Climate science is Nate Silver and U.S. politics is Karl Rove | Grist

"Empiricism won. It didn’t win because it’s a truer faith or a superior ideology. It won because it works. It is the best way humans have figured out to set aside their prejudices, their perceptual limitations, their cognitive shortcomings, and get a clear view of what’s to come."

Let’s be clear about this.... There are serious scientists who doubt that human civilization can endure at all in the face of 7.2 degrees. And we are headed for 10.8.

…on the biggest, most pressing risk facing the country, those involved in U.S. politics might as well be witch doctors. Or worse, Karl Rove. It’s not a wise approach, because in the climate race, losses are permanent and irreversible. There will be no recount.

For more than 20 years I've been hearing that our response to climate change needs to take into account the health of the economy. OK. How healthy will our economy be when we can't keep factories cool, or grow enough food to keep its employees from starving?