I often hear people ask, “What’s your opinion on global warming?”

Or they say, “Here’s what I believe about global warming…”

And I cringe. The extent of and causes of global warming should be about science, not about opinions or beliefs. But it seems the more scientists become convinced that humans are contributing to a warmer planet, the stronger the opposite belief becomes and the more vociferous the political debates get.

Now, if we’re lucky, it’s all moot. Because …

*** Mandatory reductions of heat-trapping emissions can be imposed without economic harm and would lead to economic opportunities if done economy-wide and with provisions to mitigate costs. ***

That’s what the CEOs of 10 major U.S. corporations said today in calling on President Bush to take action to curb pollution.

Now it’s about money. Cutting pollution would be good for the economy (according to the top dogs at General Electric, Duke Energy, PG&E, Caterpillar, etc.). I’d like to hear the argument from the president for not pursuing that goal. As for what a cut in pollution might or might not do to the environment, well, everyone is free to have their own opinion about that.