New Seniors

Sitting in Los Angeles and watching television coverage about the latest blizzard hit the East, I wondered what in the world is happening with our weather. When the climate conference in Washington, DC had to be canceled because of the record snow fall, I didn’t know if I should laugh or cry.

There’s no doubt we have been experiencing strange weather conditions, but with opposite sides of the issue pushing their talking points rather than engaging in an honest, civil debate about the subject, we are at the mercy of those with the loudest voices and the most effective PR campaigns.

It is difficult for laymen to wrap their minds around the notion that the harsh winter weather is actually a result of global warming. Supposedly, the hot summer weather produced more atmospheric moisture, which in turn resulted in greater snowfalls when it was hit by cold air during the winter months. Try selling this idea to the people shoveling out from the blizzards. Should every weather incident be blamed on global warming?

In the 1970s the big scare was global freezing. Many of the advocates behind this theory are the same folks supporting the current warming scare. The news media worldwide promoted both these end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it scenarios. Doesn’t that bother you, at least a little? Reports emphasizing the popular theory among intellectuals, supported by the appropriate scientific evidence, appeared on television and radio as well as magazines and newspapers.

Then “new studies” suddenly appeared and the scientists and intellectuals looking out for our well-being began singing a different tune, one that was 180 degrees away from the previous thesis. Politicians jumped on the bandwagon. They said this problem was certainly man-made and that severe steps must be taken to reduce greenhouse gases and other kinds of pollution in order to save the planet. Pictures of the snow melting on the famous mountains of the world, polar bears trapped on pieces of ice floating out to sea and the prospects of New York City submerged by a rising tide frightened many people. Who wouldn’t want to help save the planet?

Last year it was discovered that some scientists, in their zeal, reported findings that were less than factual information. This was followed by more mistakes coming to light, and a believing public became more questioning if not less believing. The naysayers pointed to this as prove of global warming being a farce at best and a political conspiracy at worse, with the recent snow storms supporting their claims.

Forgetting the political battle and the strong opinions being expressed by those whose minds are made up, isn’t it time to have a serious debate about climate change, how the pendulum swung so far so quickly, what can be done (if anything) to repair or offset the damage already done. And most important, we must be honest with the facts and willing to work together once the facts are weighed, a strategy is laid out and decisions are made to help mankind and not have a few men help themselves to profits and power.

Don Potter: Editor-in-Chief

Don Potter, a veteran of the ad agency business, is a Philadelphia native currently living in Los Angeles. He is the author of an acclaimed marketing book, The 50+ Boomer: Your Key to 76 Million Consumers. In retirement, Potter has written two novels, hundreds of articles and is a frequent lecturer. A leading advocate for those 65+, he is a founder of NewSeniors.com.

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