WPSU’s Anne Danahy recently interviewed Susan Boser and Glenn Thompson, the two candidates running for PA’s 15th Congressional District. The interview can be accessed at https://wpsu.psu.edu/vote18/.
Danahy questioned Thompson on climate change, beginning with a quote from a speech in which Thompson said, “When we stick with science, when we stick with data, then we are able to provide good leadership.’ “Absolutely,” Thompson responded.
Danahy followed up by saying, “Scientists are in agreement that human behavior is causing the climate change that we’re seeing,” to which Thompson sputtered, ”I don’t think there’s 100 percent consensus on that… I do believe…” and then proceeded to describe his support for research at Penn State, but otherwise avoided the real issue.
“We need to avoid weaponing issues… climate change has been weaponized on both sides of the aisle,” he declared.
Is it ‘good leadership’ to characterize the proposals of every leading scientific organization as “weaponizing?’ These organizations recognize that our world is facing a crisis that demands action now (including limits on fossil fuel emissions, revised automobile economy standards and encouragement of renewable energy sources). The consequences of inaction are drastic, including loss of coastal lands to sea level rise and the resulting forced migration of millions of our citizens.
In his encyclical, “On Care for Our Common Home,” Pope Francis said, “Doomsday predictions can no longer be met with irony or disdain. We may well be leaving to coming generations debris, desolation and filth.’
On November 6 support science: vote for Susan Boser and Marc Friedenberg.
Margie Swoboda
