According to Scientific American, polar ice sheets are melting much faster than scientists previously thought. Predictably, they have also increased estimates of the amount and the speed of expected rises in sea level.
The position of American conservatives with respect to climate change is totally disgraceful. More important than this specific position is the larger problem of which it is merely a symptom. One half of our country's political leadership is either: a) so scientifically illiterate or so distrustful of science generally, or b) so cynical that they're willing to govern in completely bad faith.
Either way, it makes me extremely pessimistic about our chances of resolving many of the problems that we face as a nation and as human beings. Fixing Social Security and, much more importantly, Medicare, will require the country to make important decisions and set policy priorities over a very long period of time. That isn't necessarily easy. It requires leaders and citizens who are willing to do unpopular things and agree to make some shared sacrifices. It also requires both the people and our leaders to closely examine these issues and have a solid understanding of them.
Dealing with climate change will require the same level of knowledge, understanding and commitment. So how exactly do you accomplish anything when one political party has set out, as its more or less official position, that climate change is a vast conspiracy perpetrated by scientists and global elitists to take control of the economy.
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