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They are a part of nature; as are, in fact, pandemics. But consider -- the tide is small, right? Yet its impact on some places is huge, simply because of the geography (think of tidal flats, or the Bay of Fundy). Same thing for a small change in temperature. And that's just the obvious. The more insidious changes are the ones that you don't think about, because "they've always been there." Things like the Antarctic ice sheet. No, it's not all going to melt next year, or even by 2050. But in parts, once some of it starts to melt, some of the ice sheets will disappear -- the sheets on land, not the shelves that are already in the water. That's why all the worry about the Thwaites glacier. Kind of like a glass of water -- once you start tipping it, once it reaches a certain point, it's going over unless you catch it, and even then some water is spilled. We don't have hold of this glass, and we're tipping it. Wendy P.

For sure, but it made me notice that when we discuss the generic topic of abortion, we use clinical language like fetus and tissue, but when we talk about specific instances of abortion we often use more personal terms. You referred to yourself as “I” as far back as conception. The point I’m trying to make with all of this is that somewhere along the continuum of conception to birth there has to be a transition from tissue to person. Maybe transition is not the right word. Prior to this point, it’s purely a matter between a woman and her doctor and no one gets to influence any of it. After that point, it’s a much bigger picture and I think that is where the debate lies. I don’t know the answer. For the record, I don’t take any kind of religious stance on this.

Reality check, I don’t know exactly what he’s on about. I do know that this will not be the post that everyone ignores that I’m hoping for.

Só you’re saying the installed base is changing slowly, and that people tend to prioritize short-term benefit for themselves over long-term benefit for the world. Damn that’s surprising. Wendy P.

If only there was a way to take temperatures all over the world, subtract them from a 30-year average temperature (say, 1951-1980) then average the differences, then plot it per year! Then we don't have to argue about a couple of weather events. But that's impossible, because the troll can't handle numbers...

Or an ethics and honesty impediment.

Given the various choices that were made by your ancestors going back to the dawn of life on this planet (and not even considering the sperm races), the odds that you were born at all is about 2^quadrillion against. For all practical purposes, you aren't here.

I just wish he could do more to validate your world view than fumble his words. Personally, I am much happier with a President who has a speech impediment than a severe brain impediment.