Not enough data on climate change

Re the Sept. 16 online story, “Special UN summit, protests, week of talk turn up heat on fossil fuels and global warming:” I support taking measures to reduce greenhouse gases and pollution of land, sea and sky, irrespective of whether the world climate is being changed by emissions or not. This is a worthy cause.

As for whether or not the world is getting warmer or whether the climate is changing in some other way, we have been keeping records for 174 years. That is a statistically meaningless sample.

If I flip a coin 10 times, I will get various combinations of heads and tails, perhaps three heads and seven tails on one attempt, or six tails and four heads on the next. No one can predict what will happen. The results do not mean anything.

If I flip the coin

100,000 times, however, the results will gradually close in on an even number of heads and tails.

This is known as “the law of large numbers” and is immutable.

You may depend on this: there will be an even number of “heads and tails” in a large sampling, but various combinations in a small one.

I submit that 174 years is a meaningless sample of temperature records. Any combination of weather events is possible.

Now, if we had 174,000 years of record keeping, we would get better results. For now, though, there is no way to know for sure what is happening.

Can we please stop talking as if global warming is settled science?

Yes, let’s do something about greenhouse gases.

I have too much respect for science, however, to get exercised over the results obtained by flipping a coin 10 times.

– Robert Gray,

Tamarac

MUCH MORE TO DO

Most Americans believe we are a nation committed to tolerance and oppose bigotry, and that over the years, our country has moved in the direction of expanded rights and greater justice for all. Lately, with every act of racial and ethnic violence, we are reminded America has always been and remains an anti-Semitic, racist country.

When leaders such as Donald Trump and Elon Musk repeat anti-Semitic and racist tropes, they advance bigotry and hatred. When politicians, organizations, and celebrities push division, anger, and demean anyone not white, Christian, straight or whose family is not American-born, and suffer no consequences, they normalize their hateful views.

By enacting laws and policies that marginalize individuals by denying them human rights and dignity, bigoted leaders inspire groups and individuals to direct violence on people of color, immigrants, Jews, Muslims, other religious minorities, women and girls, and LGBTQ+ individuals or any person or group deemed the “other.”

Martin Luther King said, “Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.”

Americans are right to celebrate our progress toward greater justice and equality, but must also recognize there is still a long way to go.

– Karen Adler, Hollywood

EDUCATION DIVIDE

A recent article in “Politico” explains not only the division in our politics, but also the divide in our education, as described in an excerpt from, “The Road to A Political Realignment in American Politics.”

“Demographics and economics long drove voting patterns in American politics. What is different now is that educational attainment has increasingly played a dominant role in voting. This has led to a political realignment, with the base shifting for both political parties.

“In a sharp contrast to a previous era, college educated voters are now more likely to identify as Democrats, and those without college degrees — particularly white voters, but increasingly all Americans — support Republicans.”

Unfortunately, politics today has become a forum where individuals commonly “spin” their opinions to gain favor, value, and self-serving power and wealth. The importance of education cannot be emphasized enough, which can play an important role in preserving our democracy, especially at the ballot box.

– H. Allen Benowitz, Miami

HEALTH NOT POLITICS

Yet again, Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo are promoting their propaganda against the updated COVID-19 booster vaccine for people under

65. The governor is accusing the FDA and the CDC of “using healthy Floridians as guinea pigs,” as if everyone under the age of 65 has no health issues.

At no time has COVID-19 discriminated based on age or health status. Although the elderly and immune-compromised are more vulnerable. Floridians’ lives are once again being politicized.

The pandemic may be “over” but COVID-19’s new sub variants are an expected reality. The upsurge of cases with rising hospitalizations and deaths is clear evidence that the virus remains a health threat.

COVID-19 boosters don’t guarantee people won’t contract the disease; they are meant to keep people from experiencing the virus’s devastation, and save lives. DeSantis is throwing caution to the wind and risking lives.

Would you choose DeSantis’ “knock on wood” approach, or science?

To know what’s best for you, seek medical advice from your physician, whose interest is solely your health, not politics.

– Enid Garber,

Palmetto Bay

BAD PRESS

Reading the Miami Herald every morning has become very depressing. The Herald has a history of being impartial, however, lately it seems that the paper never publishes anything positive about Republicans or conservatives, only negative issues are published.

This is very sad.

– Maria M. Sorzano

Menocal, West Kendall