Congressman Denies Global Warming: Is he also a Flat-Earther?

   I just read an article on AOL about a Congressman from Michigan, Representative Dan Benishek (Republican), who claims that his credentials as an M.D. qualify him to comment on anthropogenic (of human origin) global warming.  He further stated that there are no peer-reviewed articles advocating that global warming is anthropogenic.
   First, let me state that while M.D.s have more scientific background than most people, only a very small percentage have qualifications as research scientists.  Secondly, the overwhelming majority of peer reviewed climate change articles agree that global warming is largely the result of human activity.
   The term global warming is widely attributed to Alexander Graham Bell, who began warning of the dangers of using fossil fuels in 1917.  He advocated that we should emphasize renewable energy sources, or those such as solar power that were not consumed and do not pollute.  Since then research has continued to justify his worries.
   Did you know that there are still flat Earthers?  These are people who still insist that the Earth is flat. I consider global warming deniers to be flat Earthers.  I am willing to believe that even many Rationalists are willing to accept the concept of anthropogenic global warming. (post on Rationalism is in the works)
   There is some room for debate on what percentage of global warming is not anthropogenic.  But notice that we are actually in a period of reduced solar activity similar to the Maunder Minimum (1645-1715) and the Dalton minimum (1790-1820). These periods coincide with cold periods.  The time of the Maunder Minimum is often called the "mini ice age".  We are still experiencing global warming. Perhaps it will be slowed by decreased solar activity, but it will not last.
   The real danger comes once the permafrost begins to melt.  Melting permafrost means lots of methane, a truly dangerous greenhouse gas.  Estimates as to the potency of methane as a greenhouse gas compared to carbon dioxide range from 30 times as potent to close to 100 times as dangerous.  Most experts say around 50x.  Some experts blame a sudden release of methane for the Great Flood (the world-wide increase in sea-levels causing coastal flooding and giving rise to flood myths found world-wide).  Is Al Gore another Noah?


















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