It is not arrogant to think that humans can fundamentally affect the Earth's environment. We have already burned a hole in the ozone layer, sulfur dioxide from midwest power plants nearly destroyed northeastern forests, and now mercury from Chinese power plants is being deposited in Nova Scotia. More importantly, solutions were found for the first two of these problems - despite their complexity and the same challenges that are now being leveled at the climate change issue. We certainly have no control over plate tectonics, Mt. Pinatubo or long-term climate change, but we do have the ability to mitigate the impacts that we create - which is what is the fundamental issue.
We are always eager to rush to the ramparts to defend our rights against the scrouge of self-appointed world saviors and the like. Too bad we aren't as willing to discuss whether we are responsibly exercising those rights. I don't pretend to know enough of the science to say with conviction that human carbon emissions are contributing to climate change, and I spend most of my professional life on the other side of the table from environmental regulators, so I am no fan of environmental regulations. But from my perspective, I owe it to my grandchildren to take the prudent course until science can give us a more certain answer. If that means I have to use CFLs and drive a car with 25% less horsepower, so be it - that does not strike me as an intrusion into my rights, constitutional or otherwise. (Plus the CFLs in my house actually cut my electricity bill by 30%). I can't on the one hand make a lot of happy talk about the shotguns I hope to pass down to my grandkids, and then summarily dismiss an issue that could so fundamentally affect their lives as simply a hoax or a conspiracy or a problem beyound our control.
Just my two cents - others here and elswhere obviously take a different view.
