Sunday, April 19, 2009
Quote of Note: Antonin Scalia
“Troposphere, whatever. I told you before I’m not a scientist. That’s why I don’t want to have to deal with global warming, to tell you the truth.”
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, quoted here.
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, quoted here.
Technorati Tags: GlobalClimateDisruption, QuoteOfNote, Science, Scotus, wingnuts
Comments:
And nor should he have to. He's supposed to be adjudicating law, not legislating or pontificating.
# posted by 
: 4/20/2009 1:10 AM
: 4/20/2009 1:10 AM
Solomon was king, not a member of a judicial-only branch of a multi-branched government.
The problem that I suspect Scalia was addressing is the Legislative power some want vested in the Judicial branch.
If "global warming" laws ever do come into objective conflict with our Constitution, it seems to me that conflict will be over legal arguments, not "scientific" ones. The scientific arguments may or may not prove sufficient to influence our morality, which in our society is a job for our elected legislators to decide.
In contrast, our moral respect for human life is (rightfully) already codified into our Constitution.
The problem that I suspect Scalia was addressing is the Legislative power some want vested in the Judicial branch.
If "global warming" laws ever do come into objective conflict with our Constitution, it seems to me that conflict will be over legal arguments, not "scientific" ones. The scientific arguments may or may not prove sufficient to influence our morality, which in our society is a job for our elected legislators to decide.
In contrast, our moral respect for human life is (rightfully) already codified into our Constitution.
# posted by : 4/20/2009 6:21 PM
: 4/20/2009 6:21 PM
I can't tell if "anonymous" wants to have a conversation about the scientific evidence for anthropogenic global climate change, about the separation of powers mandated by the U.S. Constitution, about whether broad knowledge of a topic is important for making good decisions about that topic, or about none of the above. I suggest that "anonymous" come out, tell us who she is, and tell us what's really on her mind!
Post a Comment
