5 thoughts on “The Weekend Wonk: Climate Debate – Alex Epstein v Andy Dessler”
Epstein: “Fossil fuel causes drought, which is bad. But it also allows us to purify water and to move food and water from one place to another, which is good! And the good outweighs the bad!”
The ‘good’ Epstein is talking about is due to energy, any kind of energy, and not merely fossil energy. The ‘bad’, meanwhile, is all due to the fossil CO2 liberated to the atmosphere specifically by burning fossil fuel. Hence, none of the ‘good’ things go away, if we filter off of fossil energy and onto other forms of energy. Only the ‘bad’ things go away. I know everyone knows this, but it’s really amazing to see people given an uncritical platform on which to disinform another generation of Americans.
Epstein decries a World without fossil fuel? Is he aware that it is a nonrenewable resource? A ‘World without fossil fuel’ is not speculation, it is the obvious fate of burning fossil fuel, other than a changed climate.
“And now for our Second Guest” There’s an obvious reason Dr. Dressler is second in this video, and it has to do with our Nations abysmally short overall Attention Span. This video is 40 minutes of Epstein filling your head full of mush, after which most people have changed the channel.
That was not a debate. It was a good interview with Alex Epstein followed by a half hour of Andrew Dresser running off at the mouth completely oblivious to what Epstein has said. Here’s a real debate between Epstein and Dressler:
Epstein: “Fossil fuel causes drought, which is bad. But it also allows us to purify water and to move food and water from one place to another, which is good! And the good outweighs the bad!”
The ‘good’ Epstein is talking about is due to energy, any kind of energy, and not merely fossil energy. The ‘bad’, meanwhile, is all due to the fossil CO2 liberated to the atmosphere specifically by burning fossil fuel. Hence, none of the ‘good’ things go away, if we filter off of fossil energy and onto other forms of energy. Only the ‘bad’ things go away. I know everyone knows this, but it’s really amazing to see people given an uncritical platform on which to disinform another generation of Americans.
Epstein decries a World without fossil fuel? Is he aware that it is a nonrenewable resource? A ‘World without fossil fuel’ is not speculation, it is the obvious fate of burning fossil fuel, other than a changed climate.
“And now for our Second Guest” There’s an obvious reason Dr. Dressler is second in this video, and it has to do with our Nations abysmally short overall Attention Span. This video is 40 minutes of Epstein filling your head full of mush, after which most people have changed the channel.
In some contexts speaking second is considered an advantage: “First heard is first forgotten.”
I think your attention span observation is more apt in these times.
Listened until a bit over 20 minutes.
Duane Gish (of Gish Gallop fame) would be proud!
That was not a debate. It was a good interview with Alex Epstein followed by a half hour of Andrew Dresser running off at the mouth completely oblivious to what Epstein has said. Here’s a real debate between Epstein and Dressler:
https://twitter.com/AlexEpstein/status/1503400322349207553
It reminds me of the claims of “CO2 being plant food” without asking real agronomists what’s best for plants.
Plants were not suffering from lack of CO2 before. Climate change is bad for most plants.