A lot of the others just don’t know a whit about science, don’t care to, and don’t really have the logical faculties to follow the scientific arguments. If they did they’d stop asking about SUVs on other planets, talking about how CO2 is heavy and lays at the bottom of the atmosphere, saying the volcanoes emit more CO2 than man, etc.

EDIT: I don’t recall exactly what I might have said to jimz about Obama’s economic program a year ago, but it was probably something along the lines that we were in an economic disaster dating back to the end of the Bush administration, and I hoped that Obama’s policies would work (jim z hoped that they wouldn’t). I think I also said that the economy had been left in such a mess that nobody was sure what to do, but everybody was sure something had to be done.

some intentionally lie,
some are worried about taxes and living expenses,
some just think that government is out to get them and this is just more evidence of that,
some care only about themselves and their lifestyle today, and don’t care much about the world they leave behind,
some really just don’t understand.

With all of the money being spent to promote the idea that global warming is not happening, or not our fault, or will really improve the world, allowing us to grow more food, people have a tendency to listen to those that agree with them (how often do you watch foxnews) and give them a sense of being smart and right, global warming, and the actions that need to be taken are not something that is easy to sell.

If you were the coal industry, and interested in not going out of business, you’d do the same. Throw anything you can up against the wall, and different folks will gravitate to different parts of it. It makes no difference what part any specific individual chooses to believe, as long as in the end, the government does nothing to inhibit your ability to do business.

Standing on the other side of the fence is harder, unless you have enough education, and morals, to understand the problem, and the willingness to do something about it, even if it means that you have to pay more for some things, and won’t be able to do others.

You posted a very nice polling link that shows that a relatively high percentage of Americans do support action on global warming. The problem is that far too many of ‘em are quiet about it, whereas those that want nothing to happen are far more vocal. and militant.

The problem is that, "Be a nice person, and do the right thing for your children" doesn’t have the same gut reaction as, "The government is lying to you to raise your taxes and steal your money, and give it to scientists who also lie to you, and to lazy blue state people who refuse to work and want to live on welfare and teach their children to live on welfare forever." It’s just different.

Edit: Adrian B: <<I have offered on this site numerous times to supply papers to anyone interested, yet few skeptics have taken me up on the offer… surprising no doubt.>>

Actually, not. If you look at the deniers/skeptics, for most of ‘em, wading through an honest science paper, that’s worth it’s salt, is just beyond them. Not long ago, there was an interview with Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, in which she was asked how much reading she had to do? 1,500 pages a day. For most folks, that would be impossible. In the same vane, understanding the intricacies of climate is just too much.

It is also true that there are those that might be able to, but the only justification would be to find things like emails that they could complain about.

<<On the positive side, every day our case gets stronger, gets more evidence… every day their side gets weaker, whether they choose to accept it or not.>>

Here I think that it’s more questionable. True we do learn more. But that does not undermine, "They just want to raise your taxes and shut down businesses and send all the jobs over to China (btw, i need to remember to head over to walmart later to get ..) and just ruin our economy. USA — USA — USA (now what was it i needed to get?)"

Winning over folks that actively deny global warming is just about impossible. In fact, to me, it seems that the more i try to point out why they’re wrong, the more they dig their heels in and refuse to even listen. Honest skeptics are far more rare. Mostly school kids that get mixed messages. Sometimes we win, sometimes not.

<<Though i thought the same thing about evolutionary theory and i continue to be amazed …>>
yes, but, until they start teaching it in schools, it really doesn’t make a lot of difference. There are some otherwise perfectly fine folks who think that way. Sometimes I wonder, but as long as they don’t try to (A) teach it, or (B) pass it off as science, I leave them alone. Who am I to undermine a faith that they might really need to help them get along in life.

Global warming is different. Global warming is either ignorance, or greed. Neither should be acceptable. Given a reasonable opportunity to get past the ignorance, then it becomes a moral question, and there is no justification for their continued theft of the environmental inheritance that they’re squandering.

However, i can also put the blame at the feet of science and the popular press. As scientists, we really need to be more forthcoming with our conclusions and the data. I only say this as i know how difficult it can be to access the scientific literature if you are not in the field. I have offered on this site numerous times to supply papers to anyone interested, yet few skeptics have taken me up on the offer… surprising no doubt.

Im sure i dint need to go into why the popular press has a share of the blame in all this.

I think all we can do is continue to present the fact as the evidence shows. Some will never be convinced no matter what we show them, but we have to cross our fingers enough understand that we can start making some real changes. On the positive side, every day our case gets stronger, gets more evidence… every day their side gets weaker, whether they choose to accept it or not.

EDIT
@ linlyons

Yeah, i guess you are right. I have no doubt that no matter what, there are a certain group who are unreachable by our ever increasing understanding. I guess i remain an optimist, that sooner or later the truth is simply undeniable.

Though i thought the same thing about evolutionary theory and i continue to be amased by the lengths some will go to in order to keep an old belief.

Edit
@ Jim

I read your link (as painful as it was). If that’s where you get your information i am starting to understand your opinions at least. Maybe you should try working your way through the thousands of peer reviewed articles on climate science and then come back an informed opinion. You can even ignore the papers by scientists you suggest are corrupt. There are hundreds more out there who will make the same, equally valid and well supported claims.

EDIT

@ Linlyons (again)

They don’t teach evolutionary theory in your schools? Or are you referring to climate change. I dont mind people having there own beliefs either if they need them to get by, but on the other hand i dont like the supression of truth, which evolution is. I know its only the minority who try and do this, but its still one of the best examples of complete disregard for scientific truth, in my opinion.

Oh, and i couldn’t agree more with your last paragraph.