Should The Prime Minister Step Down?

[Professor Polonsky]

If global warming is not an issue, then why is the Earth warming up at unprecedented rates? Natural climate change occurs much more gradually.

And even natural climate change has been awful, causing mass-extinction events. Sure, you can say that climate change has happened before and is completely normal... If you want to risk fucking up our entire ecosystem.

In any case, even if you think that global warming is not an issue, I don't see how you can think that polluting the atmosphere with Carbon Dioxide can be a good thing. It will substantially disrupt the current conditions on Earth.

[jazza97]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKHg8O7iaWE

As long as you have very experienced scientists against global warming over a long period of time, you cannot say that global warming is an 'unanimous reality'.  The earth always warms and cools and will continue to do so...man made co2 emissions is so insignificant that reducing them totally will do absolutely nothing.

[Russ]

The main issue with global warming is that it's become a political science, which demands exact answers, which meteorological science cannot give. Because of this, everyone observing the discussion thinks that they understand it, when in reality they don't.

Dragging this back on topic; whoever said (probably Polonium) that the election would be 52-48 or closer, why?

[Mao]

It's not like the LNP haven't lost an "unloseable election" before. I won't be entirely surprised if Abbott and co says something stupid at the very last minute and lose the election. I just find it very strange that all the newspapers and media are so one-sided in their reports on the current political environment.

[chasej]

The election is so soon there is no point in labour changing their leadership. Let the people decide which party and then they can feel free to restructure all the want....as opposition.

On that note. I'm tipping the coalition to win but not by the huge massive landslide the media is saying.

Edit: DAMNNNNNNN

[slothpomba]

Even if Rudd comes back, i don't think it'll magically solve anything. He was rolled for a reason, whether you think its good or not is a separate issue but there was a reason for it. His own party and office had issues with him, his popularity took a massive nose dive with the public (lets not forget bad polls bought about his demise).

I've noticed a lot of people who tend to say they prefer Rudd are LNP voters anyway, so, it's not like it would really matter come an election scenario. ~50% of people ultimately won't be voting for any labor leader.

If Rudd does come in, he either scraps a lot of Julia's policies a few months out from the election and gets flak for that or keeps Julia's policies and keeps getting flak. Not to mention Julia rolled Rudd who came back and rolled Julia again? Abbott bickers about all the alleged backstabbing, his tune won't change if Rudd knifes Gillard, in-fact, it'll give even more evidence the ALP are "unstable".

It may prevent (doubtful in my opinion) some of the electoral bloodshed but not much. If Rudd were to replace Julia, the best time would be to do it *after* the election. When they can start fresh with a new brand and image of labor.

----

Even if you're skeptical of global warming, i don't see what practical consequences that will have. We will run out of coal one day, we will run out of oil one day. Their prices will steadily rise and eventually we will see similar problems to any other energy crisis. Even if you don't give a shit about the icecaps melting, we do need to plan sooner or later to switch to other fuels. Burning oil and coal releases all kinds of nasty stuff into the atmosphere as well (i'm not even talking CO2), stuff like soot and smog. Cars and trucks release a lot of toxins and particulate matter, anyone who lives near busy roads are at risk.

It's practical and local stuff like that which needs to change regardless.

Generating more and more power means increasing demand for coal and oil, accelerating how quickly we burn through finite fuel sources. It places a larger demand on the national grid and electricity infrastructure.  I don't see whats wrong with pushing companies to slow down and cut out some waste that might be inefficient.

Not forgetting Abbott has his own climate change plan which will also be paid with government money (which comes out of taxes as well).

[SocialRhubarb]

Well shit.