is in denial about the effect it has on world consumption. The centre of gravity on a different level to us both as a highly evolved and intelligent individuals. From your present altitude any deviation or evolution of values is not an easy transition. It generally causes chaos and is the most difficult option during our prime years, one of reasons people go through midlife crisis when they delay it. But that discussion is a digression.
The stance on skepticism to the AGW hypothesis is a healthy one and growing through levels of thought is not easy. We all should be skeptical about all data, it is the weight of effort we give to it that needs balance or equilibrium.
On this one point alone I challenge your focus and lens used in AGW hypothesis skepticism.
Prove to yourself the culture you grew up in does not weigh everything around transnational corporations and their primary premise of exponential profit. In turn affects every part of the cultural meritocracy and has shaped your skepticism.
Consider one other important fact surrounding this consumption culture. That within it there is an abhorrence of government spending on social capital e.g. Obama’s healthcare plans. This is not the only trust issue on social investment, currently just a topical one. I am certain you will agree, as it is very transparent.
Just why is capital spent by government of US taxpayer money is disproportionately weighted to military spending. One clear reality is there is no serious questioning of this expenditure. Military capital spending is coming out of the same place as capital spent on e.g. AGW strategies.
As I said my premise is transnational corporations have shaped the centre of gravity in the US. While crafting and projecting focus of discontent onto social capital investment. Conditioning people not to be skeptical about capital spending on the military block.
The interior question for you is; Why am I spending a disproportionate amount of my skepticism on AGW hypothesis and not questioning the military spending by the US government on social capital?
My question for my interior reading your focus is obvious; Are transnational corporations of benefit to your life condition or are you hopeful they will be?
These are my first questions in hard critical thinking on any subject. As it is better to establish where the altitude is and focus on information with a clearly elevated worldview.
We are here to evolve our understanding of our world and this includes our value system. Wishing you well with yours.
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My scan of your worldview is SDi orange, with an altitude of values in first tier.
Can only recommend a personal scan on spending and here is a rudimentary starting point;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditures
http://www.oecd.org/els/soc/socialexpendituredatabasesocx.htm