The majority of Americans believe that global warming is real. A fewer number believe that it is a threat and less still believe that it is caused by humans. (See a recent Pew Poll)

These are really amazing numbers given the amount of money spent by those with vested interests that are trying to convince people there's nothing to worry about, be happy, and keep on buying and drilling and drilling and buying.

Also given that the mainstream media for the most part has either treated global warming as an afterthought story or treated the subject with downright hostility by repeating the talking points given to them by the fossil fuel industry.

Why would the fossil fuel industry want to discourage belief in global warming? That's really easy to understand.

1. The very very vast majority of scientists agree that the planet is warming due to the greenhouse effect. That occurs when greenhouse gases such as, but not limited to carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane are present in the atmosphere. These gases are actually a good thing for without them, or too little, earth would not be habitable. However, mankind has been excessively pumping CO2 into the air since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Too much, worst case scenario, the planet is inhabitable. Best case, inhabitable to most living things if too much is present.
   
   How do we know? The fossil and geological record shows us the results of these changes in climate. Notice I didn't use the term climate change. Why? Climate is always changing. Something a denier will be quick to point out as to distract you. Again we see this in the historical records. It gets warmer, it gets colder. What is occurring now is global warming, and it is very dangerous and that is also in the records.
   
   
2. The monetary value of fossil fuel companies is dependent on their ability to sell fossil fuels into the future. Anything that interferes with that is a danger, in the short run, to the bottom line of those companies' financial statements and thus to the CEO's and other officer bonuses.
   
   But why would a company executive ignore such a dire possibility? Because the rich believe they can buy their way out of "minor" inconveniences and they are right with history being the gauge. Also,we must contend with all the attitudes of employees of those companies and all the other sundry support companies that are invested in "business as usual" as well.

"It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it!" - Upton Sinclair

The Third Annual National Climate Assessment Report

The US Federal Government has recently issued the third National Climate Assessment. Actually it was released over a year ago for comments and then slicked up for release to the public. It is a very readable report. The mechanism for the report was created by the US Congress in 1990 by the Global Change Research Act of 1990 and subsequent reports were to be created every four years. The first report was in 2000 and then the report generation went on vacation during the George W. Bush presidency but resumed under The Obama Administration with the second report issued in 2009. This third report was issued in May 2014.

The purpose of the report is to give the public and governmental agencies the necessary information in 25- and 100-year forecasts so that they can plan for mitigation and adaptation regarding climate changes and more frequent weather patterns to be expected. Sort of like, " Should we built that bridge 10 or 15 tall, or maybe not at all?" Should this storm drain be 24" or 48"? Should I insure a house in this or that location? Should we invade a country or help feed the hungry before they storm the Bastille?

All these reports are best estimates at a certain point in time thus the need for accurate updates on a regular basis. We can not afford more lapses and simply do not have the time to further indulge those with undemocratic self-centered, greedy, and psychopathic tendencies. America is the first of the modern democracies. Our current need is perhaps summed up by a quote from Benjamin Franklin at the signing of the Declaration of Independence:

We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately. - Benjamin Franklin

Slow Progress Is Being Made, But We Must Pick Up The Pace

Even with a Democratic US President that should have had climate on his radar from the git-go, the US has a ways to go if it is to catch up with the rest of the world much less lead others into the light. Is it any wonder that President Obama's approval has tanked around the world as of late?

1. He appears nonchalant and approved of mass NSA international spying that is more akin to voyeurism than necessary for actual US security..

2. He continues the unnecessary habitual interference in other countries' domestic affairs mainly for the benefit of US corporate interests.

3. He has failed to call the US climate deniers to task.

How can they mistake that President Obama was close to being right when he joked at the Washington Press Club dinner recently that Putin might be headed to a Nobel Peace prize. He quipped, "They'll give that to anyone."

All is not lost though and redemption can be had. A lot can be accomplished in 2+ short years regarding climate solutions. But more important is keeping the climate deniers from the seats of governments and yielding power because now, nonsense distractions are becoming deadly.

It was encouraging that the Washington Post posted an article about the NCA Report above the fold and in the first column. And President Obama is said to be very concerned about the consequences of global warming. His recent actions such as the regulation of coal-fired power plants would indicate his willingness, but his all-of-the-above energy plan of the recent past, not so much.

But all being said and analyzed, an important corner has been turned for the US Government. Perhaps the day is near when everyone will help push the wagon out of the rut. Mitigating global warming is all too big and important a task for the wagon-pushers to have to contend with dead weight in addition to the weight of the wagon.

Foretelling Devastating Impact, Will White House Climate Report Spark Action on Global Warming?

DEMOCRACY NOW - A new report warns human-driven climate change is having dramatic health, ecological and financial impacts across United States. The White House’s "National Climate Assessment" details how the consequences of climate change are hitting on several fronts — rising sea levels along the coasts, droughts and fires in the Southwest, and extreme rainfall across the country. It warns that unless greenhouse emissions are curbed, U.S. temperatures could increase up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century.

Reportedly the largest, most comprehensive U.S.-focused climate change study ever produced, the report is being called a possible "game changer" for efforts to address climate change. We speak with Radley Horton, a climatologist at the Center for Climate Systems Research at Columbia University, who co-wrote the Northeast region chapter of the National Climate Assessment.

"This report really tells the story very succinctly about how all Americans will be impacted by climate change," Horton says. "It’s a nonpartisan issue."

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