There is perhaps some hope that both Rex Murphy and Margaret Wente are publishing book versions of their columns. Hope, that is, that this is the kind of thing you do near the end of your career.
For what unites these two columnists, beyond their being printed in the Globe and Mail, is their use of being contrarian in order to stay relevant - which is so much easier than working hard at research, truly independent opinions ("y" as opposed to "not x"), or asking the right questions.
Both columnists continue to repeatedly beat up on those who would try to do anything about global warming, with Murphy still loudly denying the global scientific consensus on global warming and refusing to apologize when proven wrong.
This intentional ignorance on both of their parts in fact tells you what you need to know about all of their writing, not just on global warming. That you, a non scientist, would dispute millions of hours of scientific research pointing in the same direction, just to be a contrarian that people take notice of, colours everything you say. Why should anyone go along with you on any other issue if you propose to be so willfully wrong on this one? The truth, in this equation, doesn't matter as much as being noticed.
If there is a silver lining here, it's that Murphy and Wente are symbolic of a generation now passing by its prime. You rarely come across climate deniers under 50 years old, partly due to education, and partly due to the social stigma in younger circles associated with selling such egregious untruths to the public.
Climate deniers are yesterday's men - and they are mostly men, other than Ms. Wente. Unfortunately, they still have some years left of providing cover to the do-nothings now holding sway in Ottawa. Let's just hope that the newer generation of columnists will work harder at uncovering the truth, before it's too late.
Matt Price
Program Manager
Environmental Defence
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