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Freakonomics Guys Freak Out Climate Acolytes

The Church of Gore doesn't want to hear simple solutions

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 27, 2009 9:20 AM CDT

(Newser) – Wouldn't it be great to make global warming disappear with a helium balloon, a few miles of garden hose, and a stream of sulfur dioxide? “Maybe, but not if you’re Al Gore or one of his little helpers,” writes Bret Stephens in the Wall Street Journal. Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner argue for just this geoengineering approach in SuperFreakonomics, and they’ve taken a pounding for it.

Al Gore’s called their solution “nuts,” Joe Romm accuses them of “sheer illogic,” and Paul Krugman says they “grossly misrepresent other peoples’ research.” But Stephens jumps to their defense, calling them careful researchers who challenge the dogma of “the religion of global warming.” Their main point is that big problems often have simple solutions. That’s heresy for global warmists, who’d rather spend trillions on “reconceiving civilization as we know it.”

The cover of Super Freakonomics
The cover of "Super Freakonomics"
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 23 comments
Stuart
Oct 28, 2009 8:27 AM CDT
Jayster - the global cooling myth has been debunked so many times its silly. There were a few dozen scientists who said it, not the overwhelming consensus of ALL climatology groups on the planet. Oh, but I forgot, smoking doesnt cause cancer either - after all, thats what the Republican Party kept saying right up until the day they suddenly changed their position.
mikech
Oct 28, 2009 2:42 AM CDT
Global warming was main stream as early as the mid 80's. I googled several references which back that claim up. Hell I am old enough to remember it first hand.
hamsammichs
Oct 27, 2009 11:40 AM CDT
Liberals, hold your horses. They are merely suggesting solutions, not discrediting global warming. We all know you get your rocks off to Gore showing line graphs that exceed the projection screen. Hear these guys out.

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