They Might Be Giants: The New Republican Climate Change Argument

Our friend Mark posted a little discussion of the work our state legislators are doing to combat global warming (and, in doing so, protect Iowa agriculture). Unfortunately, one Republican State Rep, Dwayne Alons of Hull, IA, has his own ideas about “growing” Iowa — literally! From Mark’s post (emphasis added):

Republicans have taken an extreme position on this particular bill. For example, during the committee meeting on the bill, Representative Duane Alons made a comparison between Iowa in 2007 and ancient Mayan cultures. He argued that global warming would be good for Iowa. He believes that ancient Mayans were giants - taller & stronger than modern men and women. He argues they were giants (and this is a good thing) because of warm temperatures. Ancient cyclical warming helped Mayans become giants!

Republicans are trotting out the same unscientific arguments against doing anything to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They argue that if we decrease CO2 emissions we will decrease crop yields in Iowa - ignoring the impact of insects, drought, and shifting rainfall patterns on crop yields. The scientific consensus is that CO2 induced warming will devastate agricultural production in Iowa - and around the world.

So let’s stop fighting global warming and start encouraging it! Maybe if we’re giants, it won’t matter that the earth is dying!

8 comments April 18th, 2007