The way to combat the efforts of the "pollutant industry" (my own catch-all phrase for Big Oil, auto manufaturers, et al) is to take a page from the book of how Big Tobacco was brought down.
Tobacco companies weren't brought to their knees because they produced products that were harmful to humans. They were brought down because it was proved in court that they KNEW what they were doing and engaged in deceptive practices to convince the American public that there was "debate" about the effects of cigarette smoking and its addictive properties. In other words, they KNEW that science had proved the toxicity and addictive properties of their products. Their own research proved it and their own scientists KNEW it and they engaged in both a cover-up of the scientific results and a massive campaign to convince the public that "all the facts weren't in". They KNEW and they pursued a policy that put profits ahead of the well-being of the public.
Sound familiar, so far? It should.
This kind of activity is exactly what the pollutant industry is now engaged in.
(Below the fold: HOW TO TAKE THEM DOWN)
The anti-global warming lobby is swinging into action:
Masssive advertising campaigns, bogus "scientific" articles in the press, TV specials on Fox News purporting to look at "both sides of the debate", television commercials running at all hours of the day and night, talking points memos distributed to their hired guns in the main stream media - the battle is now on for the minds of the American public. The anti-global warming lobby has its marching orders and this is just the beginning. They see the pendulum swinging towards the realization of their worst fears: the American public is waking up. They are trying to swing the pendulum back.
So how to take them down? I'm getting there. Bear with me for a few more sentences...
It was proved in a dozen courtrooms that Big Tobacco knew what they were doing. And Big Tobacco lost big time! Along the way, we learned a LOT more about how truly damaging smoking was. And a decade later, hundreds of laws have been passed regulating tobacco use in this country.
(By the way, I'm still a smoker - hopelessly addicted. The libertarian in me bristles at tobacco regulation, but I know in my heart it's for the common good - and that trumps my addiction.)
So how to take them down?
SUE THEM
Sue them for engaing in a cover-up. Sue them for lying to the public. Sue them just like the tobacco companies were sued. Sue them with massive class-action lawsuits asking for hundreds of billions in damages. Get them into court where their statements must be made under oath, where their scientists must back up their public claims, where other scientists can offer real science. Get them into court where their research material (all of it) will be subpoeaned and examined in the light of day. Get them into court where the media can have a field day reporting every "stunning development" of every day in court. Get them into court where their own people will turn whistle-blower rather than be prosecuted for perjury. Get them into court where juries made up of the very people suffering from their activities will judge their guilt.
Don't just sue the pollutant industry... SUE THEM ALL. Sue Fox News and every organization that participated in foisting anti-global warming propaganda on the public. Sue them for compensatory damages and sue them for engaging in these pactices with malice aforethought.
SUE THEM FOR BILLIONS!
SUE THEM ALL!
OK, the rant part of this diary is over.
Now... the legalistic part:
Before a lawsuit is launched, the primary questions to be answered are: Who has been damaged and how? There must be demonstrable evidence of damage.
Of course, the irony is that by the time damage due to global warming is self-evident, it will be irreversible. So let's be a bit creative. Any ideas, anybody? Anybody out there in communication with a world class legal firm who would love to earn a percentage of the damages?
