Goes without saying that the lovely Americans have not, and are not, paying attention

Also goes without saying that those who post here are in the above income bracket.

What I want to know is this .. If the doomsayers are wrong, we get some pain; if the people who say it's all rubbish, or the current economic systems are wrong, we are all gone.

Could you live with it if you were one of those who are so sure there is no issue that you are out there preaching that there's no need to do anything at all?

This would be best in the 'Forums' section.

Hopefully you mean a FEW Americans (such as our President and his cronies who have a vested interest in not believing in global warming) NOT all Americans.

After all it is not just noted American scientists but Al Gore(an American who's spent years writing books and promoting a movie and going around the world to promote the concerns of global warming).

Well, if Al Gore says it, it must be true.

afterall, if you were interested in a sensible discussion you wouldn't indulge in sneers like "the lovely Americans". Mindless anti-Americanism is as puerile as broad-brush attacks on any other nationality and marks you out as one of two things - a bigot or a troll.

Yes, the Lounge is generally the place for such discussions (although I don't agree that the country forums should be limited solely to straight travel advice).

There you'll find many American Fodorites who'll be happy to challenge your generalisations.

But I suspect you'd prefer to keep them intact.

Now, to address the inaccurate claim that "the Americans" aren't paying attention, you've confused the now thoroughly-discredited Bush administration with the mass of Americans. Action is in fact occurring at city and state level in many parts of the US.

For example, you should be aware that the state of California is leagues ahead of Australia with concrete emission-reduction plans involving state, county and city governments, industry and academia. Many more state governments have signed up to the Californian lead.

While our country's (Australia's) belated action is praiseworthy, it should be acknowledged that the issue would not have gained the public awareness it has without the big drought. The climatic effects of global warming on the American land mass have been more varied and so not provided the clear focus that's apparent here.

golly neil, a few nights in oakland and u landed a job in california promotion. just kidding while some of us believe hell has gone to thehandbasket in the usa and have left for kinder gentler canada, there r many kind and thougtful americansremaining below the 49th parallel. it is true that positive change generally starts in california.
unfortunately the shining hope of many of my usa friends, barack obama has started shifting some of his positions. he has recently come out in favour of limited "safe drilling" ( now here's an oxymoron) in the continental shelf and previously off limit areas of the gulf of mexico in order to help pass a mediocre energy bill in congress. i'd ask him why not wait 6 months when he is hopefully president and the dems have more of a majority in congress and pass a real enrgy conserving program. there will never be enough oil to satisfy current usa demands longterm so get off thet addiction now and move to sustainable fuels and much stronger conservation requiremnets

cheers
AndrewDavid ( happily and smugly! driving his new smart (ass ) car w/ a $2000 grant from the federal gov't and 1
$1500 sales tax waiver from BC's gov't) in Victoria, BC