Planetary Demise

[Cinjin]

The last two winters here in Michigan, a place that is notoriously cold and snowy, have been downright moderate to warm with only short intermittent bits of cold and snow. It has only served to bolster my beliefs in global warming and further my resolve for leaving a smaller footprint.

That is bad evidence to base a belief in global warming on in my opinion. Temperatures fluctuate from year to year; a couple of warmer winters in Michigan does not necessarily indicate global warming for obvious reasons (it's local, and global warming is a trend over many many years). If Michigan suddenly had the coldest winter on record next year, would that disprove global warming? No.

Global warming is happening. I don't think there is conclusive evidence that it's caused by humans, or that it will be of any danger to us in the long run.

Certainly, less pollution is a good thing, but until governments stop getting in bed with oil / gas companies there isn't going to be an improvement on the performance and cost of alternative fuel sources, especially for cars.

Also, Mark Hendrickson is a professor of economics. Not exactly the first person I'd trust to write an article on global warming.

I'm in agreement on all these things. My mention of the weather in Michigan is by no means my sole solitary evidence for global warming. That would just be utter stupidity. I mentioned it as an event that only serves to strengthen my belief in Global Warming, regardless of it's true relevance.

That being said, the winters around here are damn peculiar, bordering on the bizarre and it is impossible to say flat out that global warming surely isn't having an effect on Michigan's weather. It may very well be having quite an effect. We really can't rule anything out.
(But yes, I agree that weird local weather is not direct evidence of anything.)