corrente

... Well, you fill in the blank.

Please reward good behavior and buy the print version of The New Yorker;
Elizabeth Kolbert's third part of the "The Climate of Man" is out today, and it's as good as the first two. (Dare we hope for a "Silent Spring" II?) From the majestic perspective of the overall theme—the coming of the Anthropocene, with crocodiles at the poles once more—politics seems a little trivial. But revealing.

Taking these three quotes out of order, just to connect the dots in a way that Kolbert is, perhaps, too polite to do:

"[UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR GLOBAL AFFAIR, PATRICIA DOBRIANSKY:] Science tells us that we cannot say with any certainty what constitutes a dangerous level of global warming and therefore what level must be avoided. ... We predicate our policies on sound science."

"[CHIEF EXECUTIVE BUSH:] When we make decisions, we want to make sure we do so on sound science."

"[GOP POLLSTER FRANK LUNTZ:] The scientific debate is closing [against us] but not yet closed. There is still an opportunity to challenge the science. ... Should the public come to believe that the scientific issues are settled, their views about global warming will change accordinglly... The most important principle in any discussion of global warming is your commitment to sound science.
(via the print version of The New Yorker—go on, support actual journalism and fork over the $3,95!)

Coincidence? You be the judge.

There really is nothing these people don't try to pervert, is there?