Besides, these companies are spending hundreds and hundreds of million dollars on alternative energy. And yet we are being told to believe that they are also secretly shoveling $25,000 to Heartland to undermine their own efforts.
The only way you'd believe any of this is if you had a huge hate on for large profitable corporations. That way, anybody could feed you horse manure that says such a corporation is doing something bad and you'd just eat it up.
Global warming does not increase the price of oil or coal or gas. If governments decide to put a new tax on oil, coal, or gas, THAT would increase the price. Usually the plan is to use the money collected to pay for alternative power projects, like wind power and solar power projects.
By the way, solar panels are getting pretty cheap. So cheap that in places with a lot of sun it can be cheaper that electricity generated by coal. And the amount of solar power produced in the USA is doubling about every 2 years. If it keeps growing that fast, I calculate it would take only 12 years for all the electricity in the USA to come from solar.
For the most part you are correct. Enron was one of the biggest backers of the Kyoto Treaty. Ron Brown's death in a plane crash was during a trip to promote Enron. Shell has given money to climate scientists, as can be seen in the ClimateGate e-mails. Indeed, the #1 answerer in Yahoo in this subject is an employee of the oil industry.
However, they can also see that the end goal of environmentalists is to not let them drill for oil. Higher prices yield higher profits, but they earn these higher profits on lower volume. In the short term that is acceptable, because for the oil industry, every gallon sold is a negative because it is a gallon they can't sell in the future. But if you say that long term existing inventories cannot be drilled and sold, they are taking a big loss.
What's so hard about thinking things tactically? Many industries donate to environmental groups as a distraction so they can keep doing what they do & claim to be somewhat "green" at the same time. Many feel that the largest of these groups have been essentially co-opted by industry as a result of being so beholden to them. All you really have to do is look at the history of the tobacco industries to figure this out. And again, if you're thinking tactically about a subject where the rules & regulations are uneven playing both sides of the fence makes more sense in the long term when it comes to wielding influence.
You are of course correct. There is no motivation from oil companies. I think some geologists in oil companies probably don't like to see the science attacked but as far as business goes it doesn't matter so much to them. Better to take down coal and then move on to other crony capitalist handouts.
Why is it idiot Marxists try to prop up China when China's only success came from it incorporating some capitalism yet they restrain it. These are the same people that suggested Japan was going to surpass us because of their controlled society. Instead what happened is a decade of malaise.
For the time being, Big Oil, Gas and Coal do not have to back anyone. Their products will be in considerable demand for some time. The reason is that we do not have sufficient means to produce energy any other way.
Many people of the green persuasion see the world through rose tinted glasses. They think they can just banish everything they do not like. They are just not bright enough to realise that some of the things they do not like help provide them with things they take for granted.
Even the leader of the opposition in parliament in the UK is complaining that energy prices are too high. He seems to have forgotten that he fought to introduce the bill that caused it! They seem to live to gain "brownie points" from the various lobby groups. The electorate are just a nuisance - apart from the cash they provide, of course.
If we have a cold winter in the UK this time there is a good chance that we will suffer rolling blackouts. When that affects the yogurt-weaving classes they might just stop and think. Then again ...
I have said before that increased energy prices will just increase the value of Big Energy's underground assets and they will be able to maintain profits by selling less product with fewer staff. What is not to like?
I am constantly amused by the US. They keep making it harder and harder for coal, for instance. One day, the coal-fired powerstations will just give up and shut down. The resulting power cuts will not be appreciated but it might have to come to that before anyone sees sense.
EDIT: Jungle Jim: They also help fund many universities. Do you have any documentary evidence that they fund Jo Nova? I would be interested to see the amounts. Thanks.
EDIT: You might recognise the man in the cartoon:
http://theclimatescepticsparty.blogspot....
The answer to that is quite easy.
1. They don't want insane laws enacted against them. Just look at the Gulf of Mexico. Oil drilling and production has stopped by fiat of the President of the US. And against court order, I may add. Who would want that against your company? Only a fool.
2. There are enough lies spread about them. It is only reasonable that a company should fight these lies. What is wrong with supporting the truth?
3. Exxon-Mobil made $68,000,000,000 last year, according to some reports. They created jobs, I got to work and back home, we all got foods cheaper and a higher life style for their work. Last December, President Obama just handed over $100,000,000,000 to the UN for AGW, or in fact, nothing. Don't you think they are smart enough to support the intelligent ones? Why on earth would a company that makes a legitimate profit and provides enhancement to humanity want to throw in with a bunch of losers, liars and con artists that are out for their downfall?
Most activists do not understand basic economics and others seem to think they are saving the planet from irreparable harm. Regardless of their reasons, there will always be people standing in the way of progress based on their own logic. People are inherently selfish with big egos and will stand on their own belief system.
Evolutionary science is the biggest threat to humans and their own calculations are bearing the fruit of this truth. It only shows that people are at least able to realize their own mistakes over time. Einstein's Theory of Relativity took a blow several years ago, but arrogant scientists will continue to corrupt the masses with their arrogance.
