[smk67]

I find argueing for and against GW to be missing a major detail. That detail is, what do we do IF GW is occurring due to man? Al Gore replied to that question "go around and tell everyone about it and use the new type of lightbulb".

The real answer to the question is probably more along the lines of "continue to explore alternative energy sources, increase fuel economy standards, replace current technologies with newer ones that use less energy, etc." In other words, do everything that is already being done anyways, just maybe do it faster! Plenty of the huge oil companies have begun to look beyond oil (BP claims to stand for Beyond Petroleum). Most car manufacturers are selling cars with improved gas mileage (even GM has their '7 cars over 30mpg' promotion), and replacements of lightbulbs is well known.

So let's get back to the discussion of GW. Why does it matter if its real or not? Will the solution come through talking about the problem and lightbulbs? Or are the problems of the possibility of GW already being addressed by private industry (and government funding of research)? What should the government do differently if GW is indeed happening?