Cherry picking for the desired outcome

So, Anthony Watts not only cherry-picks extreme weather events from centuries ago to supposedly disprove anthropomorphic climate change, he also cherry-picks academic papers to back up his contention that the science regarding the matter is not “settled.” I call BS.

Over 97% of actively publishing climate scientists agree that climate change is real and man-made. NASA, NOAA, the

EPA, the American Meteorological Society, and the Department of Defense all agree.

Mr. Watts’ arguments against man-made climate change are analogous to claiming that smoking tobacco doesn’t cause cancer, citing as proof that people have been dying from cancer for millenia, long before cigarettes were even invented. And hey, cancer can strike anyone anytime, so don’t worry about your lifestyle choices!

Sadly, there really are scientists (funded by the tobacco industry) and politicians (Mike “smoking doesn’t kill” Pence) who would argue that the link between tobacco and cancer isn’t “settled.” Similarly, I have no doubt that you could also find a few dermatologists who don’t believe in sunscreen, dentists who don’t believe in brushing and flossing, or doctors who don’t believe in vaccinations, but these people are generally quacks or paid shills.

Would you let your grandchildren board a plane that 97% of certified aircraft mechanics said was unsafe to fly? Me, neither. But that’s whose future is at stake, not old guys like me and Anthony Watts.

— Scott Paulo, Chico