Neil deGrasse Tyson: America Will 'Sink Lower' Before Congress ActsOn Climate Change

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson predicted during an interview with Salon published Wednesday that climate change will have to "get very bad" before Congress feels threatened enough to advance meaningful environmental legislation.

"In my read of history, when things get very bad, people tend to come into agreement about what next steps they need to take and there's less arguing," Tyson said, citing the United States' reluctance to invest in space exploration programs until the Soviet launch of Sputnik in 1957.

"So I think maybe we have to sink lower before the pistons of Congress and the electorate align to take meaningful action, to protect the planet going forward," Tyson continued.

Expressing concern over some policymakers' "misinformed, or-under-informed" scientific views, the outspoken critic of climate-change denial maintained that his chief role in the science community is to educate the public on the "emergent scientific consensus." He said climate scientists should take a more vocal role as well.

"I'm just trying to get people as fully informed as they can be so that they can make the most informed decisions they can based on their own principles or philosophies or mission statement," the "Cosmos" host told Salon. "What concerns me is that I see people making decisions, particularly decisions that might affect policy or governance, that are partly informed, or misinformed, or under-informed."

In June, Tyson also criticized wealthier citizens for turning a blind eye to the threat of climate change, warning that even the affluent will soon be forced to address the issue out of basic economic necessity.

"If they start to lose their wealth, they change their minds real fast, particularly in a capitalist culture," Tyson warned during an interview last month on MSNBC's "All In With Chris Hayes." "Don't expect to conduct civilizations the way we now do, because all the coastlines will get redrawn."

On Thursday, July 24, 2014 10:24:03 AM UTC-7, Uncarollo2 wrote:
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson predicted during an interview with Salon published Wednesday that climate change will have to "get very bad" before Congress feels threatened enough to advance meaningful environmental legislation.



"In my read of history, when things get very bad, people tend to come into agreement about what next steps they need to take and there's less arguing," Tyson said, citing the United States' reluctance to invest in space exploration programs until the Soviet launch of Sputnik in 1957.



"So I think maybe we have to sink lower before the pistons of Congress and the electorate align to take meaningful action, to protect the planet going forward," Tyson continued.



Expressing concern over some policymakers' "misinformed, or-under-informed" scientific views, the outspoken critic of climate-change denial maintained that his chief role in the science community is to educate the public on the "emergent scientific consensus." He said climate scientists should take a more vocal role as well.



"I'm just trying to get people as fully informed as they can be so that they can make the most informed decisions they can based on their own principles or philosophies or mission statement," the "Cosmos" host told Salon. "What concerns me is that I see people making decisions, particularly decisions that might affect policy or governance, that are partly informed, or misinformed, or under-informed."



In June, Tyson also criticized wealthier citizens for turning a blind eye to the threat of climate change, warning that even the affluent will soon be forced to address the issue out of basic economic necessity.



"If they start to lose their wealth, they change their minds real fast, particularly in a capitalist culture," Tyson warned during an interview last month on MSNBC's "All In With Chris Hayes." "Don't expect to conduct civilizations the way we now do, because all the coastlines will get redrawn."

He's right. Global warming has to go absolutely postal on us, and the USA has to tank before making and off-world move. Of course by then it'll be way too late to do any good for the next ten generations, unless future proxy wars and WW3 resolves issues.

In Uncarollo2
wrote:

"So I think maybe we have to sink lower before the pistons of Congress
and the electorate align to take meaningful action, to protect the
planet going forward," Tyson continued.

Meaningful action to protect the planet?

Presumably, this involves forcing China, India and friends to shut down.

What sort of "action" does he propose?

--
St. Paul, MN

On Thursday, July 24, 2014 1:03:04 PM UTC-5, Bert wrote:
In Uncarollo2





"So I think maybe we have to sink lower before the pistons of Congress

and the electorate align to take meaningful action, to protect the

planet going forward," Tyson continued.



Meaningful action to protect the planet?



Presumably, this involves forcing China, India and friends to shut down.



What sort of "action" does he propose?



--

St. Paul, MN

What do you propose, Bert?

In article ,
Uncarollo2 wrote:
What do you propose, Bert?

Substantial bribes to everyone contemplating building fossil-fired
power stations to have them build nuclear ones instead (say, have the
US taxpayer pay the difference in build cost and commit to clearing up
any ecological damage and taking away the plant after decommissioning)
would be a pretty good start, and cost no more than the defence budget.

Tom

On 7/24/2014 3:27 PM, Thomas Womack wrote:
In article ,
Uncarollo2 wrote:
What do you propose, Bert?

Substantial bribes to everyone contemplating building fossil-fired
power stations to have them build nuclear ones instead (say, have the
US taxpayer pay the difference in build cost and commit to clearing up
any ecological damage and taking away the plant after decommissioning)
would be a pretty good start, and cost no more than the defence budget.

Actually, telling the NIMBYs and BANANAs to STFU would do that instead.

--
-- Marten Kemp (Fix ISP to reply)

In Uncarollo2
wrote:

On Thursday, July 24, 2014 1:03:04 PM UTC-5, Bert wrote:
In
Uncarollo2

"So I think maybe we have to sink lower before the pistons of
Congress and the electorate align to take meaningful action, to
protect the planet going forward," Tyson continued.

Meaningful action to protect the planet?

Presumably, this involves forcing China, India and friends to shut
down.

What sort of "action" does he propose?


What do you propose, Bert?

I'm not the one making grand public statements demanding action, he is.

--
St. Paul, MN

On Thursday, July 24, 2014 4:44:30 PM UTC-5, Bert wrote:
In Uncarollo2

wrote:



On Thursday, July 24, 2014 1:03:04 PM UTC-5, Bert wrote:

In

Uncarollo2



"So I think maybe we have to sink lower before the pistons of

Congress and the electorate align to take meaningful action, to

protect the planet going forward," Tyson continued.



Meaningful action to protect the planet?



Presumably, this involves forcing China, India and friends to shut

down.



What sort of "action" does he propose?





What do you propose, Bert?



I'm not the one making grand public statements demanding action, he is.



--

St. Paul, MN

Yes, he is, and he is asking our congress critters to take climate change seriously and enact legislation that will steer us into reducing CO2 emissions. And you would have us do what?

In Uncarollo2
wrote:

Yes, he is, and he is asking our congress critters to take climate
change seriously and enact legislation that will steer us into
reducing CO2 emissions.

Legislation doesn't "steer" anything. Government's only tool is force.

And you would have us do what?

Nope. Do you think that your Congress "critter" has a clue about what,
if anything, needs to be done? Every law they pass and every regulation
that's enacted is done as a favor to the highest bidder.

--
St. Paul, MN

On Thursday, July 24, 2014 11:03:04 AM UTC-7, Bert wrote:
In Uncarollo2

wrote:



"So I think maybe we have to sink lower before the pistons of Congress

and the electorate align to take meaningful action, to protect the

planet going forward," Tyson continued.



Meaningful action to protect the planet?



Presumably, this involves forcing China, India and friends to shut down.



What sort of "action" does he propose?



--

St. Paul, MN

The energy and other resources being mass consumed by the average American is at least tenfold greater than those individuals of China or India.

If any nation deserves to be shutdown, it's the US and a few others that show little or no regard whatsoever for the global environment nor that of its frail biodiversity. Our imperialist expansionism has shown damn little if any remorse whatsoever.