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Writer takes issue with ‘junk science’
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To the Editor:
Last week Mr. David Boone penned a letter to the editor downplaying the effects of CO2 on global climate change and called the science behind it “junk science.” Although Mr. Boone’s letter is hardly worthy of comment since debate concerning the reality of human induced global climate change has resided now that even the most staunch deniers have conceded the point or receded into oblivion, I can’t resist clarifying a few points surrounding his confusion between junk science and real science.
First I’ll admit to this. Mr. Boone is correct in that H2O is 80 percent responsible for the greenhouse effect while CO2 comprises only part of the remaining percentage. As any Southeastern Minnesotan can testify on a humid July day, atmospheric H2O has an enormous potential to store heat, and the Gulf air masses that make their way northward usually bring with them temperatures in the 90s and even 100s. So yes, H2O is a major player in the earth’s climate.
Mr. Boone fails to recognize, however, that global H2O concentrations remain relatively stable thanks to the process of equilibrium between our oceans and atmosphere, while CO2 concentrations continue to increase in the atmosphere and oceans at an exponential rate. This fact has been measured and confirmed by scientists around the globe and many scientists logically point to the burning of fossil fuels, which are major CO2 reservoirs, as to the cause for this increase. CO2 is a necessary component of the atmosphere, but only in moderation many would argue.
Here’s an interesting twist to the whole dilemma. As the earth’s temperature rises due to increased CO2 concentrations, the air is able to hold more moisture (warm air is able to evaporate more water from the earth’s surface). More H2O in the atmosphere, as Mr. Boone would likely agree, could act to further warm the planet and mean even warmer global temperatures. That’s called a positive feedback loop.
Again I agree with Mr. Boone when he says, “If we can’t tell the difference between junk science and serious science, we need to go back to school.” We do not agree, however, on what the junk science is. Mr. Boone selectively choosing the evidence that supposedly supports his position by basing his entire argument on the fact that H2O is 80 percent more responsible for the greenhouse effect than CO2 instead of the concentration changes of each of the two molecules seems like junk science to me.
Finally, Mr. Boone, you insulted the intelligence of our junior high students and their teachers by assuming they are ignorant of the issue, and what’s more, subject mainly to the effects of pure pressure over the benefits of good academic instruction. You might be surprised how much a sixth grader really knows.
Greg Schieber
St. Paul, Minn.
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Commitment to truth is questioned
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To the Editor:
The encouragement to fight for the truth is a fight in which I am already engaged. As a nation with “government of the people,” we should all be engaged in seeking the truth. It is unfortunate that obtaining the truth about healthcare reform has been a struggle. Only a handful of Democratic senators shaped the legislation’s final form. The bill has been published so that we can read it and see the “truth” for ourselves. I believe that my concerns for seniors was justified. We were even given a taste of what to expect from government panels in regard to mammograms for women with cost cutting taking precedence over saving lives.
“Truth” on the state level is also important. Shouldn’t we know our senator’s plan for curbing spending and bringing the state budget under control? My hope was that she was misquoted when she said, “This generation [Baby Boomers] needs to plan their own future to take care of themselves and not taking care of the elderly at the expense of the youth.” The quote was brought to my attention not by a political activist but by someone who was deeply upset by it.
Seniors are not the only targets. Apparently every city, county and township whose leadership practiced wise management will be targeted for their reserves. To quote a news source, “The Senator also said that the state will be looking at the reserve monies of cities and counties and helping slow the deficit by utilizing some of those funds.”
Instead of looking at seniors and the reserves of counties and communities, why aren’t our legislators focused on measures to encourage the growth of private sector jobs in our communities? Why not repeal unnecessary mandates on businesses which inflate consumer costs and reduce the corporate tax which keeps businesses from locating here? Why not consider “zero based” budgeting to reduce the size of our state government? Why can’t we take some commonsense measures to start digging out of this economic mess?
As we pause to give thanks for received blessings, let us resolve to maintain those blessings and safeguard them for future generations.
Paul Ibisch
La Crescent, Minn.
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Thanks to Harguth, ag department receives grant
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To the Editor:
As a cattle person and an educator, I was very pleased to learn that Caledonia Area High School was awarded a $2150 grant for agricultural programs.
CHS teacher Brad Harguth applied for a Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council (MAELC) grant to implement their proposal called “College in the Schools - Animal Science.” Our region has a very strong agriculture economy, so it’s important to support agriculture in the classroom.
With school funding being reduced or delayed and budgets tight these grants go a long way in assisting instructors to bring new and challenging curriculum into the school district and agriculture programs. In the case of the CIS animal science course the four U of M credits keeps the students and their funding in the school district and encourages them to not PSEO. When students PSEO they take district funds with them.
The MAELC funding begins in Senator Sharon Erickson Ropes’ ag committee in St. Paul. She voted to put $500,000 into competitive grants for Minnesota schools. This is a perfect example of great use of taxpayer dollars. Without this extra revenue, many rural students would miss the opportunity to take high quality Agriculture Education classes.
Mr. Harguth and Senator Ropes are both strong voices for kids and agriculture!
Dorothy Pettit
Rushford Village, Minn.
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We ARE paying attention to the truth
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To the Editor:
I wanted to write about some statements from yet another one of Mr. Ibisch’s political letters deriding his opponent, Senator Sharon Ropes.
First, your quote from Senator Ropes, “The Baby Boomers are putting pressure on the state budget.” The baby boomer generation represents a much larger number of people than generations before it, and therefore is having a greater impact on the state budget, is it not?
We should all take precautions to make sure we are all financially secure during our lifetime. Is it not true that we need to make sure that we do not find our state in a situation where the elderly and the young are pitted against one another for resources?
It seems to me that is what Senator Ropes was forewarning here, “. . .taking care of the elderly at the expense of the youth.” I believe she was stating our common need to ensure that all citizens of Minnesota are allowed equal consideration.
You wrote, “Drafts of the proposal show that elderly citizens are viewed as a drain on the resources of the country, and should expect limited care.” I find it difficult to believe that you’ve read a draft of any bill that classified anyone as a drain on anything. Pieces of legislation do not make subjective judgments.
You allege that cuts in benefits to Medicaid were in the works. However, care is not being limited or cut. There are money-saving changes written into the legislation that have no effect on the benefits an individual receives. These changes make it possible for the federal government to run Medicare more efficiently, thus saving tax-payers’ money. You wrote about making assumptions, Mr. Ibisch, so why do you assume that we aren’t paying attention to the truth? Isn’t that worth fighting for?
Jacob Grippen
La Crescent, Minn.
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Junk science and real science
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To the Editor:
In 1997 a junior high student in Idaho won a science fair by banning DHMO. He said in his paper, “Dihydrogen monoxide:
• Is also known as hydroxl acid, and is the major component of acid rain.
• Contributes to the “greenhouse effect.”
• May cause severe burns.
• Contributes to the erosion of our natural landscape.
• Accelerates corrosion and rusting of many metals.
• May cause electrical failures and decreased effectiveness of automobile brakes.
• Has been found in excised tumors of terminal cancer patients.
Contamination is reaching epidemic proportions!”
Most of us recognize he was talking about H2O (water). But many continue to be fooled by this environmental “threat”.
Junior high students may be forgiven since they may not have had much exposure to science, and their opinions are so dependent on peer pressure. But what of the rest of us who are falling for a similar scam today regarding another life giving and universal substance, CO2.
We’ve heard plenty from global warming fear mongers about the dangers of CO2. But as our intrepid science student pointed out, H2O is also a “greenhouse gas”. In fact H20 is roughly 80 times more prevalent in the atmosphere than CO2. Which gas do you imagine contributes more to global climate change?
There is so much bad science surrounding the global warming scare, one hardly knows where to begin, but I would like to point out that real science is not a matter of politics and personal profit. If we can’t tell the difference between junk science and serious science, we need to go back to school.
David Boone
Houston, Minn.
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Miraculous efforts triumph over the heartbreaks
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To the editor,
Congratulations to the Warrior football team for another good year! Coaches included. We who love football are sorry about your disappointment last Friday night as your dream came to an end. However, we who love football were not disappointed by your effort.
The miraculous takeaway reception of Isaac Fruechte, the fumble recovery and touchdown run by Troy Frank, and seeing Michael Ideker standing firm in the path of a foe twice his size will forever be etched in my mind.
Seeing the fearless attack of the whole defensive team against a giant and talented foe was not without moments to be proud of. And a last two minute life and death hope was fought for with valiant effort and yet evaporated without a win.
Then seeing an opponent so fearful that they regressed half the football field in order to run out the clock. Good thing they did – right!? They knew what they were doing and they were fearful of their opponent – the CALEDONIA WARRIORS!
You can ALL be proud to call yourselves “Warriors.” We are!
Just a fan.
Jerry VanRavenhorst
Caledonia, Minn.
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