Michael Griffin is Full of Shit

In an interview yesterday on NPR's "Morning Edition", NASA Administrator Michael Griffin (text excerpts and audio here) stated: "I'm aware that global warming exists....Whether that is a long term concern or not, I can't say." He goes on to explain that

I have no doubt that … a trend of global warming exists. I am not sure that it is fair to say that it is a problem we must wrestle with. To assume that it is a problem is to assume that the state of Earth's climate today is the optimal climate, the best climate that we could have or ever have had and that we need to take steps to make sure that it doesn't change.

In taking a look at Griffin's bio, I see that he has multiple degrees in engineering and physics. He does not, however, list any credentials in climatology, anthropology, or history. And, in my mind, to make a statement like "...to assume that the state of Earth's climate today is the optimal climate, the best climate that we could have or ever have had..." without considering human anthropology and history is... disingenuous... at best.

The Earth's climate is in a constant state of flux. It swings from Ice Ages to warm periods. This has been shown via ice cores and dendrochronology (the study of growth rings in trees) and other ways, and has been going on for all of the history of the planet. However, it has remained relatively stable for the last ten to twelve thousand years - not coincidentally, the time in which human civilization has flourished.

Anthropologists will tell you that humans (physically) have remained basically unchanged for hundreds of thousands of years. But it is only in the mostly stable recent era that we have developed civilization - there is some argument over that (see Graham Hancock, et al), but the 'accepted' timeline shows that we went from hunter-gatherers in circa 10,000 BC to what we have today.

If the human body and brain have been the same for hundreds of thousands of years, what other explanation than the stable climate of the last 10k - 12k years can there be for the rise of civilization? It is this backdrop, this setting, under which we have flourished.

Griffin said

I guess I would ask which human beings — where and when — are to be accorded the privilege of deciding that this particular climate that we have right here today, right now is the best climate for all other human beings. I think that's a rather arrogant position for people to take.

I say, You're full of shit, Mr. Griffin. It is only because of "the climate that we have right here today, right now" that we are even capable of having this discussion. If you could get your head out of the collective ass of BushCo, you would be able to see that.

.