Question

Read the following letter to the editor. Then answer the questions below.

"Environmental 'Science' Makes No Sense"

"Well, the left-wing, environmentalist wackos have done it again! The so-called 'Environmental Conference' hosted by University 'X' last week was nothing more than a transparent attempt to indoctrinate the students and community with false information about the environment.

Firstly, the environmentalists claim that global warming is real, but that can't be true because there are parts of the world that are getting colder! That's why they've started calling it 'climate change' instead.

Second, why were no persons who disagree with this supposed environmental 'science' invited to the conference? During my time there, I heard no speakers who oppose global warming or climate change. I guess none of these "green" loonies decided to invite any of them.

Third, if we tried to affect climate change, the only thing that would happen would be economic disaster. Environmentalists want to pressure oil companies to find 'cleaner' sources of energy, and also to force businesses and schools to use 'greener' products and offer 'eco-friendly' services. But if we did those things, then we'll have less money than we do now. The government will have to control our lives more, and eventually we'll be living in a dictatorship ruled by the United Nations and we'll have no money to buy things, so the economy will destroyed.

Why do they want to destroy America?

Lastly, I noticed also that everyone who attended the conference was a liberal. The person I sat next to in the auditorium told me he was one, and I overheard some more people of the liberal persuasion talking about their love for Obama on the elevator when going to lunch. So those of you who, like me, are definitely not liberals (and no one really wants to be like those people, do they?) should ask themselves why they would want to waste their time at conferences such as this?  

For the rest of us true Americans, the choice is clear: either we oppose this liberal agenda with all our might or we can kiss American democracy goodbye.

Sincerely,

Citizen 'Y'"

Write a letter to the editor that responds to the letter above. This letter should explain all the fallacies that are contained in citizen Y's letter. (Make sure that you not only mention the fallacies, but also explain why you think specific points in the letter are fallacious.)

Answer 1

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. You may elaborate the answer based on personal views or your classwork if necessary.

(Answer) To the editor,

Corruption, politics, the left and right wing ideologies exist in almost all nations of the world. They too have a difference of opinion every now and then. When it comes to environmental problems, there are quarrels in all nations. The major difference, however, is that in the rest of the world, the quarrels are regarding which methods are most economical to combat climate change. In America, the chief argument is whether or not climate change is real.

The nature of these arguments says a lot about America as a nation. Other countries have political parties fighting over whose idea for recycling is best. America has the left and right wing fighting over whether climate change is as real as unicorns.

Firstly, there is a major difference between climate and weather. Weather is the current condition of an area. Climate, on the other hand, are the recurring weather patterns of an area. Weather in some regions might be colder because of the current flow, tidal winds and the meteorological dynamics that might cause a particular place to temporarily have colder weather.

However, the climate or the pattern of temperatures of that area will definitely be hotter in this decade than it was in the last decade. This means that just because it is cold today that doesn’t mean it is getting colder. It might mean that thermodynamics and opposing pressures of other areas is causing it to be temporarily colder in this particular area for the moment.

The writer of the previous piece implied that the students at the university were being brainwashed. However, when facts are involved, it is known as an education, when irrational beliefs are taught, it is known as brainwashing.

World councils, the UN, the G7, the EU and other nations don’t even bother to humour America when it involves the whole environmental hoax debate. Perhaps this is an allegory of how parents don’t meddle with children who argue about which Pokémon is better.

Environmental discussions have increased today simply because the threats to the planet have increased. It isn’t about which president or world leader is favoured. It is about how selfish and obstinate are we willing to risk being when it comes to the future of our posterity.

Sincerely,

Citizen XYZ.