wakeflood
VBD, I wish that things like sea level differences of opinion actually mattered to the naysayers. However, I’m now fairly convinced that the deniers – and I mean the ones that actually BELIEVE there’s no man-made root issue, as opposed to the ones who get paid to believe whatever – have brains that work differently than you or me.
They don’t have rational reasons for their opinions, they have moralistic ones. The recent book by Jonathan Haidt – “The Righteous Mind” has some interesting points on how to approach discussions of this type with conservatives. Using facts and rationale won’t get it done. We have to find avenues that appeal to their moral constructs of faith, patriotism, valor, law & order, etc.
Here’s the NYT review of the book: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/25/books/review/the-righteous-mind-by-jonathan-haidt.html?pagewanted=2&_r=0
I freely admit that figuring out how to frame discussion this way does NOT come naturally to me but it may be part of the key to getting deniers to at least step aside if not lend an actual hand in change.