Warming pooh-poohers aren't academically hot

Tiffany Lach

Date published: 6/30/2006

I am writing in response to Stephen Despres' and Richard Poole's recent "investigations" into global warming ["The Earth is just fine ," June 29, and "Global warming? Try facts--not fear," June 22].

Their empirical data come from a Web site run by Steven Milloy, a lawyer who also has a degree in public-health sciences.

Health-science degrees are not laboratory-research intensive; they are public-policy degrees, involving how to present research to the public in an enticing manner.

What did Mr. Milloy do with his legal and health-policy degree? He went to work for Phillip Morris (yes, the tobacco company).

Listening to Mr. Milloy talk about global warming is akin to asking Bill Clinton speak out on the appropriate way to interact with subordinates.

When Mr. Despres and Mr. Poole did their research on global warming, did they bother to research the researchers?

I've seen this same method of analysis on Fox News. They bring in a "panel" of Ph.D.s but don't tell you what their Ph.D.s are in.

In fact, most of the anti-warming folks you see on TV have their degrees in health or environmental policy, as opposed to being research scientists.

Then they treat the various speakers' opinions equally despite the fact that they don't have equal resumes. How ironic from the network that decries celebrity pundits for their lack of subject-matter expertise.

The problem with the "Earth is fine" folks is that they give this issue scientific latitude that they would not give any other topic.

If you were suffering from angina and you saw a team of 10 doctors, nine of whom were heart specialists who told you that you needed a heart operation immediately or you might die, and one chiropractor who told you that it was unnecessary and you were just suffering from gas, you would go with the opinion of the nine heart specialists.

Anyone would, because that is the smarter thing to do.

Caroline

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Date published: 6/30/2006