No global warming? How's that snowmachine running?

Frontiersman editorial board

It's no secret that this fall has been an extended one in Alaska. In the Mat-Su Valley, many of us wonder -- at least quietly -- where the snow is, and most people kept their short sleeves out far longer than people did in the "old days." While it could just be a fluke year, and while we do know that weather does change in cycles, we also have to wonder if, at long last, there might just be something to that Global Warming thing, afterall.

Many long-time, steadfast opponents to the notion of Global Warming have now come around at least far enough to agree that the climate is changing, and that human activities seems to have something to do with those changes. Those who have studied the phenomenon for decades profess that there's no doubt about the connection between human activity and the build-up of greenhouse gasses and the subsequent warming effect.

The question is, if there is even a pretty good chance that our activities are having an adverse effect upon the climate, shouldn't we make an effort to change our habits -- at least as far as we reasonably can? It is difficult in a place like our state, where oil is such a huge part of our economy, to advocate for a more responsible approach to usage, but we must consider the long-range consequences of standing pat on the American consumption credo. Shortly after the Bush administration took office, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer was talking about our need, really our right, to keep Middle-East oil flowing and to expand our domestic production. He said that Americans want to drive their SUVs, and he even called it part of our "way of life," as if irresponsible consumption was guaranteed to Americans by some divine power.

We have a society that will always require a fair amount of consumption. We must be mobile, and we must consume and produce waste to remain productive and economically sound. We can do that and still be responsible, though. It's a matter of being aware of our habits, and reducing the bad ones to reasonable levels. It's a matter of keeping the house a few degrees cooler in winter and maybe driving a vehicle that gets better mileage as often as possible. If we can set an example of responsibility, our overall consumption will go down. If, when we do that, we give priority to American-produced petroleum products, we can keep our economy strong. We do need to consume. We don't have to be gluttons about it, though. Our kids deserve better than that.