Friday, August 04, 2006

The Heat Wave

The United States has been broiling in a heat wave that began, according to meteorologists on July 5th, 2006. Over 80 record highs have been shattered, with many places in many states setting all-time record highs for the month of July. So, is the heat wave a symptom of global warming?

There’s no evidence that can be pointed to and give a definitive “yes,” however, given the duration, intensity, and scale of the heat wave of ’06, it could very well be a symptom, a result, of human’s pollution of the earth. And, if this is the case, then this type of weather could be “the norm” within the next 10 years. With an antiquated electrical grid, soaring energy prices, and global conflicts, the strain of continued heat of this rate could have disastrous implications for the U.S. economy. Combine the heat wave with war, tensions in the Middle East, the systematic elimination of the middle class by the current administration and Congress, and we have a recipe for disaster. A disaster that we may not see unfolding until it is far too late to do anything substantive enough to mitigate the effects.

Failed policy has led us to wear we are. It is truly that simple. The Bush Administration has rolled back, with frightening speed, many environmental controls designed to prevent this type of “symptom” from ever appearing. It is any coincidence that the growing evidence that Global Warming is linked to the intense wildfires, heat, and hurricanes during the Bush Error? If there ever was a sign from God…

It is “cool” here in Wisconsin today, compared to the heat of the last several weeks. It was “only” 88 (still well above normal) today, with low relative humidity. And this actually felt good to me, compared with the weather we’ve been having. Just like we’ve gotten thankful when gas is “only” $2.95 a gallon, we’re getting thankful when it is “only” 8 or 10 degrees above normal. Guess our desensitizing is going as planned…

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