Talk about your messianic complexes!
Here's the story as reported by David Zucchino in the Los Angeles Times:
http://www.latimes.com/...
RALEIGH, N.C. — When scientists at a state commission predicted that North Carolina's sea levels could rise 39 inches by 2100, coastal business and development leaders weren't alarmed at the prospect of flooding. They were outraged by the report itself.
They complained to state legislators, saying the projection could trigger regulations costing coastal businesses and homeowners millions of dollars.
The result is House Bill 819, a measure that would require sea level forecasts to be based on past patterns and would all but outlaw projections based on climate change data.
The response from the legislators when they were called on it by scientists? They simply created their own set of "facts" and used that as evidence.
The bill's backers issued their own projections, using data from tide gauges and carbon dioxide levels, and citing studies that project no or minimal sea level rise. They predict a rise of, at the most, 8 inches — and contend that sea levels are actually receding in some coastal areas. They say the 39-inch projection would restrict economic development, send insurance rates skyrocketing and decrease coastal property values.
So if you can't actually make the waters stop rising, do the next best thing; deny it's happening. This is just so typical of the right-wing conservative mindset these days. If you don't like reality because it doesn't conform to your religious or corporatist mindset, change it to something that will. To hell with what the experts or scientists say on an issue; go with what works best for you and your corporate buddies and screw everyone else. Destroy the planet? We won't be here to suffer the long term consequences of our actions, so what does it matter? In the meantime, we can rape and pillage it for our own personal gain and leave future generations to fend for themselves.
This whole controversy has made North Carolina the laughingstock of the scientific community, leading to a Scientific America blogpost snarkily entitled "N.C. Considers Making Sea Rise Illegal."
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/...
The only possible conclusion from this all? The right wing is toxic to both the planet and the people who live on it.