Global Warming, Mental Disorder?

When discussing the latest "crisis," whether its global warming, global cooling, el Nino, la Nina, etc., the discussion can be taken to an extreme.

In an article from the Herald Sun of Australia, titled "Doomed to a fatal delusion over climate change," a poor child was diagnosed with "Climate Change Delusion." Allow me to first offer my deepest and sincerest concern for the welfare of the child and his family. However, I am discussing this article because of the often irrational nature that global warming and "carbon" believers display.

Andrew Bolt writes:

Writing in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, Joshua Wolf and Robert Salo of our Royal Children's Hospital say this delusion was a "previously unreported phenomenon".

"A 17-year-old man was referred to the inpatient psychiatric unit at Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne with an eight-month history of depressed mood . . . He also . . . had visions of apocalyptic events."

Although Mr. Bolt is writing an editorial, he seems to identified some pretty clear characteristics that have recently been displayed by both US and Australian government leaders. US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said, "...coal makes us sick, oil makes us sick..." as he discussed the need for alternative energy to replace fossil fuels (good grief!).

Not to be outdone, the Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd said:

"If we do not begin reducing the nation's levels of carbon pollution, Australia's economy will face more frequent and severe droughts, less water, reduced food production and devastation of areas such as the Great Barrier Reef and Kakadu wetlands."

What empirical evidence does he give for this frightening scene? None specifically, just the advice of another green advocate, Professor Ross Garnaut:

"Australians must pay more for petrol, food and energy or ultimately face a rising death toll . . ."

Wow, it becomes clear, doesn't it. These folks have a vision about how they want people to live. Most people don't agree with that vision, so Rudd and Garnaut are trying to scare people into believing they are in danger and will have to part with their own wealth and lifestyle to fit the deluded visions of the disciples of green.

So, what do China and India, the world's biggest polluters, say about this?

...Ma Kai, head of China's powerful State Council: "China does not commit to any quantified emissions-reduction commitments . . . our efforts to fight climate change must not come at the expense of economic growth."

From India,

... the Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change, said India would rather save its people from poverty than global warming, and would not cut growth to cut gases."

In other words, green ideas and carbon cutting are not in the best interest of the developing world. It is refreshing to see governments exercise enlightened self-interest and the well-being of its citizens as guideposts for policy decisions. When will liberal guilt in the West end and common sense return? Soon, I hope.