Monday, November 30, 2009

Global Warming--Caught Red-handed

I hate to say it, but I told you so.

The "consensus of global warming experts" is now exposed for the sham that it is. Internal documents from the Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia expose the falsification of data and the 'cherry picking' of data that the Unit used to 'cook the books' on global warming.

They claim that we don't understand the subtle interplay among experts during the study process. That's simple hogwash.

The scientific method involves obtaining and organizing data to support a hypothesis, but it does not condone selecting only the data that supports the hypothesis. Nor does it allow adjusting or adding data to support the hypothesis. Nor does is involve hiding data or preventing the publication of data that does not support the process. But the members of the "global warming consensus" have apparently committed all of these sins.

When we look at all of the data, we will see that climate change is occurring. There is no conclusive proof however, that mankind is causing it, or can alter it.

But that reality does not keep us from doing the right things: conserving water, using less energy, reducing our use of fossil fuels, preserving and restoring the rain forests, and on and on. We should do all of these things for our own good, and for the good of the planet, not because the 'global warming' crew is trying to scare us into doing them.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Water and Health Care

I was happy to see the Yorba Linda Water District embrace conservation in order to minimize the impact of the recent draught. Back in July, I reset the timers on my irrigation system to operate on the schedule provided by the District. Conservation is good, I think. We should all do our part to conserve the precious resources that Providence has provided.

This month I decided to see exactly what is the impact on my water bill. My November bill was 15% lower than the bill for November last year. My effort to conserve was rewarded!

...or so it seems at first glance.

But, wait a minute--the bill also states that my water usage was over 40% lower than last November. Why isn't my bill 40% lower?

The reason is obvious: the price per unit of the water increased by 42%.

Oh yes, the rate increase was announced in advance. A public hearing was conducted. Of course, most of us sheep were to busy, or too lazy, to attend. And, after all, The water district obviously needs to compensate for the reduced consumption by raising the rates. After all, they have to keep paying those high salaries and exhorbitant pension benefits. And they need to pay the "water cop" who comes around to make sure I am not watering my lawn on the wrong days.

We can see a similar situation coming with the federal government's so-called health care reform. Instead of passing laws to reduce and control the costs of health care, Congress wants to establish commissions and committees to "oversee" health care and to provide subsidies to people who cannot afford it. Taxpayers will see the system "reformed," but the prices will go up, not down.

So this is the insanity of our times. Our government agencies ask us to pitch in and help. For our efforts they reward us by taking more of our money. Voters need to think deeply about this before we go to the polls again. We need to find and elect representatives who will cure the madness, not prolong it.