John Stossel is ABC News' Co-Anchor of "20/20" and New York Times best-selling author of Give Me A Break & Myths, Lies and Downright Stupidity. His "Give Me a Break" commentaries take a skeptical look at a wide array of issues, such as education, the economy, parenting, and more.
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Controlling the Climate Like King Canute
07/10/2009 4:44 PM
Today’s Wall Street Journal lead editorial, “King Canute at the G-8” makes great use of the “King Canute” metaphor. Legend says that when the King wanted the tides to recede he just commanded it –the unhappy result demonstrated that a King (or a President) can’t just make something happen.
Of course, politicians pass legislation that fails to deliver (even though it costs us millions, billions, or trillions)—all the time (as I touched on in my 20/20 piece and column before the election last fall). As the Congress considers a cap and trade bill, this wishful thinking clearly applies to the debate over what to do about global warming. As the Journal says:
A global economic crisis does have a way of shearing away illusions about the price people and their leaders, elected or otherwise, are willing to pay in higher taxes, higher prices and economic competitiveness to perhaps make a fractional dent on the temperature.
If only our policy leaders would be like the King Canute of legend who, after failing to control the tides, proclaimed:
"Let all men know how empty and worthless is the power of kings, for there is none worthy of the name, but He whom heaven, earth and sea obey by eternal laws."
The politicians say that they can control the climate. Their arrogance is astounding.
July 10, 2009 in Global Warming | Permalink | Share | User Comments (10)
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The whole climate change issue has exceeded the height of absurdity with this inane "agreement." The fact that this could be discussed, announced and reported with complete seriousness just goes to show the mental and emotional distortion around climate change.
Posted by: Chiara | Jul 10, 2009 5:06:55 PM
One climate scientist discussed how cap and trade will only cool the planet 0.2 degrees Centigrade by the end of the century.
This is worth ruining the economy and taxing production. Give me more taxes! I love taxes!
Posted by: Frank | Jul 10, 2009 8:30:38 PM
But with the temps going down now, the good King has the advantage of stepping in the water, ordering them to recede, and watching them recede. All he has to do now is turn around, declare victory, and walk away before anyone notices the tide was already going out.
Posted by: Kathy V | Jul 10, 2009 9:47:15 PM
That's a very good analogy, I never thought of it that way.
Posted by: tx281 | Jul 11, 2009 4:28:35 PM
John, You are one of the few national voices to speak rationally on this issue. Please keep it up,
Posted by: safariman | Jul 12, 2009 9:39:58 AM
I agree with Safariman. Also, You should have your own show. It would be better than anything "TV News" has going now, that's for sure.
Posted by: Monty | Jul 13, 2009 3:34:14 PM
Cap and Trade is, like the current health care debate, like previous bailouts, and like previous stimulus packages, merely a way to ensure that the elite keep getting richer and the downtrodden of the earth never get a hand up so that they can enjoy the fruits of the earth, of which there are enough and to spare for everyone.
Thank you Mr. Stossel for being a voice of sanity in a sea of lunacy.
SimpleUtahMormonPolitics.com
Posted by: Frank Staheli | Jul 14, 2009 10:33:06 AM
The problem isn't with the idea that humans can impact the climate (for better or worse), it is with the half-measures currently being discussed.
Scientists say that to prevent warming that will have disastrous effects on ecosystems, communities, and economies, carbon emissions must be cut by 25-40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020.
A better analogy than Canute would be Nero, fiddling while Rome burns.
Posted by: John Hocevar | Jul 14, 2009 10:41:45 AM
Many years ago, as I was finishing an argument with a lady that had a fundamentalist Christian viewpoint with my own Evolutionary theory point of view, she wished I'd put my "argumental powers in the service of the Lord." Well no luck on that! However, I'd wish Mr Stossel put his journalistic powers on the side of humanity and away from his beloved blind neo-liberalism. Will we ever be lucky?
Posted by: Arnaldo Guerrero | Jul 14, 2009 12:55:32 PM
A direct comparison between her "fundamentalist Christian viewpoint" and the global warming enthusiasts viewpoint would show little difference other than the subject matter.
No deviation from orthodoxy, discussion over, burn all the witches (deniers).
And you are worried about "blind neoconservatism?" LOL!
Posted by: Dimsdale | Jul 28, 2009 8:37:56 PM
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