A couple days ago, Tim posted an article — The Cold Hard Reality — highlighting the record cold temperatures around the world, and asking the obvious question: How can the earth be warming if it is getting colder?

Not surprisingly, scientists have been quick to come out and say this wave of bitterly cold and snowy weather does not disprove global warming. In fact, they say that the freezing temperatures are actually part of global warming: “Scientists say man-made climate change does have the potential to cause more frequent and more severe weather extremes, such as heat waves, storms, floods, droughts and even cold spells” (emphasis mine).

The AP article went on to say, “experts interviewed by The Associated Press did not connect the current frigid blast to climate change.” I guess that means since it’s not connected, then they can just throw out these records (like they’ve done before), since they don’t support their theory aren’t relevant.

There is no problem with a scientific debate about climate change — Is the planet warming or cooling? Is the change permanent or cyclical? Is it natural or caused by man? Scientists can debate these things. That’s what science is about — developing and testing a hypothesis to determine its merits or shortcomings. That’s all fine.

Here is the problem: Certain people (scientists and politicians) are adamantly affirming that global warming is a fact (even though it has not been proven). Politicians are then using this alleged “fact” as a tool to bring about their political goals (to weaken free markets and strengthen/expand the power of government).

This is more than a scientific debate. Politicians are using this to attack capitalism and freedom. Scientists can have their debates. But governmental policy and legislation should not be dictated by unproven scientific theories. A government that legislates based upon the assumption that the planet is warming, and that the warming has been caused by man, poses a threat to individual liberty.

Andy Sochor