Letter to the Editor - McLeod County Chronicle

Kevin Becker wrote a Letter to the Editor in the McLeod County Chronicle, responding to people's assertions about global warming and highlighting the need for evidence toward either side of the argument. However, he demonstrates the RE-AMP frame and message very well in his arguments and responses at the end of his piece. His final point is copied below, and the rest of his letter can be found at http://www.glencoenews.com/main.asp?SectionID=8&SubSectionID=8&ArticleID....

Argument: "Data can be made to convey whatever message you want ..."

Response: Of course, data can be manipulated and this argument applies to both sides of the debate. Personally, I get particularly skeptical when a study is funded by oil companies. The officers of these companies are personally making millions of dollars by selling fossil fuels as can be verified by the companies' own annual reports. They have a vested interest in painting a biased picture.

Admitting that we have contributed to a problem implies an obligation to take action. Change is scary. The neat thing about this whole argument is the changes that will help global warming can be easy and have many side benefits.

Replacing a light bulb with a more efficient one is a simple act that helps conserve energy. Buying from a local farmer's market reduces fuel for transporting food - and the fresh produce tastes better than that found in the grocery store (my apologies to grocers).

Using less gas saves money and reduces pollution. Where is the disadvantage to saving money and reducing pollution? Reducing our dependence on oil reduces our dependence on unstable regions of the world such as the Middle East and Venezuela, thereby improving our national security. This is only a partial list of benefits.

Am I 100 percent convinced that we understand the climate well enough to be certain about global warming? No, I'm not. However, I'm also not 100 percent certain that I will wake up tomorrow, but I'm making decisions today as if it were true. Likewise, I am making decisions today that attempt to reduce my carbon footprint.