A third issue for 2024 is what to do about global warming.

Despite nay-sayers, the reality of climate change should be obvious to everyone.  The glaciers are melting, the icecaps are shrinking, and winters are becoming noticeably warmer.  Many scientists blame this change on human activity that is causing a buildup of carbon in the Earth’s atmosphere. Climate alarmists insist that Earth’s doomsday is fast approaching, and we must act soon if we are to avert disaster.  They say that we must quickly abandon fossil fuels in favor of other energy producing methods.

Not quite so fast!

Consider the following facts:

• Other climate scientists see the gradual warming of the Earth’s atmosphere as part of a natural cycle, though human activities may have a modest impact on its progress. They also believe we can adjust to a warming Earth, and there may even be certain beneficial effects.  There is nothing we can do to stop it.
• The Earth’s atmospheric temperature has been fluctuating slowly upward for more than 300 years, long before the appearance of gasoline combustion engines.  It has warmed about 1 degree centigrade since 1850.  During that time there has been very little change in ocean levels. 
• Climate is extremely complex, and climate models don’t work.  In the 1970’s some climate scientists were predicting a coming ice age.  A few years later, in 1988, NASA scientist James Hansen told us to prepare for long hot summers and regional droughts.  He predicted that temperatures would rise 6 to 7 degrees by 2050 and ocean levels would rise from one to six feet.  In 2004 alarmists were telling President Bush that the warming climate was a greater threat to the world than terrorism.  They predicted that by 2024 major European cities would be underwater and Britain would be experiencing a Siberian winter.   In 2008 the future King Charles III told his fellow Britons that we had just eight years to save the world.  Similar predictions continue to be made today, with the day of doom being gradually advanced.
• The Biden Administration subscribes to the warnings of these climate alarmists.  Immediately upon taking office, President Biden took steps to destroy the fossil fuel industry and develop energy alternatives.  Billions of dollars have been diverted to this effort.  Vast profits have gone to some high tech companies, but the overall effect on the American economy has been devastating.
• The is no immediately available alternative to fossil fuels, and our development of solar power and electric vehicles has increased our dependence on foreign sources – especially China.
• While Biden destroys the American fossil fuel industry, China and other counties continue to build coal-fired plants, open coal mines, and drill for oil.   Unless there is international cooperation, the Biden Administration’s energy program makes absolutely no sense.
• Trump wishes to revive the American fossil fuel industry and drill, drill, drill.  He will cooperate with international efforts to alleviate the effects of global warming only if there should be scientific consensus on a proper methodology and an enforceable international agreement.
• I believe the Trump approach is the correct one.