Honest debate

To the editor:

This is in response to Jack Hinton’s Jan. 9 letter “Climate Debate.”

Mr. Hinton, I agree that honest debate is desirable in issues of climate change. However, if you want honest debate then I call on you to debate honestly. Your association of global warming and current local weather is not valid nor is your presentation of the scientific facts. It’s called global warming, not Kansas or Lawrence warming. Be good enough to get both sides of the story from credible sources on either side.

“The Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States” report is available to all who bother to retrieve it on the Internet. It presents solid research on climate change conducted by a large body of credible scientists.

Also, if your aim is truly honest debate, as you say it is, there is no place for unsupportable allegations regarding Mr. Gore’s many years of study of the field and the possible motivations for his advocacy for sound climate policies. These are not arguments and they certainly are not honest. They are no more than attempts to personally discredit a person presenting an opposing argument and have no bearing on the issue of climate change.

You’ll find that honest debate requires knowledge of the arguments on both sides of an issue, Mr. Hinton, not just your own side.