I hope you realize that you sound completely uneducated if you say that we aren't affecting global climate. What most people don't realize is that we are currently in the midst of a mild ice age...in course of all geologic time, the Earth has rarely had as much ice at the poles as is currently deposited. Our carbon emissions are CATALYZING an already in motion warm-up phase for the Earth. The consequences for humans is the loss of coastal areas when the ice caps melt over a thousand times faster than normal, wiping out Miami and Manhattan, for example. I sincerely hope that more Texans don't subscribe to the stereotype of being blithely ignorant of anything that isn't right-wing bull****. Being somewhat of a realist, I do agree that there is very little that we can do to change our course, but the point is that Global Warming is just as much of a fact as the theory of evolution or the theory of gravity: if you believe in evolution, as I suspect you do, then to say Global Warming isn't real is scientific blasphemy.
Sorry...I did my senior honors thesis through the department of geophysical climatology, so I obviously get a little worked up on the topic.
I'm a Texan, but not a climatologist (that would be an interesting pre-med education!). I don't think I have met anyone who is college educated and keeps up with the news (I realize that eliminates many Texans or Americans for that matter) who doesn't believe that Global Warming is an issue and that humans appear to be contributing to the problem. The main argument seems to center on how much of a contribution humans make and how much of it they can really reduce. I'm in favor of real solutions ... not spending trillions on strategies that will make no difference at all. It might also be a question of priorities ... what should we do to actually improve quality of life in the future. Cleaner power plants (or even wind power) have made a difference:
http://www.lungusa.org/site/apps/nl/content3.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=40407&ct=2315173
American Lung Association State of the Air: 2006 Report Finds Too Many U.S. Cities Still Suffer from Air Pollution
Clean up of power plants is making a difference; EPA needs to clean up diesel emissions from boats, trains
"NEW YORK, NY, April 27, 2006 – Federal efforts to control harmful air pollution from power plants are paying off, according to the annual American Lung Association State of the Air: 2006 report released today. The Lung Association is urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to further protect public health by curbing pollution from marine and locomotive sources.
"Our report shows real improvement in the air quality in much of the nation. We're seeing the benefits of cleaning up dirty power plants with healthier air and a better quality of life. But that doesn't mean it's clean enough, and we've still got a lot of work to do," said John L. Kirkwood, president and chief executive officer of the American Lung Association.
"The State of the Air: 2006 report finds that more than 150 million Americans still live in counties where they are exposed to unhealthful levels of air pollution. The report ranks the cities and counties with the dirtiest air, and provides county-by-county report cards on the two most pervasive air pollutants: particle pollution (more commonly called "soot") and ozone (more commonly called "smog"). While air pollution is unsafe for everyone, some people are at increased risk because of their age or health situation. Those groups include people with asthma, adults over 65, children under 18, people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD – chronic bronchitis and emphysema), people with cardiovascular disease, and those with diabetes.
"In the eastern United States, where dirty power plants have been polluting the air for decades, efforts to control particle pollution are making a difference in the lives of people at risk from exposure to unhealthful air," said Janice Nolen, director, national policy at the American Lung Association.
"The State of the Air: 2006 report also takes a closer look at pollution from marine and locomotive sources which contribute significantly to the air pollution problem. State and local air pollution officials estimate that pollution from these sources is responsible for 4,000 premature deaths a year. The U.S. EPA has promised to issue guidelines for limiting air pollution from marine and locomotive sources but has not yet acted. The marine sources include vessels ranging from tug boats and ferries to recreational boats. Emissions from boats foul the air in port cities like Houston, Los Angeles, and New York. Diesel-powered locomotives continue to pollute the air in cities like Chicago and Pittsburgh.
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I have not heard the "catalysis" global warming argument before. Please elaborate.
Do they give any IRR at disbursement? 
But I'm sure you were smarter than that and did research before you moved 
